'What he loves to do': Fairview teen Walker Scobell hopes for long acting career after Netflix movie debut (2024)

Walker Scobell plays the 12-year-old versionof a time traveling pilot played by Ryan Reynolds in 'The Adam Project,' which started streaming Friday

Walker Scobell had been on the gofor a month, headingfrom one publicity eventto anotherwith Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, before catching the red-eye from L.A. to Cleveland, followed by a drive home to Fairview Township.

So his mom decided to let the 13-year-old sleep in Fridayand pass on one more interview about his new movie that debutedthat day onNetflix.

"He's just exhausted from being on the road," Heather Scobell said the day after she and Walker returned to Erie County.

She said it's the first time she's really had to step in on his behalf since the teen landed his first professional filmrole, as the 12-year-old versionof the time traveling pilot from the future played by Reynolds in "The Adam Project." The film also stars Garner and Ruffalo.

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Walker's performance isn't a one-off. The seventh-grader hasalready filmed another movie and he hopes to make a career of acting.

"I love acting and making movies," he said via an email sent Monday by his mom.

She also believes he's just starting out on a long acting career.

"I think he's a fortunate person that found what he loves to do and had an opportunity to start it at an early age," Heather Scobell said.

Asked what he likes about acting, Walker said,“I like to understand what the character is thinking and feeling.”

His progress has been rapid.

Filming of "The Adam Project"began in November 2020, just a year after Walker had what his mother called "his first big role," as Michael in the Fairview Middle School production of "Mary Poppins."

Before the family moved about four years ago to Fairview, where Walker's parents grew up, they had lived in Colorado. He attended a day school there with a drama program, Heather Scobell said.

As many youngsters do, Walker wanted to be one of theAvengers. Whenhe discovered thatthe superheroes in "The Avengers"films were really actors,he found that role more appealing.

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A couple months after he was on stage in "Mary Poppins," Walker, then still a fifth-grader, attended one of actor and teacher John D'Aquino's actors workshops in California. On the last day, Walkermet April Baker, who would become his manager. Shortly after, Walker signed with A3 Artists Agency in New York, his mother said.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. But Walker didn't let it stop his pursuit of acting.

"He submitted a lot of self takes over that time," Heather Scobell said, explaining that they were videos of Walker performing scenes from scripts. "He was averaging probably three to four a week."

That led to a couple auditions via Zoom for "The Adam Project."

The movie was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from November 2020 to March 2021. Because of COVID-19, Walker and his dad, PeteScobell, had to remain there the entire time. Heather Scobell, a stay-at-home mom, remained in Fairview with daughter Leena Scobell, 15, and son Tanner Scobell, 10.

"It was difficult," she said. "And we all missed each other a lot."

The kids still interacted via FaceTime and were able toplay video games together, Heather Scobellsaid.

It was her turn to travel with Walker this pastsummer, when they spent three months in Atlanta while he filmed "Secret Headquarters" with Owen Wilson, Michael Pena and Jesse Williams. Heather Scobell said this time, there were other young actors, includingMomona Tamada, Keith L. Williams, Abby James Witherspoon and Kezii Curtis. The family actionmovie is expected to be out in August.

Like most parents, Heather Scobell has heard some of the horror stories about what happensto child actors.

"Definitely we were concerned about getting into the world of acting," she said.

While herfamily is still fairly new to it, Heather Scobell said it's gone well. Shesaid there have been some long days, although there are limits on how many hours child actors can work. She said Reynolds, Garner, Ruffalo and the other adults were great with Walker.

"Once I saw how much he loved acting and saw he was happy to wake up and go to set every day, that made it easier for me as a mom to let him go," she said.

When they're traveling, he is home-schooled, and there was a teacheron the movie set, she said. When Walker is home, he attends Fairview Middle School and he likes to swim, skateboard and play lacrosse.

He said some of his favorite things to do in the Erie area are going to Waldameer Park & Water World, tubing atPeek’n Peak Resort, visiting Vertical Jump Park, eating chocolate chip cookies from Art's Bakery and Smith's hot dogs, and stoppingat Creamland Drive-In.

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He is the grandson of Nob and Margie Walker and Christie and Bob Ferrier, all of Fairview.

Nobody else in the family acts, Heather Scobell said.

She said being home with his sister and brother and the family's two dogs, a chocolate lab named Whiskey and a Belgian malinois named Styx, helps Walker stay grounded as a normal kid. He's still learning how to deal with all the traveling though.

They were away from homefor about five weeks, with a screening in New York followed by publicity events in Los Angeles, then back to New York for a premiere followed by a return to L.A. for Walker to appear last week on the "Today" show with co-star Reynolds and hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

Kotb asked Reynolds how they found Walker for the role. Reynolds said they saw hundreds of kids, but Walker's tape "was perfect."

Home on Thursday after that interview, Walkerwas headed back to the West Coaston Sunday.

Aside from being a little tired, Heather Scobell said, "Walker's experience with everything so far has been extremely positive."

What's up next for the young actor?

"He's auditioned for a few roles," his mom said. But nothing's been announced yet.

Contact Dana Massing at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.