Shannon Kook goes to some Dark Places

Shannon Kook, Tye Sheridan and Chloe Moretz in, Dark Places

Canadian actor and 2014 TIFF Rising Star Shannon Kook is going places. Best known for his role as Zane Park in the hit television series Degrassi:The Next Generation, Kook has been making a name for himself on the big screen. He was recently seen in the horror, The Conjuring and this weekend you'll be able to see his "dark side" in the new thriller, Dark Places.

Dark Places is based on the best selling novel by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and stars Charlize Theron as a woman who must confront traumatic childhood memories of the murder of her mother and two sisters when she investigates the possibility that her brother (Corey Stoll) is innocent of the crime. Shannon plays Trey Teepano, a mysterious character who may or may not have been involved in the murders.  He is the younger version of J. LaRose’s character. Shannon spent most of his time working with Chloe Grace Moretz and Tye Sheridan who he says immediately made him feel right at home.

J. LaRose has one major scene in the film but the bulk of the storyline revolves around Shannon. He is the younger version, but the main character arc is "his" Trey. Shannon's character is based in the 80s when Charlize’s character was a kid. They try and figure out what happened with the whole massacre of the family. He is closely tied with her older brother Ben, played by Tye Sheridan who plays Cyclops in X-Men: Apocalypse. Chloë Grace Moretz plays Ben's girlfriend Diondra.

Born in South Africa, Shannon was accepted into the National Theater School of Canada and began his acting career in Canada where be quickly gained recognition in the film industry and he has become one of Canada's rising stars.

Shannon Kook   Photo Credit: Gilles Toucas

I spoke with Shannon Kook via Skype from his home in Toronto about working on Dark Places, his audition process and preparation for the role, what being a part of Degrassi has meant to him and his upcoming film, A Christmas Story which stars William Shatner.  

Dark Places which also stars Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Drea de Matteo, Chloë Grace Moretz, Corey Stoll, and Tye Sheridan is in theatres on August 7th