‘Splitsville’ Interview: Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona

In addition to Covino and Marvin, the film also stars Dakota Johnson (‘Materialists’), Adria Arjona (‘Hit Man’), Nicholas Braun (‘Succession’), O-T Fagbenie (‘Black Widow’), David Castañeda (‘The Umbrella Academy’), and Charlie Gillespie (‘Julie and the Phantoms’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in person with Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona to talk about their work on ‘Splitsville’, their first reactions to the screenplay, their characters, and working with actors and filmmakers Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin.

Related Article: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans to Star in ‘Materialists’

Dakota Johnson in ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.

Moviefone: To begin with, Dakota, the movie is very funny. Can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, and did it read funny on the page?

Dakota Johnson: I mean, yes, especially because I had the tone of in my head because I had seen ‘The Climb’ and I feel like when you know their voices and you know their candor, you implement that into reading the script. So, it’s a very specific tone of comedy, you know.

MF: Just to follow up, do you think you found a lot of the humor in the movie organically on set?

DJ: Yeah, there was a lot of improvisation and a lot of moments like that. I feel like the funniest moments in the movie are the devastating ones where it’s like humans not getting it right with each other and feeling so uncomfortable, rather than like a set-up and joke.

Adria Arjona in ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.

MF: Adria, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the characteristics of Ashley that you were excited to explore on screen?

Adria Arjona: When I read it was like, “What in the world am I reading?” Especially the opening of this film, it’s probably one of the craziest openings of any movie I’ve ever read. In the first 10 minutes, the movie kind of just slaps you in the face in the best way possible. So, it was funny, and I had also watched ‘The Climb’, so it was one of those things that it was an undeniable, yes for me. Then, you know, Ashley, she just goes through so much in this film. She starts off having everything she ever wanted and taking it for granted in ways and then jumping through hoops to realize that maybe she was wrong or maybe she was right. She dives into the definition of what an open relationship is, and she’s excited about it. She’s a woman in her 30s that’s trying to discover who she is and feels like she’s letting herself go, she doesn’t have this exploration, which is something that I bet a lot of women who get married kind of feel, and then she teaches you this beautiful lesson. So, I was interested in kind of exploring that.

(L to R) Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Adria Arjona and Dakota Johnson in ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.

MF: Finally, Dakota, as a producer and an actor, what was it like working with Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino as both actors and filmmakers on this project?

DJ: Contentious. I think it’s kind of what I love so much about this movie is the contention that you see between the characters on screen, it also was happening behind the scenes with producers and the filmmakers and the DP. Everyone was heightened creativity, and it just was a very collaborative experience, but fiery. Everyone was quite into their own opinions. I mean, I think we made a good movie, so ultimately in a good way.

(L to R) Michael Angelo Covino, Simon Webster and Dakota Johnson in ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.

What is the plot of ‘’Splitsville’?

When his wife Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to his friends (Michael Angelo Covino and Dakota Johnson) for support, only to learn that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all their relationships into chaos.

Who is in the cast of ‘Splitsville’?

• Kyle Marvin as Carey
• Michael Angelo Covino as Paul
• Dakota Johnson as Julie
• Adria Arjona as Ashley
• Nicholas Braun as Matt the Mentalist
• David Castañeda as Fede
• O-T Fagbenle as Brent
• Charlie Gillespie as Jackson

(L to R) Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona on the set of ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.

List of Dakota Johnson Movies:

Buy Tickets: ‘Splitsville’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Dakota Johnson Movies on Amazon