“Nate, better late than never”: why can't you stop watching this new Disney+ film

Nate, better late than never is an inspiring story about the life of Nate Foster (Rueby Wood), a 13-year-old boy who dreams of performing on Broadway but can't even be accepted in his school plays. Though full of frustration, she will embark on a path to her dreams with her friend Libby (Aria Brooks), with whom she travels to New York. There Nate will see Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), an aunt with whom he lost contact a long time ago.

This film, which has just been released on Disney+, is an adaptation of the hit novel Better Nate Than Ever, which was released in 2013 by director Tim Federle (also producer of the High School Musical series). There he told some of his childhood experiences in Pittsburgh and his love for plays. It was followed by two more novels, which received praise from musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Tick, Tick... Boom! ): he described them as “a wonderful evocation of what it is like to be a child who likes theater”.

“Sometimes, when you are young, you think you have to change in order to be able to sit at the popular table in the cafeteria. I think the path to adulthood is to realize that you don't have to change. Sometimes we have to change the people we surround ourselves with, to be with people who understand who we are,” Federle commented in relation to Nate's character.

Rueby Wood makes his film debut with the central role of this film. The search for a young actor who could capture the essence of Natan was not easy: Wood was one of the first to appear for the auditions and did so with a song by Wicked. “I didn't have a single film or television credit, but I saw in him that theater boy who is capable of paying attention, showing himself as he is, singing very loud and sharp, making mistakes and continuing to sing, which is exactly what this character does,” Federle recalled.

Although he had already won the jury, Wood had to return six or seven times to show his talent. “One of the most exciting things you can do in this profession, when you are in a position of authority, is to open the doors wide and let the next generation in. And he doesn't run in, he comes in dancing. I think it's going to inspire a lot of little Rueby Woods out there,” he added.

In addition to Wood, the performance of Lisa Krudow, the former Friends, who was attracted by the story of Nate's aunt, a woman who couldn't finish winning on Broadway and relives that dream by helping her nephew.

Another pivotal piece by Nate, better late than ever is the boy's friend, Liby, played by Aria Brooks. She also passed casting stages. “She and Rueby auditioned together on Zoom, since we couldn't put them in the same room,” Federle said. “When they came to the set on day one, they became instant best friends.”

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