Transcript
Speaker: Hey friends, welcome back to Once Upon a DCOM. This is mini-sode number three in our series of mini-sodes in between seasons two and three. So exciting to have you back. Today, have a really special treat, something we haven't done before.
Speaker: We are going to be talking about where are they now, fictional edition. So we're going to be taking one character from each movie that we've watched in season two. We're going to go back and forth and Natalie and are going to share where we think the character would be now in 2025.
Speaker: Sounds like a great time, right? It's going to be so much fun. We had a blast writing these. This is going to be amazing. This was the most fun I think I've ever had on this podcast. Okay, are you ready?
Speaker: I'm ready. Kick us off strong with Minutemen. Yep. So first up, I chose child genius Charlie Tuttle. Good. Yes. Yes. So in the year of our Lord, 2025, Charlie would be 31 years old.
Speaker: He obviously works at NASA, who has forgiven him for hacking their computer systems when he was 14 years old. Straight out of high school, the government tried to recruit him for some deep top secret government stuff, but he chose instead to go to college and try to, quote, be normal.
Speaker: He went to Stanford. He got his undergrad, his graduate, and his doctorate degrees in under five years because our homie works hard. um He studied quantum physics, electromagnetism, and strangely, modern dance.
Speaker: And that's where Charlie Tuttle is now.
Speaker: I just love the things you throw in there. You know, you got to keep it spicy. He liked ah he there was a cute girl in class. He wanted to hang out with her modern dance. You know, sure, sure. I love it. I love I feel like he'd be best friends with like the Big Bang Theory crew.
Speaker: Of course, yes. Yeah, that's great. Okay, Gabby, can you um tell us about Frenemies? Oh, I got a terrible first one, but it gets better and better.
Speaker: So I chose Avalon Green, which was Bella Thorne's character. Okay, sure. yeah After the high school era success of their teen blog, Geekly Chic, Avalon turned her fashion-forward type A personality into building a Gen Z lifestyle empire, which crashed spectacularly in 2021 when her fashion startup style chain was exposed as a pyramid scheme run by her ex-boyfriend.
Speaker: But not to fear, she bounced back hard. In 2025, she is now a trend forecaster and digital etiquette coach, working with public figures help them- Digital etiquette.
Speaker: Uh-huh. Yeah, she's helping public figures say sorry in the comments before it's too late. And she still texts with her BFF Hallie every year on their friendiversary. I love that.
Speaker: That's so funny. You are so funny, Gabby.
Speaker: Thank you, thank you. Okay, next up I have Teen Beach Movie. And I picked a Brady, played by Ross Lynch. um So we all know that he loves old movies. So surprise, he went into academia.
Speaker: He's actually a film studies professor at a small community college in Northern California. He still surfs. He is married to whatever that girl from the movie's name is.
Speaker: They're married. um And they have three kids and they all surf. It's cute. And he's a film studies professor. Oh, I love Oh, film studies. Perfect. Such a creative job with that, Natalie.
Speaker: Thank you. Yeah. All right. Moving on to Descendants. I, of course, chose my absolute favorite character, Evie, played by Sophia Carson. And y'all know that for a long time I've been saying Evie for Queen. So this was my opportunity, but I didn't go quite that far. Here we go.
Speaker: After graduating from Auradon Prep, Evie went on to found Evie's United, an international initiative dedicated to helping kids from both the Isle and Auradon build confidence through their creativity, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
Speaker: In 2023, she was named the High Chancellor of the United Realms Council of Reformation, making her the first VK to hold public office. yeah Queen.
Speaker: Okay. I know. She has championed fair access to education and de-villainizing public narratives. By 2025, she's a beloved global figure, part policy queen, part fashion mongrel, part fairy godmother, as she always wanted to be.
Speaker: And yes, Doug is still by her side. They're married and he's now Minister of Music and Archives at Auradon Prep, where he teaches music by day, preserves the royal history at night, and occasionally gets roped into student musicals as the cool faculty cameo.
Speaker: Oh my gosh, I love that. For both of them. That's incredible. You got a little double there. Oh, so cute. Okay. Yeah. All right. Next up, I have Rip Girls. um I picked Sydney, our main girl, mostly because I couldn't remember any other character solidly enough. So.
Speaker: Okay. Sounds great. Sydney and her family stayed in Hawaii for her to grow up there at the old plantation house. And then she ended up going to the University of Hawaii at Manoa and she studied environmental science and marine biology.
Speaker: She now owns a nonprofit that focuses on educating tourists about ocean conservation while they're visiting the island. She is still friends with all of her her surfing buddies, and occasionally they meet up on the weekends to hang out all as a big ohana.
