Exclusive Interview: Jeremy Sumpter (Death and Cremation, Friday Night Lights)

In the chilling thriller Death and Cremation (2010), fast-rising star Jeremy Sumpter plays Jarod Leary, an outcast that befriends Stan, a 59-year old murderer who runs the local cremation shop. Jarod is a fatherless seventeen-year-old recluse who lives a life of solitude and uses cutting and drugs as an escape outlet.

When his mother urges him to get a job, the young man finds himself accepting a job working in Stan's basement cremation shop. Quickly clinging onto the business, Jarod and Stan embark on a very unusual partnership.

The hot young actor can next be seen beginning May 7th on NBC with the return of the cult hit Friday Night Lights (TV) portraying Dillon Panther's #1 QB, J.D. McCoy. On a lazy Saturday afternoon, PopStar spoke with Jeremy Sumpter, who resides in California about his new thriller Death and Cremation (2010) and talked about fellow actor Brad Dourif helping him dig deep to connect with his troubled character. Sumpter also confessed that he will be leaving Friday Night Lights (TV) next season to work on his rapidly growing movie career.

Can you tell us how you got involved with your new thriller Death and Cremation (2010)?

My manager sent over the script a long time ago; they were expressing interest in me and I read the script and I really liked it. I thought it was something totally different then what I have ever played before. We started shooting and it was fun, but it was a difficult role for me to play.

Where was the film shot? Can you tell us about working in the morgues?

In L.A. We shot in different morgues throughout the city. We filmed at this one mortuary and we were down in the basement where they cremated all the bodies. They have all boxes stacked everywhere, all the walls are stacked with cremated bodies in these shoe-sized boxes. Bodies dating back from the 1800's, the 1930's and the 1950's, each box has the year they died, their name and how old they were. It was pretty intense; we were in the actual cremation room where they put the bodies into the fire.

Looking back, are there any memorable moments or people that you will forever remember?

Working with Brad Dourif is one of the best experiences I have had working with an actor. Working with him, he taught me to dig deep, and to research the character so I could become him. I thank him a lot for that, he is one of the coolest, nicest guys and I would love to work with him again.

Can you tell us what Brad Dourif taught you that helped you so much?

I have never worked so hard on becoming a character before this movie. For Peter Pan, I was a young kid, playing a guy flying around living the life of adventure, which was what my life was back then. For this role, I was playing a kid who was doing drugs, cutting himself, living in a trailer who had nothing which was difficult but I really dug deep and became that character. It was the hardest I have worked on a character in my career and it was really worth it.

Friday Night Lights (TV) season four is gearing up to premiere on May 7th, can you give us a sneak peak of what fans can expect from the season and your character J.D. McCoy?

We have some new characters on the show, the new school, new rivalries, and there is a lot of fun stuff that happens. All I am going to say about J.D. is you are not going to like him.

You are an avid sports fan, what is it like playing the best Quarterback in Texas on the show?

The first season on the show, we had the state game at the Longhorn Stadium in Texas. That was awesome going down and playing in an actual football stadium with that amazing atmosphere. It was something that I have always wanted, and I am grateful the show game me that.

Will you be returning to Dillon for season five of Friday Night Lights (TV)?

No. I will not be going back to Friday Night Lights (TV) for season five. I have a few movies that I am doing that are on the horizon.

Can you tell us about one of those movies?

I just filmed a movie in Hawaii called Soul Surfer with Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood, and Helen Hunt based on the actual events of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who got her arm bit off by a shark in Kauai. Honestly, it's a great movie and it was a great experience, check it out at soulsurferthemovie.com.

Message to the fans.

Thank you! Without you all I would not be here. I would not have a career without my fans. I thank you all for staying with me for so long; there was a lull for a little bit and they all stuck in there and I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to giving you all more movies.