INTERVIEW: Jedidiah Goodacre Opens Up About His Recent Projects and Memorable On-Set Moments

Jedidiah Goodacre may be known for playing morally conflicted characters, but off-screen he brings a mix of honesty, humor, and golden-retriever energy that fans instantly connect with.

While discussing two of his latest projects — F*** Marry Kill and Marry F*** Kill (2023) —, Goodacre explained that although the two films share strikingly similar titles, they differ completely in tone and genre. The coincidence went even further, as his character in both films was initially written with the same name, a detail that was later changed once the similarity was identified.

“In the first one, my character’s name was Greg… and in this new one, my character was also originally named Greg. So I was going to do two movies that are basically the same title with the same character name. (…) They found that out and they were like, ‘We’ve got to change this—Kyle’”

Despite the similarities on paper, Goodacre spoke fondly of both projects, praising their humor and individuality. He also shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes from F** Marry Kill*, particularly highlighting the improvisational energy on set and his collaboration with Lucy Hale, whom director Laura Murphy publicly praised for her comedic instincts. One unscripted moment during a date scene became especially memorable, bringing filming to a halt due to laughter and underscoring the playful atmosphere of the production.

“It’s during the date scene. Lucy comes walking down the stairs having her ‘she’s all that’ moment, and everyone in the bar is dead silent. Just as Lucy was walking down the stairs, she was like looking at her feet and just as she looked up to look for me, I farted. And this was on purpose, too, so it didn’t just sneak out, but it was like way louder than I thought. (…) everyone was laughing. We just had to stop filming for about 15 minutes.”

Beyond his recent films, Goodacre reflected on his broader career, including fan-favorite roles such as Chad Charming in Descendants, Dorian Gray in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Roman Sienna in The Originals and Legacies. He discussed how costume, environment, and collaboration with cast and crew helped him quickly immerse himself in complex characters, even when preparation time was limited.

Looking back at his time in The Originals and Legacies, Goodacre described Roman’s arc as one of growth shaped by time, loss, and maturity. Rather than trying to replicate his earlier performance, he approached Roman’s return as if he were stepping into a new version of the character—one who had finally learned from past mistakes.

“I just approached it as like a new character because so much had changed for Roman and I got to come back and be the the guy that really actually wanted the best for Hope.”

One of the biggest shifts in Goodacre’s career mindset came through fan conventions. Once skeptical, he now sees them as a rare opportunity to connect—not just with fans, but with fellow actors he never crossed paths with during filming. Those experiences helped pull him out of isolation and reminded him of the collaborative heart of the industry.

“A lot of the fans that have come up, I recognize them immediately when I see them. I run over and hug them. I hope they feel as good as I feel when that happens. (…) I think it’s just a great opportunity for the people that watch some of these shows and movies to get to meet the the person behind the mask.

As for dream collaborators, Goodacre doesn’t hide his enthusiasm. Directors like Denis Villeneuve and Paul Thomas Anderson top his list, while also expressing a strong desire to work again with F** Marry Kill* director Laura Murphy. “She was by far the best director at allowing us to play,” he said. “That experience reminded me why I got into this job in the first place.” Working with Jim Carrey—his lifelong hero—remains a fantasy that would, in his words, “break” him.

“He’s (Jim Carrey) a childhood hero of mine. Still a hero of mine. My whole family is…we all are Jim Carrey fan girls and fanboys kind of thing. So, anything with Jim Carrey.”

Watch the full interview: