Under Wraps premiered over twenty years ago as the first Disney Channel Original Movie, which paved the way for several beloved classics. Disney Channel has continued making its original films, and this October will release a remake of 1997's Under Wraps. The upcoming family-friendly film will retell the story of a reawakened mummy and the surprising rapport he builds with three children in the modern day. The film largely works due to its main cast, who thoroughly throw themselves into the spooky Disney Channel aesthetic with gusto.
Ahead of the film's debut on Disney Channel on Oct. 1 and Disney+ premiere on Oct. 8, CBR sat down to interview the cast of Under Wraps -- Malachi Barton, Sophia Hammons, Christian J. Simon, and Phil Wright. The cast discussed Wright's physical performance as Harold the mummy and shared their reactions to becoming an integral part of Disney Channel's history.
CBR: Phil, you had an innate additional challenge of taking on the part of Harold because it meant pretty much no dialogue -- just physicality and grunts to convey emotion in the film. What was that like to tackle as a performer?
Phil Wright: It was pretty challenging.
It was tough at the beginning because I'm used to lines. Give me a line, I can express through my lines. I can tell you how I feel through my dialogue and my language. But [Under Wraps Director Alex Zamm] and I really had to create another language for Harold to communicate through, and I think, the physicality was great. I felt comfortable in that state. But when it came to reacting to the kids in a scene, it was very, very essential and important for me to really engage my feelings and emotions through the wraps... My eyes were a big part of that because those were the only things that were sort of revealed within me. So, it was great. It was fun, challenging, and I think, we did a great job doing it.
Christian J. Simon: Mr. Phil is amazing. Let me just say that. He is so great to work with and he was such a great mentor -- even being in the mummy costume. He taught me a lot. He was just there for us every step of the way. But to be honest, the way Mr. Phil played that mummy, he did such a good job because you can feel the feelings of the mummy, and it's so many different things. He really did a great job, and it was great working with him.
Sophia Hammons: Phil is probably one of the most hardworking people I've ever met. He does not stop working at his craft, whichever craft that is, whether dancing, acting, being a mummy. He's so hardworking, such a genuine person. Honestly, I think that helped with being Harold because of how genuine he is. Even under all of this prosthetic and costume, you could tell he was still conveying these emotions. It really affected us. I could say that Christian and I were definitely emotional when Harold was emotional -- even though it's just a bunch of grunts.
Malachai, Sophia, and Christian -- you all are obviously younger than the Disney Channel Orginal Movies brand, but now you get to be a part of a legacy that's been important to multiple generations of kids. What's it like to be a part of that legacy and to be a part of the lives of the kids who grow up with this film?
Malachi Barton: It's crazy. It really is. There are big shoes to fill. Not only are you having kids who are watching this movie, but you're also having educated adults who [saw] the original, that was their childhood, so they're going to watch this movie. So, it's a little bit scary, but I'm also very confident because my castmates and I did a pretty good job. But yeah, to think that I might be somebody's childhood, it's pretty crazy.
Sophia Hammons: It feels incredible. I feel honored almost. It's like, "Wow, I get to be a part of a lot of kids' childhood." I know I grew up watching the Disney channel, and a lot of the stars were a part of my childhood, so it feels great that I get to be a part of theirs.
What's it's like to be a part of a project like this, where you're getting to see fans of the original and an entirely new audience come together and both offer a level of excitement over the film?
Christian J. Simon: We all sat down and watched the original movie. Of course, there's some pressure going into remaking the first-ever Disney Channel Original Movie. And you want to honor that. But we really were trying to find ways to, of course, stay true to those characters but still add our own little things in there and still stay true to that storyline by bringing the movie to life and adding our own little spin on it. I'm excited for everybody to see it.
Under Wraps, directed by Alex Zamm, premieres Friday, Oct. 1 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Friday, Oct. 8 on Disney+
0 Comments