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Interview: Adam Devine and Sarah Hyland Talk Reuniting for ‘Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin’

Sarah Hyland, Adam Devine in Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin
W Network

Whether you’re a fan of the aca-awesome world of Pitch Perfect, you’re a long-time stan of Haley and Andy from Modern Family (you’re a “Handy,” if you will) or both, chances are the upcoming series Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin is on your must-watch list this holiday season. 

To prepare ourselves for the songs, spectacle and storytelling of the new show, we caught up with stars Adam Devine (reprising his Pitch Perfect role of Bumper Allen) and Sarah Hyland (who joins the cast as Heidi) to talk redemption arcs, leaps of faith — and how they feel about rekindling their on-screen chemistry.

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin premieres Thursday Dec. 8 at 9 PM & 9:30 PM E/P on W Network in Canada.

Adam Devine in Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin
W Network

The return — and redemption — of Bumper Allen

It’s been seven years since fans last saw Devine’s character, Bumper, in Pitch Perfect 2. And, as it has for us all, life has taken some turns and changed in ways that the character may not have anticipated. Bumper has become a bit of an underdog when we first rejoin him — which means that Bumper in Berlin gives fans a chance to see where the character has gone, while also taking us along for the ride as he grows and develops.

it’s nice to watch Bumper evolve into a full-fledged human being.

“What this show does, and [the reason] I was so excited to do the series was that I felt like Bumper never got his redemption story in the movie,” Devine told us. “You just were sort of left, he was kind of left hanging in the second movie, and then he was sort of forgotten about in the third movie.”

“So, this is getting to show where he is now, and the sad place that he is now, sort of exactly where we left him in the second movie,” Devine explains. “And it’s nice to watch Bumper evolve into a full-fledged human being — a member of society, if you will.”

Related: The richest singers in 2022 — ranked by net worth.

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Sarah Hyland, Adam Devine in Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin
W Network

Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine are back together on screen

As Modern Family fans know well, Bumper in Berlin isn’t the first time that Devine and Hyland have been paired together on screen (the actors played friends-and-sometimes-couple, Andy and Haley) — and getting the band back together was a perk for the actors, too.

I was a big ‘Handy’ fan myself, so I think it’s really fun and maybe we can see what’s going to happen with Heidi and Bumper this time, instead of Haley and Andy.

“I mean, we just have so much fun as friends on that together,” Hyland told us of the opportunity to act together in Bumper in Berlin. “But then I think the chemistry that we have is really special on screen. I was so excited. I was a big ‘Handy’ fan myself, so I think it’s really fun and maybe we can see what’s going to happen with Heidi and Bumper this time, instead of Haley and Andy.”

Devine shared the sentiment. “…obviously. I mean, I love Sarah. I think she’s super talented and we work together so well. So, it was just natural that I was so excited when she agreed to do the show, because I was like, ‘Please do it.’ And I’m so happy that she did it.”

“When you watch the show, you’ll see what a great, fantastic job she does,” Devine added. “And she’s just so talented. She has, like, so many skillsets in her little tool belt — her ‘acting tool belt.’ Is [acting tool belt] a thing people say?”

You may also like: Interview: FLETCHER is learning to love herself.

Sarah Hyland in Pitch Perfect: Bumper In Berlin
W Network

Heidi is all about the music

Hyland’s character, Heidi, is Pieter’s assistant in Berlin (yes — that Pieter from Das Sound Machine, played by Flula Borg) in Bumper in Berlin, but she’s also a passionate musician who is dedicated to her craft — something that Hyland can relate to. 

“She’s very much a perfectionist and she really, really is all about… like for her music, she’s all about lyrics and the melody and everything that makes it special. And if it’s not perfect, no one can see it — I feel very similar to her in that regard,” Hyland said. “I think a lot of people can [relate], whether it’s music or just something that you’re passionate about… you have to take that leap of faith.”

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While fans may know Bumper as a musician who deeply craves fame, Heidi is a character who shares a passion for music, but maybe approaches performance from a different angle.

I think a lot of people can [relate], whether it’s music or just something that you’re passionate about… you have to take that leap of faith.

“So, for the Bumper-Heidi contrast, it’s a really great juxtaposition to each other of where they both can lean on each other for boosting their strengths and weaknesses,” Hyland explained. “They really balance each other out. And because they care so much about each other and they’re so supportive, it goes a long way for both of them.”

Related: The pop-punk renaissance is here, Thanks to Olivia Rodrigo and Willow Smith.

Devine and Hyland on musical mash-ups

Following along the musical train, we wondered what recent popular songs may make a good acapella mix — and the stars came up with some unique and (honestly, so cool) mash-up ideas.

“…in the past five years. See, that’s my issue: I don’t know if I’ve listened to popular music in five years,” Devine said.

I thought you meant the Jason Robert Brown musical, The Last Five Years,” Hyland said. 

Jokes aside, the duo came up with a fun compromise for a hypothetical musical mash-up.

“I was going to do, like, the Olivia Rodrigo —” Hyland said. 

Oh, yeah! I like Olivia Rodrigo,” Devine agreed. “I like Olivia Rodrigo and —”

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“Paramore,” Hyland chimed in.

“And, yeah, I like Paramore, too,” Devine said. “Yeah, I’d mash them up.”

We can see it: aca-covers of “Misery Business” and “deju vu” — performed by Devine and Hyland — perhaps? We’ll be manifesting it while we wait for the premiere of Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin on Dec. 8.

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin premieres Thursday Dec. 8 at 9 PM & 9:30 PM E/P on W Network in Canada.



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