Javier Bardem On The Freedom Of Having A Wonderful Wardrobe In ‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile starring Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, and Shawn Mendes hits theaters on October 5th. Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber. The film centers on the Primm family as they move to a new house in New York City.

Their son Josh (Winslow Fegley) struggles with his new home and school. However, all of that changes when the family discovers a singing crocodile name Lyle (Shawn Mendes) in their bathtub.  Josh and Lyle become fast friends and the family also meets Lyle’s owner, played by Javier Bardem.

Bardem sat down with BackstageOL and Dave Morales to chat about his role as the eccentric Hector P. Valenti. In the film, Bardem plays Hector P. Valenti the charismatic and whimsical owner of Lyle.

You might think working with a crocodile would be terrifying but Bardem tells Morales why Lyle is different. “This a loving one, one that sings, dances, and has the voice of Shawn Mendes.”

Although Bardem never got to meet Mendes in person while filming, he was blown away by Mendes’s voice and performance.

“He can be sweet, loving, and caring but also he can be strong. He has a range in the voice and performance that is so beautiful and gives Lyle so much depth.”

Clothes Make the Man

Playing such a whimsical character means having lots of fabulous customs and costume changes. Morales asks Bardem what it was like playing a character with such a colorful sense of fashion.

“It’s about color and life and (the) absolute lack of any shame. He’s playing with his inner child and showing the world that, that is the way to go because otherwise, we are putting ourselves (under) too many limits in order to be free and enjoy ourselves and make others happy.”

Bardem added, “The wardrobe was a key element. Once we found it (with a great costume designer) it was magical.” He also admits to keeping a few of those amazing costumes.

Now you might think a movie about a sing crocodile is just about a crocodile however Bardem explains why ‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’ is so much more than that.

“The whole point of this story (among many others) is, a crocodile is a symbolic figure of someone that we are afraid of and we don’t want to get involved with. But in the end, if we get a chance to really know each other, we understand that we actually can create something beautiful together,” said Bardem.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile starring Javier Bardem, Shawn Mendes, and Constance Wu releases in theaters on October 7, 2022. 

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