Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles made a surprise cameo in Taylor Swift’s latest music video for her single Fortnight, part of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.
The actors, who starred together in the 1989 classic Dead Poets Society, reunited to play scientists in Swift’s video, which explores themes of love and heartbreak.
The collaboration was revealed by Hawke during his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 6, 2024.
He shared that the inclusion of himself and Charles was a nod to their famous film and described keeping the project a secret as a unique challenge, especially from his teenage daughters.
According to Hawke, maintaining secrecy was essential, as he was under a non-disclosure agreement that added an extra layer of excitement and difficulty to the process.
He said, “I think she [Taylor Swift] wanted to hide a little Easter egg about Dead Poets Society.”
Hawke humorously recounted the experience of moving through airports, knowing he had a secret that many Taylor Swift fans, identifiable by their Swift-themed apparel, would love to know.
He likened the experience to feeling like rockstars, given the significant anticipation and fanfare surrounding anything related to the Blank Space singer.
““I can’t imagine what it’s like to walk through an airport with a friend you’ve known for 35 years and watch all the young people with their Eras sweatshirts on and their Taylor Swift things, and we got something on them, We’re going to meet the queen ourselves,” Hawke said.
The video for Fortnight features a series of Easter eggs and references, including callbacks to Swift’s previous works and her cultural impact, which fans are encouraged to find and interpret.
The release coincided with the launch of Swift’s album on April 19, making for a comprehensive artistic package that ties her music to visual representations.
Taylor Swift later took to Instagram to explain her vision for the video, noting that every element was metaphorical or a direct reference to parts of her album.
She expressed satisfaction with how the video serves as a “perfect visual representation” of her record, embodying the stories and emotions she aimed to convey through her music.