Speaker: That is so sweet. I really like that future for her. I know. She deserves it. Oh, great job. Well, mine isn't nearly as happy because we're moving on to Quince. Oh, no. Oh, no.
Speaker: Yeah. So obviously i picked Jamie, Kimberly J. Brown's character, because who else in that movie mattered? so I mean, you're right, but...
Speaker: So Jamie spent most of her childhood trying not to get overshadowed by the five siblings. Now she 39. thirty nine She is a children's book illustrator and author. She used her artistic skills...
Speaker: She's known for her quirky, heartwarming stories about big families, messy feelings, and finding magic in the ordinary. Her breakout book, Middle of Everything, became a quiet bestseller and was even adapted into a limited animated series.
Speaker: As for the Quints, they are now 25 because this movie came out in 2000 and took place in 2000. Gross. So they're 25. Ew. They're off living their own colorful, crazy lives. ah Jamie stays in touch mostly through a group chat that she muted several years ago.
Speaker: She loves them.
Speaker: She loves them. She does. But being who she was, the big sister who kind faded into the background, left a scar. So her next book is about a girl who learns that being fine isn't the same as being seen.
Speaker: The end. Wow. I would read that book. I know, right? Okay. Next up, I have High School Musical 2. I can't. I'm so excited. Who do you think? Who do you think I picked?
Speaker: I think you picked Ryan, but I'm kind of hoping you pick Sharpay. I picked Ryan. You know me too well. Okay. So he's a fun one. Buckle up. Wait, wait. Is he buried to Chad?
Speaker: I can't tell you yet. Oh my gosh. Okay. Okay. So he went to Juilliard, obviously, spoiler alert, I guess, for High School Musical 3. um He went to Juilliard and he studied choreography.
Speaker: He didn't actually graduate though. Because the summer after his first year, he got picked up to assist and choreograph a workshop of the revival of the musical Fame headed to Broadway.
Speaker: What? Which Fame, of course, is a famous musical all about high school musicals. So it works. Love it um He has been working consistently since then.
Speaker: he has become one of the most in-demand choreographers in the industry. He has earned two Tony nominations for his choreography with rumors that he will be getting another nomination later this year.
Speaker: so excited for him. He's also been a judge on Dancing with the Stars, of course, guest judge. I knew it. I was like, you better incorporate this. Of course, of course he has been a guest judge on that. Come on, on the Disney night for like no reason because like why would he have a connection to Disney? But you know it's just for fun. you know yeah Anyway, um lastly, he came out as gay in 2020.
Speaker: During the pandemic, he really decided he was done hiding who he really was. And he married his best friend, Giancarlo, who is chorus dancer from Broadway in a private ceremony at Walt Disney World in front of Cinderella's castle.
Speaker: This is the most perfect Where Are They Now? I so wish this was real. I know, right? ah Anyway, so everyone watch the Tony Awards in 2026 and you will see if Ryan wins his Tony.
Speaker: That was brilliant. I think the private ceremony at Disney was my favorite part. Yeah, because it tracks, right? It tracks. It does. It's exactly what would happen. It's giving Jordan Fisher. It's giving Jordan Fisher, but more gay.
Speaker: Yes. Okay. Love it. So for our next one, Wizards of Waverly Place the movie. This is unique in that this show has gotten a reboot series, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, taking place in the current year, 2025. You know, I didn't think about that when – We were doing this episode. You're so right.
Speaker: Yeah. So I'm just going to give you guys like a three sentence overview of where the three main siblings are now based on the show. So you can just at least see where they ended up. But this is canon. This is real. I didn't make this up.
Speaker: Okay. So Justin, now in his mid thirties, balances being a husband, a father and a wizard. He's vice principal at Greenwald Middle School by day and a secret wizard mentor by night.
Speaker: So that's cool. Alex has matured a little. We know how much that you hate Alex. It's okay. You can tell us. thisna Yeah, i don't like her. ah But she's now a member of the Wizard Tribunal. She serves as a rule enforcer and legal authority for the wizarding world.
Speaker: very ironic twist as someone who always broke the rules as a kid. I don't know they did that. Yeah, was going to ah She pops in from the magical world time to time to offer cryptic advice and stir up trouble and occasionally drop a truth bomb when things are about to fall apart. So really, nothing's changed since the series for her.
Speaker: And finally, this, I was like, I couldn't have made this up if I wanted to. Max has embraced a mortal life with surprising success. He's inherited the family sandwich shop.
Speaker: Yeah, because he lost. Justin and Alex get to keep their powers and he becomes immortal. And he becomes and Why does he become immortal? Amortal.
