*This article is from our September 2025 issue – scroll down to flip through the issue for free or order a print copy here.*

Luke Speakman is not your typical pre-teen actor. His body of work already includes roles in complex storylines with emotionally charged scenes. From the acclaimed new thriller Weapons, alongside Josh Brolin to comedy series Young Rock opposite Dwayne Johnson, Luke has proven himself a talented young actor whose star is rapidly on the rise. Discover more about Luke in our exclusive Q&A with him.

Your new film Weapons is in theaters now. Tell us about the role you play in it!

My role in Weapons is honestly a dream come true! I play Matthew, the son of Archer, who’s played by Josh Brolin. Matthew is definitely a complicated character—on the surface he’s a bully, but as they say, hurt people hurt people.

There’s a reason why he’s mean to Alex, played by Cary Christopher, but I don’t want to give too much away! The relationship between Matthew and his dad is really important to the story, and it’s something you’ll understand best by watching the movie.

What was it like working with such a great cast? Is there any one person you really connected with?

Unbelievable! I still can’t believe I had the chance to work with such a legendary cast. Actors work their whole lives to share the screen with that kind of talent, and I got to do it at my age—it’s amazing! Everyone was incredible, but I got especially close with Cary Christopher, who plays Alex. We actually became best friends and still talk almost every day. I don’t usually get to work with other kids, so getting that experience and building such a great friendship was really priceless.

Even though you’re only twelve, you’ve been acting for seven years now. How have you noticed your acting has changed as you’ve grown up?

I think acting is a skill that keeps growing as you get older. I like to dig deep and use my own life experiences to help bring my characters to life, and the older I get, the more experiences I have to draw from. I also feel like I connect with my characters on a deeper level now, which I think is just a natural part of getting more mature.

Being a kid in show business can be challenging, how do you and your family ensure you still get to have a childhood?

This industry can definitely take over what you’d call a ‘normal childhood’, because when opportunities come, you have to go! But at the end of the day, I’m one of four kids, and at home I’m just little brother Luke. I still have chores, mow the lawn, have a bedtime, and spend my days like most other kids my age. My siblings definitely don’t treat me special—ha! I also play baseball in my local little league, and most of my teammates don’t even know what I do, since a lot of my projects are things they’re too young to watch. It really keeps me grounded. Acting is something I love, but it’s not all of who I am—I’m just a kid who happens to act.

Out of all of the projects you’ve done, do you have a favorite?

Honestly, I’ve loved something about every project I’ve worked on, but the one that stands out the most is Lost Man Found on Hulu and Disney+. The reason is because I got to film in Tokyo, Japan! Getting to work and explore another country was magical. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’ll always be grateful for it.

Can you share with us any upcoming roles?

I wish I could share more, but I can definitely give you some teasers! I have a few projects coming up, and right now I’ve got three films in post-production—one horror, one mystery, and one psychological thriller. They’re all must-sees, so stay tuned! I’m also about to head to Brazil to film a feature, which is probably going to be my most challenging role yet. And let’s just say… there might be an action film in the works for the new year. More to come!

You’ve done a lot of thriller/horror roles, is there a genre you haven’t tried yet that you’d really like to act in?

I’d love to do a true action movie where I get to do my own stunt work! I train in American Ninja Warrior, and it would be so cool to use those skills on camera. And like I’ve mentioned before… that dream might just become a reality in the new year… wink, wink!

What would you like to say to all of your fans and future fans reading this?

I would have to say: THANK YOU! Thank you for reaching out, sending kind messages, encouraging me, and watching my work. I honestly couldn’t live my dream without your support, and it never goes unnoticed—I promise. My hope is that you’re living your dreams too, or will get the chance to one day!