Interview: Jayden Bartels & Sam McCarthy on Starring in Disney’s Goosebumps: The Vanishing

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Recently, Brandon Schreur (a Senior Editor at ComingSoon) had a chat with Jayden Bartels and Sam McCarthy regarding the upcoming series “Goosebumps: The Vanishing.” During their conversation, they shared insights about their involvement in the latest season of Goosebumps, collaborating with David Schwimmer, and additional topics.

The story “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” kicks off when twins Cece and Devin Brewer are sent to spend their summer with their separated father in Gravesend, Brooklyn. A sinister force is awakening, and they soon discover that hidden secrets lurk among them, setting off a series of events that slowly uncover a deep mystery. As they venture into the unknown, Cece, Devin, along with Alex, CJ, and Frankie, find themselves caught up in the haunting saga of four teenagers who vanished without a trace back in 1994.

On January 10, 2025, all eight installments of the series “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” will become available for streaming on both Disney+ and Hulu.

As a passionate gamer, I’m curious if you could share some insights about your connection with this beloved franchise. It has been a constant presence for generations and generations. Did you, like many of us, grow up cherishing these books? Or was it perhaps encountering the movies or the first season of the series that sparked your interest before joining the cast?

Jayden Bartels: Indeed, it’s clear that everyone on the show was familiar with Goosebumps. No one entered clueless, asking, “What is Goosebumps?” I had read some of the books when I was young and watched the Jack Black movies. However, once I landed this role, I realized there was a lot more to explore about this universe. To my surprise, I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. It’s vast and seems endless. But it’s fantastic! Once I fully immersed myself, I wished I had known about it earlier. Younger me would have loved it because I’ve always been fond of horror and reading. Nevertheless, I’m thrilled to be a part of it now.

Absolutely, I’m on board with your plan. To be honest, my curiosity is piqued as well. Once you secure the role, I’m wondering if you have any specific strategies for preparation. Do you delve into the source material again, or do you approach it fresh every time?

Bartels: Well, we watched the first season.

Sam McCarthy: Absolutely, you should give the first season of the show a watch. When I landed the role, I felt a need to be thoroughly prepared and do everything required. After reading the script multiple times, I realized that this is what we’re working on now – shaping new characters like Devin and Cece. While I can delve into the backstory a bit, I think over-preparation might become preparation for its own sake, creating tension instead of relaxation. For me, in any creative pursuit, tension is the adversary of being at ease, which facilitates creation.

Of course, not at all, absolutely! Your performances in the series are simply fantastic, making it a delight to follow your characters and their interactions. The way you portray sibling relationships is incredibly convincing, almost as if you two were actually related off-screen. I’m intrigued about how you manage to create such believable chemistry on set. Did spending time together when the cameras weren’t rolling help foster that bond? What strategies did you use to bring your sibling dynamic to life so effectively?

I’m really pleased that it’s being understood as intended. You understand that being twins is not the same as having ordinary siblings; you’re essentially two halves of the same whole.

McCarthy: You’re locked in.

Bartels: Reminded me of something amusing when you spoke. It brought to mind that since wrapping up the filming, whenever I meet him now, I can’t help but exclaim, “My twin! My brother! My sibling!” – a sentiment we didn’t express during filming.

McCarthy: I mean, it was there, but it’s also like…

Bartels: But were so in it.

McCarthy: You’re in a vortex while filming. 

To put it simply, Bartels seems to mean: “I see our relationship as what it’s always been for me, and that’s because of how we initially built it. It was such an enjoyable experience! Working together as twins was something I never thought I’d do, but it turned out to be a blast.

McCarthy is saying: “You can’t manufacture it, if you understand what I’m saying. There’s no mathematical equation or method for achieving that.

I believe a big part of it feels authentic because of the banter between you two on set, which only adds to the enjoyment. I’d like to ask you about some other cast members as well. The first season had Justin Long, and this one features David Schwimmer. Although we all recognize him as Ross from Friends, what is it like collaborating with him? Is there any pressure or does he come off as incredibly easy-going and relaxed?

Bartels: He is the most casual, laid-back kind of guy.

McCarthy: He is!

Bartels: And it’s funny because his character on Friends is not.

McCarthy: Yes, I was quite worked up. But he remained incredibly calm.

Transformation: He’s incredibly down-to-earth, which is truly commendable. It was a pleasure being in his company, as he exudes such warmth and positivity. Simply being around him offers valuable insights. Witnessing the shift from when he’s on camera or performing to his relaxed, composed self is really fascinating.

Absolutely, Sam! Towards the finale of the first episode, there’s an amusing scene where you and some active vines (apparently they sprung to life in the sewers) are prominently featured. I must admit, I’m intrigued about how that scene was shot. Was it mostly practical effects or did special effects play a significant role?

McCarthy stated that the action was realistic, while everything else was purely for visual effects. He mentioned using a rubber band around his lower legs as part of the performance.

Bartels: Wait, there was one interview where you imitated what you had to do.

McCarthy: Indeed, it was similar to… well, I couldn’t repeat the experience, but it was quite fascinating. It resembles how young children constantly play “The Floor Is Lava.” Sometimes, they may seem scared while jumping onto the floor. Essentially, it’s about having the ability to feel threatened, as if that camera or even a simple piece of pink tape might harm me. In essence, it’s about being young at heart, sensitive enough to perceive such potential danger. It’s quite intriguing. I hadn’t done anything like that before.

Wow, that scene in the show was amazingly thrilling! I didn’t anticipate it, but I enjoyed every moment and found it incredibly entertaining. Jayden, there’s another part of Episode 3 I’d like to discuss with you. The episode centers around a spooky car, and for a brief while, you were in the vehicle yourself. Can you tell me about that experience? Given the high-speed sequences, I suspect a stunt driver was involved at some point. But did you ever find yourself in the car when it was moving quickly?

Bartels: Indeed, it’s quite amusing. Scenes involving vehicles, particularly those with crashes, seem quick, but they actually take an eternity. Despite appearing as if it was just two seconds, I spent three consecutive days in that car across three different locations. It’s fascinating to witness the final product looking so seamless and well-coordinated.

Primarily, I found myself inside a similar space, seated in what resembled a vehicle, facing a backdrop of green. Remarkably still, I was there, as individuals below the vehicle jiggled it using only their bare hands.

McCarthy: I had just heard that today.

Bartels mentions that to convincingly portray a moving car, you need to fully commit, using your entire body. It’s a challenging yet enjoyable task. A common piece of feedback he received was about making a face similar to this [makes face], which led to comments about his double chin. This happened because the force from the scene pushed him back. In summary, it’s an exciting role that requires a lot of creativity, although unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to experience riding in a flying car speeding down the street. However, he strived to make it appear as if he was truly inside one.

Thanks to Jayden Bartels and Sam McCarthy for discussing Goosebumps: The Vanishing.

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2025-01-08 00:10