Change is inevitable, especially on television, the young actors in βGoosebumps: The Vanishingβ discovered.
Just when you think a character is going down a familiar path, he or she veers and winds up in a much different place.
Stony Blyden, who plays Trey, assumed he would be dealing with internalized anger, frustration and jealousy and got a wakeup call midway through the season. βHeβs kind of forced to channel that in a more positive and courageous way.β
Likewise, Elijah M. Cooperβs CJ.
βHe goes from this kind of slip-up jokester guy to this character who trusts himself to be a leader, someone people can depend on,β he says. βThat also happens for other characters in the series.β
"Goosebumps: The Vanishing" stars, from left, Elijah M. Cooper, Francesca Noel, Jayden Bartels, Galilea La Salvia and Stony Blyden.
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When they were first called to read for the eerie Disney series, the actors said they were asked to play different roles β most prominently, the twins who appear front and center in the story.
Galilea La Salvia, who plays Frankie, was considered for Cece, Jayden Bartelsβ character. Blyden was seen for Cooperβs.
When the dust settled, they all got roles, just not the ones they thought they were in line for.
Elijah M. Cooper stars in "Goosebumps: The Vanishing."Β
βOur show runners were looking for people more than characters,β La Salvia says. βI think they did a good job at placing us and just liking us for who we are.β
In the series, theyβre all friends of Cece and Devin, twins who have moved to New York with their father, played by David Schwimmer.
He has a list of rules for the teens and insight into some mystery that swirls around their house. As the five look into a case from the 1990s, they discover there could be a connection.
βWhen weβre filming, we donβt have all the special effects,β Blyden says. βSo, weβre just acting to golf balls and darkness and nothing. And then when you see it on screen, itβs kind of crazy.β
βItβs very, very spooky,β La Salvia adds.
Galilea La Salvia stars in "Goosebumps: The Vanishing."Β
Because the three represent distinct character types, βThe Vanishingβ βreflects teenage life,β Cooper says, βwhat it means to go through struggles, what it means to find yourself and become yourself.β
In the process, La Salvia says, viewers should understand itβs not good to give into peer pressure.
βEvery one of the monsters we face represents a real-life issue. You need to be brave and face your fears.β
The series also teaches the importance of friends, Cooper says. βAll of our characters lean on each other throughout the series.β
Another group of friends β ones Schwimmer embraced years ago β played an important part in Blydenβs life.
Stony Blyden stars in "Goosebumps: The Vanishing."Β
The Icelandic actor, rapper and singer says he learned English by watching βFriends.β
βThat was a massive part of my upbringing,β he admits. While he didnβt share the connection when he first met Schwimmer, he insists heβll share the news when they promote the series.
Quickly, La Salvia hits some of Rossβs highlights β βPivot,β βWeβre on a break,β she offers β and concedes plenty can be learned from Schwimmer.
His characterβs advice about staying out of the basement. Heed it, she says. βItβs just like this ominous space."
βGoosebumps: The Vanishingβ is now airing on Disney+.
