Ethan Hawke Undergoes Dramatic Transformation for "Blue Moon" Role

In October 2025, acclaimed director Richard Linklater discussed the challenges of getting actor Ethan Hawke to transform into songwriter Lorenz Hart for the film "Blue Moon." Linklater revealed that he had to become a "naggy director" to push Hawke, his frequent collaborator of three decades, to make the necessary changes to his appearance and mannerisms.

Hawke's portrayal of Hart required a dramatic physical transformation, including a combover, fake teeth, and standing 10 inches shorter than his usual height. Linklater said the process was like an "erasure of Ethan," as he had to strip away Hawke's "uber masculine gestures" and "confidence" to capture the essence of the more vulnerable Hart.

The director admitted that his constant feedback and direction annoyed Hawke at times, with the actor joking that he would have "punched" Linklater if he didn't know him so well. Linklater's meticulous approach was a departure from his usual filmmaking process, which typically involves "building something" rather than "taking away everything."

Despite the challenges, Linklater's efforts paid off, as Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon" has been widely praised. The director also premiered another critically acclaimed film, "Nouvelle Vague," at the BFI London Film Festival this year, further cementing his reputation as one of the most versatile and accomplished filmmakers of his generation.