Temple of Geek sat down with actor Jake Thomas to talk to discuss his character in the video game “Mind’s Eye,” the upcoming 25th anniversary of “Lizzie McGuire,” and his career. Jake Thomas reflects on the life that he breathed into the character of Marco Silva. This is a project that took over four and a half years to complete, using state of the art performance capture technology.

Jake Thomas is Marco Silva in Mind’s Eye

Thomas describes that experience as “trippy” because he was scanned into the game. Seeing a character that looks just like him with the same facial movements took some getting used to.

Q: Your new game, “Mind’s Eye,“ you play the tech CEO, Marco Silva, that you’re the voice of, and you spent so many years bringing this character to life. And what I’m curious about and starting is all the time and the energy. How does it feel knowing that all the hard work that you put into this character is out in the world being enjoyed by the gamer community?

Jake Thomas: You know, I think it’s crazy when you have projects like “Mind’s Eye” that are just so massive. I mean, also just like the technology behind it too of how we filmed the whole thing was so brand new to me. Yeah, it’s mind blowing. And I’m so blown away too by, you know, my character of Marco Silva looks just like me. I mean, they scanned me into the game.

So it’s I mean, that in and of itself is super trippy because yeah, I mean, I acted out all of the scenes and those facial movements are mine. But like, we didn’t have like a camera crew or anything like that on the stage. Like, I wasn’t wearing that wardrobe. I was wearing a suit with like crazy headgear that was like recording my facial movements. So it’s yeah, it’s a little bit trippy and crazy to think about how they made all that possible. But I’m stoked about it. It’s really cool.

Love of Gaming

When asked about his gaming habits, Thomas revealed he is a gamer who enjoys competitive shooting games with his friends. He also plays the mobile game “Pokémon TCG Pocket” and is a “master ball rank every season.” He mentioned that he would be attending the Pokémon World Championship tournaments, but not as a competitor.

Q: Are you a gamer? I’m very curious.

Jake Thomas: I am a gamer. At least, in recent years, I feel like I’ve picked up gaming again. Although a lot of the games that I play are just like, I think competitive shooting games that I play with my friends a lot. And nowadays, though, I feel like, since you know, one of my friends had a kid recently, so he’s got less time to play online. I feel like I’ve opted for a Pokémon TCG pocket on my phone. I’ve been playing that like nonstop. And I’m actually I’m going to go to Pokémon World Championship tournaments later this week. I’m not, I’m not competing, but I’m checking it out.

Lizzie McGuire Turns 25

“Lizzie McGuire” premiered on Disney Channel on January 12, 2001, which feels surreal to think about, as the show is still popular. It wasn’t until he did “Lizzie McGuire” that he was recognized by his peers. Most of the work he was doing before, in “The Cell,” “Touched by an Angel,” and “Third Rock from the Sun,” wasn’t being watched by kids his age.

Q: How does it feel approaching this milestone for Lizzie McGuire?

Jake Thomas: Approaching the quarter of a century milestone sounds much worse when you put it that way. No, I mean, I think it’s insane. I think I think it’s crazy that that much time has passed. And we’re still like, talking about it, which is crazy. I mean, Lizzie McGuire is still within very much the culture today, the millennial culture. So I think that’s nuts. I think it’s a that’s a beautiful thing. You know, it definitely, I mean, God, it definitely feels like it was 25 years ago. It was a long time ago. And I don’t feel like it’s ever been like, you know, away, you know, for me personally.

I mean, I know within the culture, it’s kind of, you know, had its ebb and flow. And in more recent years, it’s definitely been flowing. But yeah, it’s always kind of just been part of me and made me kind of, you know, who I am as an actor to which I think is beautiful.

Should fans stop hoping to reunite with our favorite characters in the reboot series? Thomas said, “You know, I would say crazier things have happened. You know, it’s yeah, it’s been 25 years nearly since we ended the original series. I think audiences would still care to see, you know, an adult Lizzie story and to see what that looks like with that cast of characters. “

Disney Channel Original Movies

There have been over 100 Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM), and while not a lot of Disney Channel stars in the show have also starred in a DCOM, it always felt like Jake Thomas would excel in one.

Q: Is doing a DCOM something you’re interested in now?

Jake Thomas: I would love to do a DCOM. I think the DCOMs are super fun. And I’m glad that they’re bringing them back. I don’t know if I could do the song and dance as a lot of them have like the zombies series. I could try. I’ll try. I’ll give it my best. But fun fact, since you are very DCOM inclined, I guess, I was actually going to be in a DCOM. And I was not able to work it out to be able to do it. But I was going to be in You Wish. And my friend Spencer Breslin took that took that role for me.

After expressing my love of DCOMs, Thomas revealed a revelation. He shared that he owns the motocross gear worn by the main character in the Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed. He acquired it when the Lizzie McGuire prop department was clearing out stock at the end of the show’s second season. Thomas joked that if there’s ever a screening of the movie, he’ll have to wear the gear.

What Roles Jake Thomas See’s For Himself in the Future

When asked about future roles, Thomas expressed his desire to be a “chameleon actor,” like Gary Oldman, and play a character with prosthetics, possibly even in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. He also shared some advice for aspiring actors: “Don’t ever take anything too seriously” because the industry is largely based on rejection. He believes that if you are persistent and put in the time, things will eventually happen.

“Mind’s Eye” is available to play on PlayStation 5, Windows, and XBOX.