Mech X4 is a new original series coming to Disney XD. While in LA I attended an early screening of the new show, and interviewed the cast and producers. Having two young sons at home that watch similar tv shows like Lab Rats and Gamer’s Guide – I can say without a doubt this new series will be a fast favorite. Find out more about Mech X4 with these exclusive interviews below!
Mech X4 – New to Disney XD
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
About Disney’s Mech X4:
Ryan Walker, a freshman at Bay City High who has technopathy – the extraordinary ability to control technology with his mind. His talent mysteriously awakens MECH-X4, a giant 120-foot robot built by an elusive genius-in-hiding to defend their town against impending doom. Ryan recruits his two best friends and his older brother to help him operate MECH-X4. When monsters suddenly begin to descend upon their city, the four must quickly learn to work as a team in order to pilot the robot that is their only hope of saving their town, and ultimately the world, from mass destruction.
Executive producers Steve Marmel & Anupam Nigam
Photo Credit: Dusty Pendelton
Q: What were your influences growing up because I think I saw homage to something in the show?
Steve: There’s a little ET. There’s a little Goonies. We love giant robots – we both love giant robots.
Anupam: And I love on Transformers. I grew up on Omega Supreme. And for me it was also Godzilla. It was a big influence. In fact there are several Godzilla movies where he fights a giant robot. I made him watch them.
Steve: We’re both comic guys, and I’m a huge comic book guy. So that serialized storytelling of epic stories, that’s the stuff I love the most.
Q: How did the idea of MECH X4 come about?
Steve: It started with, hey, wouldn’t it be fun to do a show about four kids that just happen to have to work together with a giant monster fighting robot. And then every step of the way through development, it sort of evolved. Wouldn’t it be great to do it single camera and make it look like a movie?And so it started with an idea, Disney went for it, and then all of a sudden, this great team started coming together and bringing everything to it. Anupam comes from a world of serialized storytelling and the director, Zach, has a passion for the nostalgic Goonies, ET vibe. And it all just became this thing through collaboration and really talented people.
Q: Do any of the writers have any experience in programming, or Stem or anything of that sort? And have you used that towards the show?
Anupam: I was a scientist in college. I did lab work. Before I became a writer, but not really, computer programing, but I majored in biology, and bio-chemistry. We do a lot because Ryan has a super power, and sometimes we have to explain sort of what’s going on in his brain. How does he connect to the robot, that kind of thing. So you know, he gets injured- you’ve seen when the robot takes a hit, he takes a hit.
Steve: Everything in the show has a purpose, and we try to make sure that if you see something and you go- why is the camera on that? You’ll either figure it out in the episode or somewhere down the line you’ll see a reason for it.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the inside of MECH-X4 and the layout?
Steve: It’s a 150- foot robot, there’s a lot to explore. It has a job to do, and then what would a club house feel like if it was in a giant monster fighting robot. And those are the two things that come together. But they all have to work for the primary mission which is to save the city, and save the world.
Anupam: And we have a med bay where Harris does a bunch of cool stuff.
Q: I love the core qualities that the characters bring, and that it’s not just fighting the robots, but they’re all working together.
Steve: Yeah, we hope that people come away from it thinking it’s a show about family, it’s a show about friendship, and it’s a show about teamwork.
Mech X4 Cast Interview – NATHANIEL POTVIN, KAMRAN LUCAS, PEARCE JOZA AND RAYMOND CHAM
Q: In ways are you guys like your characters?
Pearce: I like to say I’m like my character and not like my character. Spyder’s very crazy and he likes to do a lot of daredevil stuff type things. I like to go out back and play in the pond and climb trees or whatever. I also love school. I’m taking college level courses and Sypder’s not very good at school.
Nathaniel: I’m kinda like my character because Ryan is always rising to the occasion. So whenever he has to fight a monster or even stand up to his brother, I’m kinda like that in some ways. Also, I have two older brothers so I know exactly what Ryan goes through on a daily basis. And, Ryan loves to skateboard. I love to skateboard. So there’s some similarities between us there.
Kamran: Harris and I are pretty similar in like book smart terms. But not so much. More of like we both dress really nice and we’re both ladies men.
Raymond: Oh, how do you follow that? [LAUGHTER] I’m kinda like my character in a way. When it comes to family I’m very protective. And you’ll see that later ‘cause right now you’ve just pretty much seen me crank my brother. I’ve also dabbled in sports a bit. When I was around eight or nine, I used to play basketball.
Q: If you had any super power in life what would it be?
Raymond: Shape shifting! [LAUGHTER] Right? It’s the craziest. Boom, I wanna fly, I’m a bird. I end up in the water I’m a whale. I could be anything. Yeah, ‘cause it’s my favorite. I think about it all the time. Maybe too much.
Kamran: I kinda wanna have the ability to stop and turn back time.
Nathaniel: If I had a super power it would probably be teleportation because who wants to pay for airline tickets? No one. No one does. Also, it would just be really convenient. If I got locked out of my house I could just teleport inside my house.
Pearce: Telekinetic powers. It’s pretty much controlling anything you think with your mind.
Q: Why did you want to take on this role and how did you get the role?
Nathaniel: I love my character because I can see a lot of myself in my character. But also, what kid doesn’t wanna be a superhero? It’s pretty amazing.
Kamran shared that at first he was told he didn’t get the role and was pretty bummed about it. And then he received another request to come in and he got the role. Adding, ” I’m so thankful ‘cause now I get to be on a Disney Channel show which is something I’ve always wanted. And I guess my dreams have kind of come true.”
Raymond: I wanted to do it because, one, it seemed like a really cool show. And then two, experience. I think being on set is a great way to learn. And also this show kind of, uses everything. It has its very normal moments, and then it has its very crazy moments. And I’ve never worked with a green screen before so I thought that would be a cool thing to learn.
Pearce: I had been auditioning for two years for the role. And originally I was too short for the part. They came back and wanted to cast my character again, so I went in. I just went in for a screen test. And it just happened very fast, is what I remember. Then I got a call from my manager one day. And he said, is this Spyder? And I was like, apparently it is now!
The cast was fantastic to chat with – upbeat, personable and really funny. There was non-stop laughter during the interviews. I know Mech X4 is going to be a big hit on Disney!
Disney’s new serialized live-action series “MECH-X4” will be presented in an expanded premiere weekend with four back-to-back episodes on Disney Channel, the Disney Channel App, and Disney Channel VOD starting FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 (8:30 p.m. ET) through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Head to Disney.com for a first-look video of the new Mech X4 series.
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Abegail says
Where can we buy the Mech X4 Robot toy?