Why Taylor Swift’s ‘Fortnight’ Music Video Actually Had Those Dead Poets Society Connections, According To Ethan Hawke

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When I first heard the name of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, I immediately thought of the movie Dead Poets Society. It was hard not to make the connection, and it turns out Swift had the same thought! This became clear when actors from the film appeared in the music video for her song “Fortnight,” and now Ethan Hawke has explained why she asked him to be involved.

In Taylor Swift’s music video for “Fortnight,” Hawke and Josh Charles made cameos, which created a very fun Easter egg for Dead Poets Society. Speaking to Parade about that cameo, and why they were asked to do it, Hawke said:

Meeting her is truly impressive. You quickly realize her success isn’t luck – she’s an incredibly talented person. She came up with the entire concept for the video, inspired by a connection she saw between ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and ‘Dead Poets Society,’ and specifically wanted Josh Charles and me to be involved.

Okay, let’s talk about Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department. The moment she announced it at the Grammys, everyone immediately started comparing it to Dead Poets Society, and honestly, it makes sense. Just the titles alone sparked the connection! But it goes deeper than that. As I listened, I found the album’s overall mood – so poetic, melancholic, and dramatic – really echoed the spirit of that classic film, which, by the way, remains one of Ethan Hawke’s strongest performances. Plus, TTPD has this distinct academic vibe that definitely brings Robin Williams and Dead Poets Society to mind.

It felt right to include a reference to the 1989 movie, and I was thrilled that Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles, who played Todd and Knox in the film, were both eager to participate.

Ethan Hawke was thrilled to be in Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” music video. He recalled receiving the call and heading to set with a co-star from The Good Wife. On their way, they walked through the airport and saw many fans wearing Eras Tour merchandise. He said they had a lot of fun during filming, constantly laughing. Reflecting on the experience again, the Before Sunrise actor shared:

Josh and I had a great time together. We hadn’t had much chance to connect lately—we’ve been friends for about 30 years—but it was really fun to travel and share in something our kids were so excited about.

The kids likely enjoyed the reference, even if they didn’t mention it to their fathers, and fans of Dead Poets Society were definitely pleased. Given the initial buzz around both the movie and the album, it was a smart move for Taylor Swift to connect them, as many people already associated the two projects with each other.

It was a fantastic surprise to see Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles appear in Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight.” The cameo was a clever nod to the connection between her album, The Tortured Poets Department, and the film Dead Poets Society (available on Hulu), and it was really special to watch these two well-known actors work with a global music superstar.

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2025-10-25 18:11