Reed Horstmann Dishes on Playing Jake and the Twists of The Villains of Valley View Season 2
Things are really heating up on Season 2 of The Villains of Valley View, and they're about to get even wilder.
The new season started on June 15 on the Disney Channel and Disney+, with the supervillainous Madden family continuing to attempt to live normal lives in the peaceful town of Valley View—but that's more easily said than done. Actor Reed Horstmann plays Jake Madden (aka Chaos), the eldest son of the family, who does some major soul-searching this season. We had the pleasure of chatting with Reed all about his love for acting, what makes the role so special and his musical career. Get the full story below.
Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific a-ha moment that made you realize it was the path for you?
Reed Horstmann: I did a lot of acting classes and summer camps growing up, but the real a-ha moment for me happened when I was around 12 or 13. This was when I did my first major theater production at the Denver Center Theatre. It was that theater company, the connections I made and the amount of fulfillment I got that made me want to pursue this dream.
(Photo credit: Rowan Daly)
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SH: How does it feel to be back for The Villains of Valley View Season 2? What's new this season, and how does that shake things up for the Maddens?
RH: Being back for season two was such a great feeling because we hit the ground running right from the start; we had such good momentum in the first few weeks of filming that set the tone for the rest of the season. Plus, we were already so close as a cast which made filming such an easy and smooth process. This season I would say to viewers to expect the status quo to change; as soon as you think these characters are safe, danger strikes. We open with the villains dealing with the aftermath of Season 1: Amy wants to become the Leader of all Villains, but her family has grown to love living in Valley View. This conflict causes Amy to go behind their backs, and this action results in serious conflicts and a new enemy for the family.
SH: What new developments does Jake have this season? What was it like to get back into his villainous shoes yet again?
RH: Jake has always been one who prefers to be different from the rest of his family. We see this in his journey of self-discovery in Season 1. This time around, though, major event revelations within the family cause Jake to rethink this path he's on. To him, what's the point of trying so hard to become a better person when all he gets is doubt and teasing for it? This causes Jake to really reassess who he wants to be moving forward. As an actor, this was a dream for the character to have this kind of inner turmoil in what was previously an even-tempered, confident guy.
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SH: Do you see anything in Jake's arc that parallels your own journey of growing up?
RH: In a way, yes. Jake is really in this in-between period of who he used to be and who he wants to become. I think that's something everyone can relate to as they're going through high school. He's trying to find the things that matter to him and make him happy while his family teases him for being different. I think where we differ is Jake has a sibling so close in age, Amy, who acts as this constant source of competition and rivalry. Despite their competitive spirit, Amy and Jake really do bring out the best in each other when something threatens the family. They have this sort of unsaid understanding between the two that despite their different interests, they will always support each other when all is said and done.
(Photo credit: Rowan Daly)
SH: What's been your most memorable moment from the set this season?
RH: This is always so tricky because looking back on Season 2 really feels like a blur with how fast we were moving, but one of the things that stands out the most would be our very special Halloween episode coming soon. I won't go into too many details, but it was our first musical episode, complete with recorded music and dance choreography. I think it's an episode viewers will love; it's very reminiscent of the great Halloween episodes on Disney Channel I grew up watching.
SH: Anything new you can't wait for fans to see?
RH: I think fans are gonna see a whole new side of the Maddens this season as conflict grows and new situations arise, both in some hilarious comedy and some drama as well. The writers did a great job at completely shaking up the dynamics that caused us to think of our characters in a whole new way. Something big I will hint toward is that the Maddens' world is certainly expanding, and their family is not at all what they thought it was.
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SH: What else are you super proud of right now?
RH: I'm super proud to say I'm performing with my best friend, Sacha Carlson, in a new band right now across L.A. with some songs that we'll be releasing. We started performing back in March, and since then, we've slowly been playing more and more of the famous L.A. venues on Sunset. On July 18 we'll be headlining the world-famous Troubadour, which will be our biggest show yet.
SH: Where else can we see your work at the moment?
RH: You can catch Villains of Valley View on Disney Channel and now streaming on Disney+. If you live in L.A., you can catch my band performing all through the summer, and we're hoping to start playing in Nashville soon for those who live out there!
(Photo credit: Rowan Daly)
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SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
RH: Thank you for having me! For those of you reading, thank you so much for the support, and remember to watch Villains of Valley View!
If you can't get enough of The Villains of Valley View, also be sure to click HERE to read our interview with Reed's costar Kayden Muller Janssen on her new single, "Meant to Be."