A fantastical journey awaits in the animated film In Your Dreams, which arrives on Netflix on Nov. 14.
In the comedic and enchanting story, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her younger brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen), discover a magical book that summons the Sandman to make any dream a reality. They then set out on a life-affirming quest to find the mythical character and make an urgent wish to fix their family.
The epic adventure is brought to life by an ensemble that also includes Cristin Milioti (Mom), Simu Liu (Dad), Craig Robinson (Baloney Tony), Omid Djalili (the Sandman), and Gia Carides (Nightmara).
L-R: Cristin Milioti, Simu Liu, Craig Robinson, and Alex Woo
“At its core, the movie is about the power of dreams and especially the power of dreaming together,” writer-director Alex Woo (Go! Go! Cory Carson) tells Tudum. “The story centers on Stevie and Elliot, two siblings who love each other but definitely get on each other’s nerves, particularly Elliot, who’s a lot like my own brother was growing up. It’s really about their journey and Stevie learning to value her brother and the strength that comes from partnering and dreaming together.”
This magical tale marks Woo’s feature film debut. He crafted the story with executive producer Stanley Moore and wrote the screenplay alongside co-director Erik Benson. Timothy Hahn and Gregg Taylor serve as producers.
So who else will be along for this imaginative ride? Keep scrolling to learn all about the cast of In Your Dreams.
Stevie, 12, used to be best friends with her younger brother, Elliot, but she isn’t thrilled about sharing a room with him these days. And after sensing a growing rift between her parents, she’ll go to great lengths — like chasing after a fictional character — to keep her family intact.
“Stevie is a self-described fixer. Anytime she sees a problem or finds something imperfect, she makes it her mission to find a solution,” Hoang-Rappaport told Netflix. “She’s very much a perfectionist, just like how I was at her age. That’s what excited me about playing Stevie.”
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Eight-year-old Elliot, Stevie’s younger brother, fully embraces the messiness of life. His hair is as unkempt as his side of the bedroom, and he leaves out slices of bologna for his missing stuffed giraffe Baloney Tony.
“I would describe Elliot as the typical little brother. He really just wants to play with his sister, but he can come off a little annoying at times,” Janssen explained. “One thing that I really liked about playing Elliot was he has such a big imagination and it's so fun, and he can really make any situation positive with his imagination.”
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Michael Ting, aka Dad, is a fun-loving father and talented musician who formed the indie folk bad the Hypsonics with his then girlfriend, now wife Jennifer (Milioti) in college.
Twelve years later, he’s the only member left and working on his fifth album, though none of the other band members have reached the heights of the Hypsonics’ breakout debut. Michael still loves what he does and believes in pursuing his dreams to set an example for his kids that they should never give up on theirs.
“My character is the kind of goofy and fun dad we all wish we had, always dancing, playing games and cracking jokes,” Liu noted. “I think he’s a great hang for kids because he very much is one still. There’s an endearing naivete and childlike wonder still present in him that probably makes him a bit of a tough partner to build a family with.”
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Jennifer, aka Mom, is the former frontwoman of the Hypsonics. After giving birth to Elliot, she stepped back from the bandto pursue a more practical career that would give her kids the stability she believes they need. She teaches music at the local community college, but aspires to be a professor at a big university.
“My character is really dedicated to making a better life for her family, and that might involve having to sacrifice the possibility of being a musician and their band continuing on,” Milioti noted. “Her marriage is going through a moment of being tested by the ways in which people grow apart and find each other again. And I think she’s sort of trying to figure it out as she goes along.”
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Baloney Tony is Elliot’s beloved stuffed animal. A small, one-eyed giraffe with a matted mane, Tony gets his name from his unique aroma. Elliot has been stuffing processed meat into his seam since he was a toddler.
This wisecracking sidekick, who’s as cute as he is funny, joins Stevie and Elliot on their grand outing.
“Baloney Tony knows a few things about the dream world,” Robinson said.
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The Sandman invites dreamers into worlds filled with wonder, fantasy, and perfection to inspire them with what the world could be — and even what it should be. The Sandman is Stevie’s best shot at keeping her family together.
“I’ve always thought dreams are evidence of a world beyond this life. A glimpse of the unknown,” Djalili said. “This is the closest I will ever be to playing a role connected to the divine.”
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While the Sandman weaves sweet dreams, Nightmara conjures every nightmare that’s ever haunted the mind. The yin to the Sandman’s yang, Nightmara forces Stevie and Elliot to confront their deepest fears.
Playing the role of Nightmara was “a delicious challenge because she was at once terrifying but also wise and full of love and guidance,” Carides told Netflix. “To convey these very different energies was an extraordinarily creative collaboration that was a joy to be part of.”
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