'A Christmas Story' actor Zack Ward talks his Maine coons and magical new movie

Zack Ward, known best for his role as Scut Farkus in "A Christmas Story," has a lot to celebrate with his new movie "Keepers of the Five Kingdoms" — and his two precious cats.

I caught up with Zack to talk about the release of "Keepers of the Five Kingdoms" and the conversation turned to his Internet-famous cats.

Zack and his wife rescued the bonded pair after a friend found them abandoned in an alleyway. Despite initially hesitating to adopt them, Zack couldn't bear to separate the two Maine coon mix kittens.

Reflecting on the decision to keep CC and Crosbie, he said, "These two kittens, you see how they cuddle up with each other. I was like, I can't separate these little goofballs. I can't be that guy, so I adopted them."

Despite jokingly describing them as "jerks," Zack's love for his furry companions shines through. He often shares glimpses of their antics on social media, where fans have grown fond of the adorable feline duo. In fact, Zack humorously mentioned how people recognize him more for his cats on Instagram than for his own work in the entertainment industry.

He recalls the first moment he realized the cats were gaining popularity, "My wife, Jen and I were (out) and somebody comes up and says, hey, you're Zack Ward, right? I'm like, yeah. It's like, yeah, I follow your cats on Instagram."

And while his cats keep him entertained at home, Zack is excited to entertain audiences with his new film which he wrote, directed and edited. He describes "Keeper of the Five Kingdoms" as a blend of old-school practical effects and modern technology.

A project near to his heart Zack said the movie "is my love letter to the movies from the '80s that I grew up on. 'The Goonies,' 'Big Trouble in Little China,' 'Labyrinth,' 'Dark Crystal,' 'NeverEnding Story.' Those are the types of films that I just loved as a kid. And I got to make this with two of my heroes, James Hong and George Takei from 'Star Trek.' So that was a fantastic adventure."

Notably, the film breaks new ground by featuring James Hong, a 95-year-old Asian actor, as the action hero, a first in Hollywood history.

The movie, set to be released June 18th on various platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play, promises to be a thrilling adventure for audiences of all ages. With a mix of magic, sci-fi, and a heartwarming story, "Keeper of the Five Kingdoms" is poised to captivate viewers and transport them on an unforgettable journey.

Follow Zack Ward on social media to catch more glimpses of his adorable feline friends and stay updated on his latest projects.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for the June 18th release of "Keeper of the Five Kingdoms," a movie that promises to enchant audiences with its magical family adventure.

To watch my full conversation with Zack Ward, click here:

KJ is a longtime trusted media personality, TV producer, author, entrepreneur and proud cat mom to seven rescues. She is the Kitty Correspondent for Pet Pals TV, the founder of the Kinda Nerdy Network which features the KJ TODAY Show, the Kinda Nerdy Girls podcast and The Cat Conversation podcast. She is also the author of the book “Raised by Cats: Behind the Mic and the Meows” which was an instant Amazon #1 New Release in 2022 on National Cat Day. Follow KJ and her House of Cats on social media here.