Pop-Culturalist.com

Christian J. Simon is a rising storyteller who has never let rejection deter him from what he’s meant to do in life. In fact, it’s motivated him to work harder, and landed him coveted roles in projects including The Amazing World of Gumball, T.O.T.S., and Sydney to the Max.

This October, Christian can be seen remaking the Disney Channel’s original movie: Under Wraps.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with this leading man about his career, Under Wraps, and what he hopes audiences take away after seeing the film.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Christian: I’m originally from Louisiana. When I moved to California and started auditioning, I heard a lot of nos. That kept me going. It made me want to work harder. After hearing all this rejection, that’s when I realized, “This is something that I want to do.”

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Christian: My family. They keep me motivated and humble. I wouldn’t be here without them.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out to you?
Christian: A moment that stands out is when I found out that I’d booked Sydney to the Max. That was a special moment for me. Like I was saying earlier, I faced a lot of rejection early on, but I kept going to acting classes and working really hard. I was up for a few roles, but they didn’t end up going through, so booking Sydney was a really special moment.

PC: Tell us about Under Wraps, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Christian: Under Wraps is about a group of friends who accidentally revive a four-thousand-year-old mummy and must return him to his coffin before midnight on Halloween.

My character, Gilbert, is the voice of reason in his friend group. He doesn’t mind setting boundaries and letting you know how he feels. But he also gets scared very easily. I’m not going to lie. [laughs] Meeting Harold [the mummy] is one of the scariest moments of his life. Viewers will definitely get a chance to grow with Gilbert. He also has a dry sense of humor.

What drew me to this project? Who doesn’t want to be in a DCOM? It’s a DCOM! That alone drew me to this project. When Disney sent me the audition, I was like, “What? A DCOM?”

PC: Have you seen the original film? Did you feel any pressure remaking this DCOM?
Christian: The cast sat down and watched it in Vancouver, Canada together. We tried to figure out how we could put a little twist on the movie but still stay true to the characters and storyline. But there was definitely some pressure in remaking this DCOM. This was the first ever Disney Channel original movie. We worked really hard and I’m excited for people to see it.

PC: At the center of the film is this friendship. How did you and the rest of the cast build that bond?
Christian: It was an instant connection from the chemistry read. We were all like, “This works. This is a trio right here.” We would get on FaceTime all the time. When we got to Canada, we had to do our two-week quarantine. That was a special moment for us. We were on FaceTime every day. We would eat all our meals together. After the chemistry read, we knew it was meant to be. I think that translated on screen.

PC: What do you hope fans take away after they see it?
Christian: I feel like everyone can relate to these characters. I feel like they can connect to these characters. I hope they see how Gilbert faces his fears with the help of his friends. I hope it inspires them to do something that might have scared them.

I also hope audiences learn not to judge a book by its cover. Treat people the way that they’re supposed to be treated and be kind. You never know what somebody is going through. This is the escape people need right now.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Favorite TV show?
Christian: The Masked Singer.

PC: Favorite movie?
Christian: Bad Boys.

PC: Favorite book?
Christian: A Clean Getaway.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Christian: Hamilton and Descendants.

PC: Dream role?
Christian: I’m not sure I have a dream role. I just want to play as many characters as possible.

To keep up with Christian, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Under Wraps premieres on Disney Channel on October 1st and Disney+ on October 8th.

Photo Credit: Ben Cope // Stylist: Patrick Lynere // Grooming: Eliven Quiros