Paramount+ has been on a roll when it comes to reimagining iconic animated series rooted in the childhood of millennials. The revival of Rugrats is up to bat next, with its first season premiering through the streaming service on May 27 before airing on Nickelodeon at a later date.
This time around, the story is set in the modern day, with all the technological trappings and sociopolitical discourse that come with the new age. Aside from the new CG animation, the show is also focusing more on another set of characters it previously overlooked: the parents. While the friendship between the babies and Angelica's rivalry with everyone she meets still remain the heart of the story, the scope has now expanded to include what goes on behind the scenes of the playpen.
Stars Ashley Spillers & Tommy Dewey, who play Stu and Didi Pickles, spoke to Screen Rant about joining the iconic franchise and diving deeper into the lives of the parents.
You two are the new kids on the block, the babies of the series, despite playing adults. Tommy, what was it like for you to come into the neighborhood, take this role and make it your own?
Tommy Dewey: Well, it's just been an absolute blast. This is up there with the greatest animated shows of all time, and it's a legendary show. So, in some sense, you feel like there's big shoes to fill.
But I will say that the production team and our great voice director, Charlie Adler, have encouraged us to kind of do our thing in bringing voice to the new version of these characters. Huge respect to jack Riley, the original Stu, but trying to imitate him is a fool's errand. So, I'm just taking big swings and hoping it works.
I actually just watched what you just watched and, man, seeing it back and seeing what the old school voice cast is doing with the kids is just such a trip. I feel so lucky.
Definitely. And you guys are getting a lot more room to explore the parents and their dynamics. Ashley, can you talk about Didi and her fear of being separated from Tommy? How is she dealing with being a new mother and also living her life outside?
Ashley Spillers: Yeah, I love it. I love that dynamic, and I love that there's this nervousness to Didi.
It's hard to leave her baby, I think - I'm not a parent, but I have lots of parent friends around me, so I understand the sentiment. And I just think it's a really fun balance to play that. Didi's sort of nervous, but also she very much wants to live. She's so interested in so many things. She's an artist, and they go to this concert, and she's totally thrilled about it. Even though she's scared to go, she does it. And that's what I love about her. She fights through her fears. Yeah, I relate.
Tommy, Stu and Didi are probably some of the most memorable parents from the original series. But in the new series, what shift has there been or what's different about him for you?
Tommy Dewey: Yeah, I like - and I don't know if this is much of a shift, but it's certainly a through line that I appreciate - how much Didi and Stu support one another. They're both sort of dreamers. She's a crafter and selling stuff on eBay, she's got blogs and vlogs and everything in between. Stu, hilariously, is still inventing things in an era of Apple and Amazon and everything; still in a shed making stuff. I've said this before, but it's really fun to play with that anachronism, in a way. It's kind of old school, but it's not like Stu's unaware that there are these mega corporations making most of our stuff.
And also, all the millennial parenting satire is great. Originally, I think it was implied that Lou moved in with Stu and Didi. Now, it appears that Stu and Didi have maybe run into some trouble - which feels really current and right for the millennial generation sometimes. No disrespect, but sometimes [they're] having to move back in with their parents to make do.
All those shifts towards parents in the age of technology, I think, are great and so fun.
Rugrats premieres on Paramount+ May 27.