Playing the role of a cancer patient in a Disney+ film hits home for Chicago area native

When actor Fin Argus took on the role of a teen told his time was limited due to a cancer diagnosis, he didn’t have to go far for inspiration.

An aunt “had been battling cancer herself for basically my entire life growing up,” said Argus. “For that reason, we [in Argus’ family] have always been really in tune with anyone’s battle with cancer that was on the news or any inspiring individuals, and Zach was certainly one of those inspiring individuals.”

Argus, a Des Plaines native who briefly attended Maine West High School, plays Zach Sobiech, a 17-year-old Minnesota musician who deals with normal teenage trials and tribulations while living with osteosarcoma — a rare form of bone cancer — in the film “Clouds,” which premieres Friday on Disney+.

Disney+

The movie is based on “Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way,” the memoir written by Laura Sobiech, Zach’s mother.

“I got really close with the Sobiechs prior to filming and throughout filming, so it felt like meeting an old friend,” said Argus. “Although we had never met, we had a lot in common emotionally and in terms of dealing with that specific struggle and learning how to come through it in a positive way. We were able to open up with each other and we had to be able to tell Zach’s story in an honest way to do his story justice.”

The song “Clouds,” which Zach wrote in 2012, charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually becoming an international hit. The song went to No. 1 on iTunes and has about 14 million YouTube views to date. After Zach’s death (on May 20, 2013), his family founded The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund via Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

Argus says his aunt often pushed him to pursue his own passion: singing and songwriting.

“She was always encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and perform and write music,” said Argus. “It was a beautiful full-circle moment to be able to film ‘Clouds’ last year, and I even got to share some of the movie with my aunt before she passed, which is also very special and this movie means a lot to all of us. I feel very very lucky to have been a part of it, and have had so much support throughout the entire process from not only my own family but also the Sobiechs.”

While filming “Clouds,” Argus enjoyed working with fellow Chicago area native Lil Rel Howery — a West Sider — who plays Mr. Weaver, one of Zach’s teachers.

“Having him there and being able to bond over Chicago was really nice,” said Argus. “It felt like a little piece of home there, and everything that I got to shoot with him was so much fun. He’s [Howery] is an incredibly talented actor, super funny and grounded. … I was talking about how I’m a big Cubs fan and would always go to games and just the fact that we were missing Chicago life because I think he was in the midst of filming a couple of projects.”

Disney+

Argus, who previously appeared in the Fox series “The Gifted,” expects people who stream “Clouds” will get a lot out of it.

“The big takeaway from not only filming but also, I’d imagine, from watching the movie is that Zack had a terminal diagnosis,” said Argus. “It really brings to light the fact that we all have limited time and we need to make the most of it while we can, and that means holding the people you love just that much tighter and telling people you love them.

“I think listening to Zach’s music and seeing how he used his art as a way to bring people together and stay connected to himself and his loved ones through such a difficult time is a really inspiring thing to see how you can take something so difficult like what everyone’s experiencing right now.”