Embracing his Algonquin-Anishinabe/Cree heritage, Joshua Odjick has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling rising stars, bringing a unique and insightful perspective to every role he fills. A two-time Canadian Screen Award winner for his performances in the acclaimed series Little Bird and the feature film Wildhood, Odjick brings both depth and authenticity to his characters. Now stepping into the Stephen King universe, he stars in The Long Walk and the upcoming series IT: Welcome to Derry, solidifying his place as a new “IT” boy in Hollywood. Beyond acting, Odjick is embarking on a directorial debut, with the hope of developing his work with the same joy and creative energy he’s experienced alongside the mentors who have inspired him. An all-around inspiring and beyond interesting character himself, Odjick brings a refreshing and honest portrayal of the human condition to all his work, bringing major anticipation for his mysterious role in IT: Welcome to Derry, which is set to premiere in October 2025.

Shirt + Pants Brook Brothers
Shirt by BOSS
Jacket + Vest by Le Catou
Tie by Sebastian Cruz Couture

Emerging as one of Stephen King’s newest “IT” boys, you star in The Long Walk as well as IT: Welcome to Derry, both based on Stephen King’s books and coming out this fall. What are similarities you see across your character of ‘Collie Parker’ in the Long Walk and your role in IT: Welcome to Derry?
There are definitely similarities between Collie Parker and my character in IT: Welcome to Derry, but this is tricky to answer because at this point, I’m not even allowed to share the name of the second one! What I can say is that they’re both lone wolf types - strong with a tough exterior, but vulnerable underneath.

Playing the Indigenous contestant of ‘Collie Parker’ in The Long Walk, how do you draw from your Algonquin-Anishinabe/Cree heritage and background coming from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation?
Each day before the filming and walking began, I put down a tobacco offering. Collie Parker in The Long Walk novel was actually written as a beefy blond guy! My heritage is a part of me that expresses organically in my manner or my essence, as my coach told me. I did have a chance to meet with Francis prior to filming to discuss the creation of Collie - it was an amazing thing because he was so open to hearing all of my ideas. One in particular that I’m very proud of made it into the film and reveals my Anishinabe heritage… but the details will have to wait until the film comes out.

Shirt + Pants by Brook Brothers
Shirt by BOSS
Jacket + Vest by Le Catou
Sneakers Hugo Boss
Tie by Sebastian Cruz Couture

How have you developed and molded the character of ‘Collie Parker’, who is described as exuding a tough exterior, but deep down is homesick and scared?
On one hand it was easy to do, because I was taught early on that I can find myself in every character I play. I started with the parts of Collie that resonated with me. Like him, I often felt like an outsider growing up and put-up walls to protect myself. It wasn’t until my first acting class that I learned men do cry and that emotions are celebrated. It gave me permission to express my feelings without shame, and now I give that to my characters.

I definitely relate to being homesick when I’m away from my rez for too long. It was easy to feel that as Collie, especially under the conditions of walking all day in the hot sun with bleeding blisters and then occasionally seeing Eagles fly above us - which also made me think of my mother who belongs to the Eagle Clan. I definitely felt reassured and protected by that, just like Collie when he ends up experiencing a connection with the other walkers.

Before getting cast in The Long Walk and IT: Welcome to Derry, were you a big fan of Stephen King? Is there something specific about both novels that inspired these adaptations that stand out to you?
I was and am absolutely a fan of Stephen King. Working on these two projects was a dream come true. The Long Walk gave me Orwell’s 1984 vibes and also made me think of the Trail of Tears (a forced removal and relocation of Indigenous people from their ancestral lands). The difference being that here, the boys volunteer for the walk. For Derry, this was created as a prequel to the IT story. I was excited by the darkness and the mystery. To be honest, I didn’t receive all the details until filming progressed. I was definitely excited to meet Pennywise…though when I finally had the chance, I felt too intimidated - he was actually really scary! Bill is such an incredible actor. It was an honor. I also can’t go without thanking Andy and Barbara who are such an amazing team. I look forward to working with them and Francis again.

