Y2Kdirector Kyle Mooney details how one iconic star’s involvement was dream fulfillment and perfectly captured the era of the horror-comedy movie. The 2024 movie sees two unpopular teens crash the New Year’s Eve party of their more social classmates, only for the infamous hypothetical computer bug to take effect andsend the world into a technologically chaotic nightmare. TheY2Kcaststars Jaeden Martell, Julian Dennison, Rachel Zegler, Eduardo Franco, Lachlan Watson, and Mason Gooding as part of the group of survivors, alongside Alicia Silverstone and Tim Heidecker.
Ahead ofY2K’s release, Mooney sat down withScreen Rantto unpack one of the biggest ’90s cameos, withLimp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst playing a fictionalized version of himselfin the movie’s apocalypse. Highlighting Durst’s involvement as an unexpected delight, he stated that the singer was present in the earliest drafts in 2019, as his contributions were so indicative of the era. The director revealed that Durst was one of the first cast members that they reached out to and that he was an incredible presence on set, leading to Mooney regarding him as a pleasure and highlight ofY2K:
He truly is a dream come true that I never really knew was a dream in some way. Evan, who I wrote it with, we started pitching on this in 2019 and within a week of coming up with what this movie was going to be, Fred was something that we thought would be really fun. We thought about anyone else who could fill that role and nobody checked the boxes like Fred does and did. He’s so iconic to the era. He’s so evocative of that time period that when we found out the movie was going, he was the first person we reached out to and thank god he was down because he truly is so good in the movie. It was really incredible to see on set and be like, Okay well, we’re fine. He’s crushing it. It was such a pleasure.
What Durst Involvement Means For Y2K
The Singer Was Key To The Major Music Movements Of The ’90s
As one of the key figures of the nu-metal music subgenre alongside the rest of Limp Bizkit, itrose in popularity throughout the latter half of the ’90s. As such, Mooney isn’t exaggerating when describing how vital Durst is to the script, as he is one of a selection of musicians who were dominant throughout the era, immediately bringing some nostalgia to viewers who remember the pop culture at the time.
Y2K Meaning Explained: What A24’s New Movie Title Means
Kyle Mooney’s upcoming directorial debut Y2K takes viewers back in time to a mythical end-of-the-world apocalypse at the turn of the millennium.
Furthermore, Durst is only one of several stars featured in the movie who helps evoke the zeitgeist in which the movie is set. Silverstone is most known for her role in the1995 coming-of-age comedyClueless, while co-star Kevin Mangold was a guest star on several sitcoms at the time. Much like how series such asStranger Thingshave incorporated iconic stars into their setting to help evoke the cast, involvingstars of the ’90s inY2Khas helped evoke the era through their association.
Our Thoughts On Y2K’s Durst Involvement
Evoking The Era Is A Key Part Of The Appeal
WhileY2Kmay envision a violent and more chaotic timeline, it is still immersed in a bygone era many viewers will remember. From its cast to the specific pieces of technology that will be spilling the blood of unsuspecting teens, including Tamagotchi’s and rapid-firing VHS players, a key part of the movie’sappeal will be managing to successfully immerse audiences in the setting.
As such, it is unsurprising that Durst’s involvement was a priority for Mooney when developingY2K, as the singer’s vocals help instantly throw those who grew up in that era back to that time. Furthermore, after the first trailer immersed viewers in chaos set to Chumbawumba’s “Tubthumping,” many may wonder if his own music will be featured in one ofY2K’s potential needle drops.
Y2K
Cast
On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in this dial-up disaster comedy.
