Mitchell Slaggert may not have originally intended to seek out an entertainment career, but the model-turned-actor is working up a storm in 2017. “Wish Upon,” the much-anticipated thriller about a teen girl who discovers a magical but sinister wish-granting box, will see the multi-hyphenate young star appear alongside Joey King and Ryan Phillippe, as character Paul Middlebrook.
Slaggert’s meteoric rise to A-list work is the stuff of show business fairy tales. W Magazine reports that the Fayetteville, Georgia native was discovered walking around downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, by Daniel Peddle — a casting director and agent who also introduced the world to Jennifer Lawrence. Slaggert told W Magazine, “He asked me if I wanted to model and it sounded too good to be true. Usually it is, but I got lucky.”
Slaggert had been in the process of applying for a job with the Department of Homeland Security. Instead, the striking Southerner found himself with a very different job as the new face of Calvin Klein’s underwear campaign, working alongside such superstars as Kendall Jenner and fashion photography icons Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
Of his work with Calvin Klein, Slaggert told Vogue, “It’s an honor! Only great things can come from this. It’s such an iconic brand and has launched many careers; I’m blessed to take part in something so special.”
From his high-profile modeling work, Slaggert was poised to pursue choice acting roles. He enrolled in the 4-Week Acting for Film Workshop at the New York Film Academy’s New York City campus last summer to prepare for this transition, and 2017 will see him grace both the small and big screen. He played the title character in Daniel Peddle’s “Moss,” which premiered in June, and portrayed Eric in TV drama “Diablo Guardian,” released in Mexico in March.
“Wish Upon” will be the actor’s largest release to date, and fans of the horror and thriller genre will be treated to a story with a unique twist. Yet Slaggert maintains a down-to-earth, distinctly Southern perspective, and was quoted in Vogue as pointing to his loved ones as a source of stability: “My friends, my family, and my girlfriend have helped me to stay rooted and take all of this in stride. No need to ride your high horse around town!”
“Wish Upon” opened in theatres Friday, July 14, nationwide.