Ethan Hawke directed daughter Maya in the sex scenes of Wildcat.

Stranger things have happened.

Ethan Hawke insists he had no qualms about directing his daughter Maya’s graphic sex scenes in the upcoming film Wildcat.

“We felt so comfortable. “I don’t give a damn,” the “Dead Poets Society” actor assured diversity.

But not so much co-stars Rafael Casal, 38, and Cooper Hoffman, 20.

“I think it was strange for her,” said Hawke, 52, to diversity.

“We made sure there was an intimacy coordinator on set for her,” Maya, 25, told a reporter. “So that they feel safe and comfortable and don’t feel like they’re being spied on…”

“…from some creepy dad,” Hawke interjected.

The biopic starring the “Stranger Things” actress tells the story of late Southern author Flannery O’Connor as she attempts to publish her first book.


Ethan and Maya Hawke
Acclaimed actor Ethan Hawke revealed Tuesday that he and his daughter Maya reportedly had no problems while filming their graphic sex scene in his upcoming film “Wildcat.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety

Despite the glaring red flag, both Hawkes were determined to show that just because a person is interesting, they are necessarily interesting "Good."
The Hawkes were committed to telling O’Connor’s life story, even though the author has faced criticism in recent years for his language and viewpoints.
Heather Hazzan for Variety

Since relatively little is known about the reclusive writer’s personal life, other than the fact that she was born in Georgia in 1925 and died of lupus at the age of 39, the film attempts to tell the story of the “Wise Blood” author tell through their written work.

“She’s not a clear-cut heroine by any means,” Maya said, most likely referring to the recent re-examination of racial language and other themes in O’Connor’s works following a lengthy critique published in the New Yorker in 2020.

“All in all [her] “Mistakes,” Maya said, O’Connor was worth getting to know “as a way to understand the history of this country.”


"If someone wants to criticize us for our collaboration, that's completely fair," Hawke explained. "You have to let people express their opinions.  You just have to try to do a good job on stage.”
“If someone wants to criticize us for working together, that’s completely fair,” Hawke said. “You have to let people express their opinions. You just have to try to do a good job on stage.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety

Despite her enthusiasm for the film.  Maya told Variety that she did "Moments of Insecurity” about starring in a film directed by her parents.
Despite her enthusiasm for the film. Maya told Variety that she had “moments of insecurity” about wanting to star in a film directed by her parents.
Heather Hazzan for Variety

"The internet doesn’t have a lot of nuance,” Maya said, citing the backlash aimed at nepotism "nepo" Babies.  “My father was a great teacher for me and we want to work together.  We enjoy being together.”
“There’s not a lot of nuance on the internet,” Maya said, referring to the backlash directed at “Nepo” babies. “My father was a great teacher for me and we want to work together. We enjoy being together.”
Heather Hazzan for Variety

Despite her enthusiasm for the film. Maya told Variety that she had “moments of insecurity” about wanting to star in a film directed by her parents.

“There’s not a lot of nuance on the internet,” Maya said, referring to the backlash directed against children of Hollywood stars or “nepo babies.”

“My father was a great teacher for me and we want to work together. We enjoy being together,” she said.

Hawke, who shares Maya and a 21-year-old son called Levon with Golden Globe winner Uma Thurman – the duo split in 2005 – reflected his daughter’s opinion.

“If someone wants to criticize us for working together, that’s completely fair,” Hawke said. “You have to let people express their opinions. You just have to try to do a good job on stage.”

“Wildcat” is streaming on Amazon Prime and stars Maya Hawke, Liam Neeson, Rafael Casal and Cooper Hoffman.

Caroline Bleakley

Caroline Bleakley is a USTimeToday U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. Caroline Bleakley joined USTimeToday in 2022 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Caroline Bleakley by emailing carolinebleakley@ustimetoday.com.

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