Speaker: He is immortal. I'm so sorry. Okay, please continue. This makes much more sense to me now. Okay. Yeah, for those of you who don't know, Alex wins, but then they deem that Justin is worthy of keeping his magic alive.
Speaker: And like ah he became the principal of the school or something, and Max gets the sub shop. That's the end of the actual series. Yes. And so he is a mortal. He is a mortal. He's embracing that well.
Speaker: He's inherited the sub shop, which he's expanded into a thriving multi-billion dollar franchise. He lives a lavish lifestyle on a yacht. Wow.
Speaker: You go, Max. know. Go Max. And that's where those guys are now, but like, for real. But like for real. Okay. Luck of the Irish is the next movie. I picked Kyle Johnson, the main character with the wicked basketball skills and the Irish roots.
Speaker: um He actually returned to his very own high school to be their history teacher and basketball coach. And he wears a kilt every St. Patrick's Day. And he gets made fun of, but he makes sure that people understand the importance of knowing your culture. Wow.
Speaker: Yeah. Short and sweet. That's where Kyle Johnson is now. Love it. All right. Next up, we have Upside Down Magic. And I, of course, chose Bud Skriff, played by Kyle Howard.
Speaker: The only character worth knowing. Please tell me where my dear sweet Bud is now. Bud has officially cornered the market on Magical Chaos Entertainment. Are you ready for this?
Speaker: Yeah. He built an enchanted escape room empire called Bud's Bewildering Breakouts, boasting attractions like Escape the Lava Lamp Dimension...
Speaker: Yeah. He also hosts a weekly live stream called Oops Magic, where he tests experimental spells with wildly unpredictable results.
Speaker: And last season's highlight was him turning his co-host into a talking cactus who now has a bigger social following than him. That's where Bud is. Yes. Yes to all of that. thought you were going to lean into the music where you were going be like, he had a thriving singing career.
Speaker: This is better than all of that. This is way better. Yeah, no. Because I figure music is not his talent. It's his like magical ability. So he's just going to use that in his day to day life. And it doesn't need to become a career for him.
Speaker: You know, I am so in love with that. And now, weirdly, so I want to rewatch Upside Down Magic, which is never a feeling I've had before in my life. No, you don't. Just just keep keep going with your day and let that feeling fade. You don't want someone to make an edit where it's just his parts so I can watch the movie that's just his parts.
Speaker: Oh, yeah, that would be good. OK. Yeah. All right. What movie's next? We got Den Brother. So I did not pick the main character. Instead, I decided to pick little sister Emily.
Speaker: Yes. Okay. So she grew up to be just as organized and driven as you would expect. um This movie came out in 2010. And so she's still very young. She's in her early 20s.
Speaker: um And she is majoring in nonprofit management at James Madison University. She hopes to run. Yeah, I know. Alma mater. I was like, what's a good school for this? Oh, I know.
Speaker: um She hopes to run her own national leadership conference for young women, which she is starting to gather the ideas and funds for while she's still in college.
Speaker: Oh, love it. Good for her. I know. And she'll be great. That one feels the most like grounded. That feels the most like one that we would actually have on the show. Right. Sounds right, doesn't it?
Speaker: Yeah, it does. All right. Next up, we have Brink! exclamation point And I chose Andy Brink Brinker, played by Eric Von Dutton. Mm-hmm. Yeah. He's fine.
Speaker: ah So, Andy, finally... I'm sorry, Brink. Brink finally hung up his rollerblades after injuring his back at age 20, attempting to do a flip that he really should have stopped doing at 16. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: That injury kind of triggered a deep identity crisis for him since he thought this was going to be his career. And that compounded by years of unresolved tension with his dad just led to this like huge crisis in his 20s.
Speaker: But through therapy and hard work, Brink found healing and purpose again. And today he is a compassionate family therapist who helps others navigate the complicated relationships that once challenged him.
Speaker: That's very hopeful. Do you know where I thought you were going with this? Jail. I thought injury to like Percocet addiction or I don't even know if Percocets are, I don't know anything about drugs, some type of painkiller addiction to um dealing drugs to children to jail is where I thought you were going with this.
Speaker: I mean, that was my second choice. i I was brainstorming and in my brainstorm, I put jail question mark. Jail question mark. But I guess he turned it around and now he's a therapist. So good for him. Yeah.
Speaker: I decided we're going to use this for good.
Speaker: It wouldn't be a where are they now if one person wasn't in jail, right? Yeah. Maybe the secret other side of things is like he ends up in jail anyways. Yeah. He's selling drugs to his patients.
Speaker: That checks. Okay. Yep. Modification. He's in jail now for selling drugs to his patients. Asterix in jail now. Okay.
Speaker: We really didn't like that movie. We we did not. Okay. Next we have Now You See It dot dot dot. So at the end of the movie, Danny went into hiding.
