The cast of The Spiderwick Chronicles brought their charm to WonderCon 2024 on Friday, March 29th. In support of the upcoming Roku Original series, Christian Slater, Joy Bryant, Noah Cottrell, Lyon Daniels, Mychala Lee, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Alyvia Alyn Lind participated in a panel discussion. Joining them were the original series authors, Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, for a captivating conversation about bringing this beloved adventure to life on screen.
Interview with Cast of the The Spiderwick Chronicles at WonderCon 2024
At the convention, Lyon Daniel, Mychala Lee, and Noah Cottrell shared a little about the characters they play, described the casting process, and recounted their favorite filming memories.
Mychala Lee takes on the role of Mallory Grace, the eldest sibling. A fencer and a warrior, Mallory’s a bit hotheaded and embodies the classic teenage angst. But what truly makes her special is how she emerges as the driving force for this family.
Noah Cottrell portrays Simon Grace, the epitome of a compassionate and loving brother. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is always there for his family.
Rounding out the trio is Lyon Daniels as Jared Grace. The classic angsty teen, Jared is moody and easily angered, yet possesses a surprising blend of adventurous spirit, heroism, bravery, charisma, and cleverness.
Casting the Grace Family
When asked about their reactions to getting cast, Lee told us it was a bit of a whirlwind experience. “My gosh. It was kind of a little bit more of a process for me because I got cast kind of at the last minute. So I think I got cast and then literally the next week I was flying to Vancouver to start like, you know, the pre-production, the process. So I didn’t have to wait. But it was a whirlwind and I cried tears of joy. I’m so, so happy to be a part of this family.”
The casting process for Lyon Daniels and Noah Cottrell proved to be a lengthy one. Their journey began with a joint audition over Zoom, reading scenes together. This was followed by individual readings for the casting director.
The process wasn’t over yet. To determine the best fit for each role, Daniels and Cottrell alternated between playing Simon and Jared. This back-and-forth continued for roughly a month, with most auditions taking place together. The wait, however, proved worthwhile. When the news finally arrived, Daniels was fast asleep following a late-night session of Fortnite.
Despite the unconventional setting, the news was met with pure excitement. Daniels laughs as they admit to initially believing it was a dream, requiring a good pinch to confirm reality. While tears of joy might have been absent, the overwhelming feeling was one of pure amazement for both actors.
The Spiderwick Chronicles lands on The Roku Channel, the free streaming app, on April 19th, 2024.
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