Dylan Minnette began his career on screen at an early age, gaining recognition for portraying the younger version of Wentworth Miller’s Michael Scofield in the crime drama series Prison Break from 2005 to 2006. He rose to fame around ten years later when he played Clay Jensen in Netflix’s hit drama series 13 Reasons Why, which lasted from 2017 to 2020. But despite Minnette’s extensive acting background, with roles in horror thrillers like 2016’s Don’t Breathe and 2018’s The Open House, the actor-turned-musician has revealed why he has taken some time off from that part of his career and if he might leave it behind permanently. 

Minnette formed the indie rock band Wallows, then called The Feaver and subsequently The Narwhals from 2014 to 2017, in 2011 with childhood friends Braeden Lemasters, Cole Preston, and former bandmate Zack Mendehall, who left in 2017. Lemasters and Minnette share lead vocals while playing bass and guitar as well, with Preston on drums. They have released three albums: Nothing Happens in 2019, Tell Me That It’s Over in 2022, and Model in 2024. Since the release of their second album, it seems there was a notable shift in focus for Minnette’s career. With 2022 being the last year that Minnette has had an onscreen role, having roles in the film reprisal of Scream and the miniseries biographical drama The Dropout. Yesterday, Minnette opened up on the Therapuss podcast with his bandmates on if he would ever return to acting; he took the time to clear the air, stating, “I think there’s a weird narrative that’s gone around that I quit acting, but I never felt that or said that. I feel like I have a desire to do it again in some regard—and if the right thing comes along, then the right thing comes along.”

Minnette’s comments about his acting experience on the Zach Sang Show last year may have sparked this “weird narrative.” He said how, while he was very fortunate to find such success in the acting field, it “started to feel like a bit of a job.” Minnette elaborated further, saying, “I was in a very fortunate position, it was always fun for me, always really inspiring, but then it was just starting to feel like just a job.” Fingers crossed that Minette finds “right thing” for him. 

Wallows is best known for their songs such as “Calling After Me,” “Are You Bored Yet?” “Scrawny,” and “These Days.”