You’ve earned a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for your breakout role as the two-spirit ‘Pasmay’ in the drama film Wildhood. How did this role as ‘Pasmay’ shape future roles you’ve played? What about this role challenged you? Ok. This is a good question and one I am still discovering answers to. Pasmay was a very special character that definitely broke me open as an actor. Everything about this role challenged me. I was young and far away from home for the first time. Pasmay is the epitome of a lone wolf - ousted from his community by his mother for being Two-Spirit; I know people who have experienced similar things and the pain that it has caused them. It was important to me to honor the character. Similarly, I have definitely experienced the fear of doing something that would not make my parents proud, but also having to come to terms with making decisions for myself and taking risks. Family is very important to me and to Pasmay who ended up finding a soul family. It was a very heartbreaking and beautiful role to play.

You’ve also received an award for Best Ensemble Performance in the Crave drama series Little Bird in 2024 – what did you learn from this role and what did it mean to you in your journey of bringing quiet strength and spiritual depth to every role you play?
I don’t necessarily think about bringing ‘spiritual depth’ specifically. I do connect to what makes a character and a story personal to me. I’m definitely familiar with addiction and with deep grief and loss. My character uses alcohol in an attempt to numb his pain. This project also struck me hard because my late father was a 60’s scoop just like my character. My intention was to honor not only him but also all of my relatives who were 60’s scoop and residential school survivors. In one scene, I had to lie in a casket - I could hear everyone crying, especially the elders. I was crying on the inside, too, with the occasional tear escaping. It was painful but also healing.

Shirt by BOSS
Shirt by Brook Brothers
Ties by Brook Brothers

Having featured in Bones of Crows, The Swarm, NCIS: ORIGINS, Wildhood and the upcoming Indigenous romantic comedy Sweet Summer Pow Wow, is there a character you’ve played that you’ve felt the most spiritually connected to?
I feel deeply connected to all my characters, I can’t say ‘the most’ for any particular one. The Swarm resonates in the sense that I’ve heard from a medicine man that animals help to maintain the equilibrium of our planet. It was also cool because my coach was cast to play my mentor on the series. She not only taught me what I know about acting, she also ‘taught’ me how to dissect an orca! We both grew up loving animals, so being in nature grounds me, so that’s where we go when the business/public part of acting gets overwhelming.

You’re currently developing multiple scripts and embarking on a directorial debut – what part of directing do you find yourself drawn to the most that you can’t find through acting?
What I love about directing is that I get to see the puzzle pieces in front of me and put them together with my vision of a particular story. Acting taught me a lot about directing, just from watching the crew set up shots and playback after filming a scene. It’s a beautiful collaboration.

When I worked on Sweet Summer Pow Wow with the late, great Graham Greene, I remember how our director Darrell Dennis would get giddy when he liked a take and say ‘Gorgeous’! That kind of joy is the energy I want to bring to my own directing.

**Left:**
Outfit by HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE
**Right:**
Hoodie by KYLE'LYK

Do you feel directing allows you to better draw from your background as a cultural storyteller?
Storytelling is storytelling. My culture is simply a part of me but I’m interested in telling stories that ultimately share and respect our universal human experience. It’s about connection and revealing the human condition. My heritage as mentioned earlier will definitely come through, but I am an individual who experiences love, joy, pain, sorrow, loss, humour - all of it, and that’s what I want to share through every story I tell whether as a director, writer or actor.

Are there roles you would like to play in the future that would best encapsulate your identity as an actor and director?
Wow. How do I answer that? I want to play every possible character on the planet, I love acting and want to keep investigating new characters and stories. It would be amazing to do everything from intimate dramas with Luca Guadagnino to superhero films with Wes Ball, to working with masters like Scorsese, Nolan, Spielberg, Villeneuve, Snyder, and Tarantino. Too many to name.

The dream isn’t just to work with them, but to learn from them for my own journey into directing. Speaking of which, I’m grateful that this year I’ve begun a directing mentorship with the legendary Atom Egoyan.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Joshua Odjick
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Francis Rodriguez
Photography Assistants: Dani Sax
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Tricia Merone, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Studio: Love Studios

Joshua Odjick Rising Star