Two unlikely heroines rise to the event within the new Syfy sequence “Astrid & Lilly Save the World.”
Premiering Jan. 26 (10 p.m on Syfy and simulcast on USA), the sequence follows highschool finest buds Astrid (Jana Morrison “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”) and Lilly (Samantha Aucoin), quirky outcasts typically bullied by their classmates for being plus-sized. Once they unintentionally open a portal to a monster dimension, they should rise as much as save the world whereas additionally navigating crushes, homework, irritating siblings, and different mundane horrors of highschool.
“Once I obtained the audition, I used to be actually enthusiastic about it as a result of one of many issues it was saying was the ladies are alleged to be a little bit bit greater – plus-sized individuals,” Morrison, advised The Submit.
“You never see that, actually, in any casting name. You don’t actually see main feminine roles with rolls. And the truth that they have been additionally going to save lots of the world – I used to be excited to see greater ladies saving the world. That was actually cool to me.”
“The present is actually about friendship and belief and rising,” mentioned Aucoin, a singer/songwriter and a newcomer to appearing (that is her debut onscreen position). “It was an excessive studying curve. I had by no means been on a set earlier than and didn’t even know what a mark was.”
She discovered her character, Lilly, to be extraordinarily relatable, she mentioned.
“Simply realizing that she was coping with related kinds of insecurities that I handled rising up was actually interesting to me. The character is so weak and I obtained to type of dwell in that mentality for a short while. I went by way of loads of these bodily and inner insecurities in highschool. And it was actually comforting, attending to be that lady once more. I discovered lots from the character as I used to be enjoying her. I discovered methods to be extra assured.”
For Morrison, she additionally discovered Astrid to be relatable – significantly as a result of she believes in herself. However she additionally seemed to a couple different well-known TV heroines.
“Astrid did take loads of inspiration from Olivia Benson from ‘Legislation & Order: SVU,’” she mentioned. “As a result of she needs to be a brilliant badass, and he or she additionally actually likes to resolve crimes and determine what persons are doing and how much puzzle is happening. I additionally drew lots from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ as a result of she was going by way of teen stuff but additionally coping with monsters.”
Nevertheless, heroines on different reveals had one key distinction from Astrid and Lilly, Morrison mentioned.
“I actually beloved watching reveals like ‘Completely Spies’ and ‘Buffy,’ and I beloved how badass they have been — however no person was ever my dimension. Or, I’m Filipino, and I by no means actually noticed that type of illustration. So I loved the truth that I could possibly be my complete self and never really feel any disgrace. I’m simply actually proud to be enjoying the hero of a present. I’ve by no means seen that represented in media.”
