Caleb McLaughlin Gets Kicked in the Nuts While Promoting 'Goat'

The 'Stranger Things' star and Gabrielle Union discuss the behind-the-scenes of voiceover work and what makes Sony Animation unique.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union talk to Collider about their experience working on the new Sony Animation film 'Goat'. They discuss the challenges of voiceover work, the creative freedom Sony gives its animators, and some of the strange promotional activities they've been involved with, including McLaughlin getting kicked in the groin during a goat yoga session.

Why it matters

This interview provides a glimpse into the making of an animated film, highlighting the unique approach and creative culture at Sony Animation. It also showcases the personalities of the lead voice actors, Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union, and the unexpected promotional stunts they've participated in to support their projects.

The details

In the interview, McLaughlin and Union discuss their roles in 'Goat', an animated film produced by NBA star Stephen Curry that follows a young goat named Will who dreams of making it big in the sport of 'roarball'. They share insights into the voiceover process, noting that they were never able to record together and had to rely on their own interpretations of the characters. Union also highlights the creative freedom Sony gives its animators, allowing them to infuse the film with their own cultural references and expertise. The conversation takes an unexpected turn when the actors recount some of the strange promotional activities they've been involved with, including McLaughlin's suggestion to do goat yoga, which resulted in him getting kicked in the groin.

  • The interview took place on February 13, 2026.

The players

Caleb McLaughlin

An American actor best known for his role as Lucas Sinclair in the Netflix series 'Stranger Things'. He voices the lead character, Will, in the Sony Animation film 'Goat'.

Gabrielle Union

An American actress, producer, and author who voices the character of Jett Fillmore, Will's childhood idol, in 'Goat'.

Sony Pictures Animation

An American animation studio that has produced critically acclaimed films such as 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' and 'KPop Demon Hunters'.

Tyree Dillihay

The director of 'Goat', known for his work on the animated series 'Bob's Burgers'.

Stephen Curry

An NBA superstar who is a producer on 'Goat'.

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What they’re saying

“What's very funny is that it was an idea that I asked to do. I came up with. It wasn't even something they came to us about. I was like, 'Hey, you ever heard of goat yoga?' I wanted to see if everyone was down.”

— Caleb McLaughlin, Actor (Collider)

“I mean, maybe goat yoga. I've not been asked to interact with farm animals in that way, in those positions. That would be the weirdest thing. And all thanks to the young gun.”

— Gabrielle Union, Actress (Collider)

“Oh, yeah, that was crazy. It was two of them at the same time. Boom!”

— Caleb McLaughlin, Actor (Collider)

“I missed it until they did the slow-mo. I heard the noise, your reaction, but I didn't see it, until they slowed it down for all of us to watch it.”

— Gabrielle Union, Actress (Collider)

“What I liked about GOAT is that it had its own style, but you knew it was Sony's work. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is also a Sony film, as well, and that's what's great about Sony. It has its own individuality. Other animations are great, but Sony doesn't have a specific way of doing it. It kind of goes off of other animations, but it has its own niche. It has its own fan base for each film. So, I like its originality when it comes to Sony's animations.”

— Caleb McLaughlin, Actor (Collider)

What’s next

The film 'Goat' is currently in theaters, so the next steps will be to see how it performs at the box office and with audiences.

The takeaway

This interview highlights the unique creative culture at Sony Animation, which allows its filmmakers to put their own stamp on each project. It also showcases the personalities of the lead voice actors, Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union, and the unexpected promotional stunts they've participated in to support their films.