ScreenRant’s Coffee Chats returns for episode 3, this time with a twist! Pets director Bryce Dallas Howard is the woman of the hour, and she spices things up by ordering H๏τ chocolate with host Liam Crowley. The two have a casual and cozy conversation over a cup of cocoa, which includes diving into Howard’s longtime love of H๏τ chocolate, her latest directorial project, and what she’s got cooking in a galaxy far, far away, all at Gumption Coffee in New York City’s Midtown Manhattan.

Howard follows previous Coffee Chats guests Noah Centineo and Jack Quaid. The second-generation Hollywood talent, best known for her blockbuster roles in franchises like Jurᴀssic World and Spider-Man, has dedicated much of her recent years in Hollywood to directing, helming various episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. She now returns to documentary filmmaking with Disney+’s Pets, a collection of real stories about kids’ relationships with their furry friends.

In Coffee Chats, Howard brings her enthusiasm for H๏τ chocolate into Gumption Coffee’s cafe, revealing what made her pivot from caffeinated morning beverages to H๏τ cocoa. She then shares how she captured the various anecdotes for Pets, including the unique technology and storytelling techniques that her team utilized on the project.

Coffee Chats no.3 w/ Bryce Dallas Howard

H๏τ Chocolate Powers Bryce’s Daily Routine

H๏τ chocolate has always been a pastime for Howard, but the star did previously have an extended stay with coffee. Howard noted that while she “never had a sip” of coffee in her childhood, her hours on film sets helped welcome the drink into her life, but maintained H๏τ chocolate as her first love.

“I love H๏τ chocolate. I’ve always loved H๏τ chocolate. I joke that I should have a T-shirt that I wear at all times that says, ‘Powered by H๏τ chocolate.’ When folks are worried about me, they’ll be like, ‘You look like you need a H๏τ chocolate.’ It’s a pᴀssionate love affair. I did used to drink coffee. I didn’t drink coffee until I was in my early 20s. Never even had a sip. I did my first movie, The Village, and while I was filming that, it was some really late nights and I was like, ‘Okay, coffee.’ As I aged, my tummy didn’t respond as well to coffee as I used to, and so I shifted over to H๏τ chocolate and it’s been great.”

Howard’s First Moment Of Consciousness Came With Pets

“Frisky brought me to Earth, it was that meaningful…”

For Howard, H๏τ chocolate shares the “favorite pastime” spotlight with pets. Her latest directing endeavor, Pets, is another pᴀssion project aimed at making “people feel good.” The creative process behind finding the right subject involves Howard asking herself “what makes me feel good?” and in this case, furry friends have been rooted in her fond memories since she was literally first able to form them.

“I was very lucky growing up because my parents had a lot of pets. My parents surrounded me with pets. I was a really quiet kid, and my first dog, Frisky, my parents brought him home, and he grabbed my blanket, we were having a tug of war, and at that point I hadn’t really talked that much, and I just let out this huge laugh, this huge belly laugh, which I still have. It was the first time that my parents had ever heard a sound like that coming out of me. Frisky brought me to Earth or something. My dad literally told this story at my wedding. It was that meaningful to them because they didn’t know what was going on and then all they needed was a pet. And then I was there. I was like, ‘Oh, I like this planet!'”

Howard’s Favorite Star Wars Creature Hasn’t Been Introduced Yet

Lips Are Sealed On An Upcoming Star Wars Furry Friend

Outside of her documentaries, Howard’s most notable directing work comes in the Star Wars franchise. She has put her stamp on the galaxy far, far away’s streaming stories, directing episodes of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew. Furry friends have been prevalent throughout that world, such as fan-favorite creatures like Ewoks and Porgs, but Howard’s favorite has yet to be seen by the public.

“I do [have a favorite Star Wars creature], but I can’t say what it is. We haven’t met it yet.”

More About ScreenRant’s Coffee Chats

Coffee Chats operates as a mixture of personal discussion through the lens of coffee as well as a dive into the guest’s latest project. Along the way, we’ll hit a Cold Brew Open, give our First Sip Synopsis, discuss our personal Coffee Callbacks, share our dream Desert Island Drinks and more.

“I pride myself on being a conversationalist, and there’s no better setting to chat it up with someone than a cafe,” ScreenRant Reporter, Host Liam Crowley said. “Back when I attended Syracuse University, I used to make ‘coffee review’ videos with my friends on my social media. To essentially expand that 60-second concept into a full-blown production and be accompanied by some of the biggest names in Hollywood is a true ‘pinch me’ moment.“

“From the moment I reached out to Liam about joining ScreenRant’s New York team, we envisioned expanding our content offerings with engaging, in-depth interviews, including an original series,” ScreenRant Editorial, Branding, and PR Director Rob Keyes said. “Liam already had an idea for this, and Coffee Chats perfectly embodies this vision, offering a unique format that connects audiences with leading industry talent while supporting local businesses. We are thrilled to launch this series and collaborate with local establishments on this exciting initiative.”

“Over the past 21 years, ScreenRant has interviewed every star in Hollywood several times,” ScreenRant Content Director Alex Leadbeater said. “Across press junkets, red carpets, convention panels and beyond, we’ve been a constant presence in the entertainment industry. Coffee Chats builds upon this success to create a more intimate backdrop for a more personal, longer-form style of interview.“

Coffee Chats is created by Crowley, Keyes, and Leadbeater and is produced by Tiffany Loving, Laura Watson, Jacques Reeder, John Aljets, and Leah Nucum.

Check out our other Coffee Chats episodes with…

• Noah Centineo
• Jack Quaid