Tait Blum Is Quietly Redefining Young Hollywood

There’s a quiet intensity to Tait Blum — the kind that comes from years of honing craft, curiosity, and courage in equal measure. From his early days in family comedies like Home Team to darker turns in Titans, Blum has shown an instinct for depth beyond his years. Now, as he steps into The Last Frontier, Apple TV+’s upcoming drama from director Sam Hargrave and producer Jason Clarke, Blum finds himself at the intersection of discipline and discovery — ready to define what the next era of his career looks like.

The Last Frontier is being helmed by Sam Hargrave and produced by Apple Studios—a powerhouse team. What excites you most about stepping into this Apple TV+ drama alongside Jason Clarke?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with Apple Studios in the past, and was familiar with how they operate and the quality of their projects, but to be able to collaborate with guys like Jason and Sam is a real gift. Jason has such a strong, commanding presence, and Sam is a deeply intuitive director. It’s a dynamic group andI’ve been grateful for the opportunity since I got “the call”.

You’ve worked across genres-from family comedies like Home Team to darker projects like Titans. How do you prepare yourself mentally when shifting between such different tones of storytelling?
Familiarity with the script and repetition are very important to me. Absorbing the feeling of a new character, coming to set completely prepared and being able to “flip the switch”whenever necessary, is the goal. Once I’m acclimated to a project, I feel like I become more versatile.

Playing Connor Payton in Home Team gave you the unique chance to portray the son of a real-life NFL coach. What did you take away from blending sports, family, and comedy in that film?
As a lifelong football junkie, I was already an admirer of Sean Payton and what he had done for the Saints and the city of New Orleans. From day one, my family and I have been huge Denver Broncos fans, which has been something we’ve always bonded over.So, to portray a football player in a Happy Madison film was one of the easiest “yeses”I’ve given.

You’ve portrayed younger versions of established characters, such as Bob Lee Swagger in Shooter and Hank Hall in Titans. What’s the challenge of bringing continuity to characters audiences already know?
There’s definitely always going to be a certain pressure to meet or exceed the expectations of what an audience believes a character “should be”, but I think that when you’re dealing with a younger version, that character is distinct, and really hasn’t been defined yet. That’s the actor’s job. I don’t mind the pressure, and honestly enjoy the challenge! You’re never going to make everyone happy – that’s just something you have to accept.

Between go-kart racing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ve proven you thrive in high-intensity competition. Do you feel those disciplines have shaped the way you approach acting?
Absolutely. I already had a history of competing in BJJ and karting, before I started acting. My dad’s mentality has always been,“if my kid wants to do something, we’re just gonna throw him into the deep end until he learns to swim”, which is a mindset I’ve adopted myself. It’s pretty much always been 100% or nothing for me, in whatever I’ve chosen to do.

You and your brother both ended up playing the same character, Shane Baldwin, at different ages in For All Mankind. How did that surreal crossover influence your appreciation for storytelling?
Teddy and I talk about this all the time. Acting and storytelling are things we both love and appreciate so deeply, and for us, it’s always been a team effort. Once in a rare while, you get the privilege of collaborating on a project with someone you’re close to.On For All Mankind, that person just happened to be my brother. These types of opportunities are special and we don’t take them for granted. The goal for both of us, isto work together again…which will happen in due time.

You’ve spoken about embarrassing audition moments-like the Taylor Swift callback.Looking back, how do those “fails” end up fueling your confidence today?
Yes, I think you’re referring to an audition where I was asked to dance and sing a TaylorSwift tune on the spot, which I knew very few of the lyrics to. It’s really common to be self conscious during an audition, especially when your goal is to impress the biggest person in the room! I think the freedom to fail, to abandon the mindset that you “have” to book a role and impress people, is such an important thing. To accept that you’re not only allowed to mess up, but that it actually makes you more resilient, brings a level of confidence that I wouldn’t have now, had I not made a fool of myself so many times. It’s easy to beat yourself up about your losses, and it feels terrible at the time, but it’s just not that serious.

Your career is already stacked with projects under big names- Robert Zemeckis, Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison, Kevin James. What lessons have you absorbed from working with such industry veterans?
A key takeaway is in being confident in what I personally bring to the table – being content with my own performance, whether there’s an audience or not. There’s a certain level-headed stature that a lot of the industry veterans I’ve worked with carry, and it’s something I aspire to emulate.

Outside of acting, you’ve lived in multiple states and come from a very mobile upbringing. How has that shaped your adaptability on set and your perspective as a young actor navigating Hollywood?
I love to travel, explore, and experience new cultures. As much as I also love being home, it feels like a reward to go somewhere new. Living in, and visiting many places has definitely shaped my adaptability on set, because each project nearly always promises locational challenges. In this industry you learn that you have to be ready for anything.

Looking ahead, you’ve mentioned wanting to dive into sci-fi or drama. If you could design your dream role, what kind of story would it tell-and what part of you would it challenge the most ? I’ve always been drawn to character driven films that emphasize quality over quantity. Adream role would be in a slice of life, human interest story where I had the opportunity to kind of “chew on the furniture”, and offer my interpretation. I would love for my work to resonate in a way that makes people have to stop and actually think.

From football fields to frontier landscapes, Tait Blum’s story continues to evolve with precision and purpose. As he steps into Apple’s The Last Frontier, one thing becomes clear — he’s not just playing roles; he’s shaping narratives. With instinct, humility, and drive as his compass, Blum isn’t chasing the spotlight — he’s redefining what it means to earn it.

Photography DaMarko GianCarlo www.damarkogiancarlophotogrpahy.com

Grooming Myrlen Monge @Myrlenmonge

Wardrobe Fairfax Copenhagen @fairfaxcopenhagen