Speaker: The scary magician society was trying to track him down. At the park. You don't know what park. That's called In Hiding.
Speaker: So ah the Scary Magician Society was trying to track him down. So he did his little disappearing act. But just a few years later, he returned on the scene by running his own YouTube channel and TikTok account with Allison surfing as producer, showing off some of his tricks, most of which people claimed were edited or just really good AI.
Speaker: But we know the truth. He's a real magician. Anyway. Eventually, he made it big. He was invited to headline his own show in Vegas, which he did successfully for five years.
Speaker: It was a financial success, a review success. Everyone loved it. He and Allison got married in 2019. And they just had their first baby. Wow.
Speaker: So cute. He has been the subject of a million different documentaries, all of which claim that he must be a real magician because like, how does he do all these things? Or try to debunk him by saying he's using like deep fake AI something. i don't know.
Speaker: um But so far, no one has been able to prove it. And Danny is obsessed with keeping up the mystery. And he is slowly retreating into the background to be more of a family man, but it's just growing the legend that is Danny.
Speaker: Whoa. oh chilling. You made me like it. Yeah, I know I did because it's a great movie and there should have been a sequel. And he'll be starring in Now You See Me 3.
Speaker: Love it. Very nice. Very nice. That one was detailed. i like all the details. Thank you. I was really in it. Yeah, i could I could tell that one was maybe your favorite, perhaps. ah You know, Ryan, I think High School Musical 2 was my favorite.
Speaker: But now you see it was very close. You can tell which characters mean a lot to me. Yes, I can. I love it. I love it so much. Okay. So I had the Even Stevens movie, thank goodness.
Speaker: And I chose Louis Stevens, obviously. ah played by Shia LaBeouf. Yeah, I would not have been respectful had i gotten that one. so I'm glad you got that one. Yeah, yeah. Well, it's not exactly respectful, but it's funny.
Speaker: Here we go. okay So Lewis turned his knack for engineering and schemes into a tech genius. ah He founded Stevens Tech, a billion-dollar startup known for wildly unpredictable apps like NapNap, which tracks the perfect nap spots, and Snack Attack, a smart vending machine that recommends snacks based on your mood.
Speaker: so Okay, listen, Gabby, if you invent those two things, you will be a billionaire.
Speaker: Maybe will. love nap nap. As a nap enthusiast, I love nap nap. There you go. Well, I guess I have to do it now. nap, nap app? Oh my gosh. Wait, okay. Oh, oh. We just with something here. Somebody get out there.
Speaker: Somebody has to do this. It should be us. ah So despite running one of the fastest growing startups in the Silicon Valley, Lewis deliberately still lives at home because as he puts it, why pay rent when mom's cooking is free and there's always something to blame when things go wrong?
Speaker: Wow. And how do his parents feel about that? Oh, they hate it, but they can't get rid of him. He just keeps giving them money. And they're like, well, I guess, I guess you can stay. They're like, yeah, we have to remodel the bathroom. So might as well give him another year. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker: I guess, well, he's not paying rent. That's what I said. So I guess he's not giving them money for that. He's giving them extravagant gifts. A gift remodel of the bathroom. There you go. All right. Last one for me. We've got Zombies 2.
Speaker: um And I should mention, we have not seen the other Zombies movies. There are more. But I'm just going off of as if Zombies 2 was the last one. Okay? Okay. Fair. So I picked Eliza, the girl who should have run for high school president in place of Z. But it's fine.
Speaker: um Speaking of which, though, she did totally run the next year and she won. She went um to run for various public offices over the years until making it so far as to be America's first zombie senator. Wow.
Speaker: And just a few months ago, she gave a TED talk titled Undead and Unheard Overcoming Speciesism in America. And it has three million views on YouTube. Wow. That's such a good title.
Speaker: Thank you. I thought really hard about that one and I'm proud of it. It's really good. That's where she is. Okay. Give us the last movie of the season, Cheetah Girls 2. What do you have? All right. Yes.
Speaker: So I chose Galleria, played by Raven-Symoné. Obviously. So Galleria Garibaldi is now an award-winning music producer, director, and unapologetic creative powerhouse. She runs her own global entertainment company called Growl Power Studios.
Speaker: What?
Speaker: yeah after powering yeah after conquering broadway mentoring young artists and launching a line of motivational cat- themmed planners she had become a household name
Speaker: She's a household name in the world of pop culture with a reputation for both excellence and drama. ah She is still in touch with the Cheetah Girls, though it's mainly through a group chat that is a lot of sparkly memes, chaotic voice notes, and a shared Google Doc titled Tor... question mark, question mark, question mark, that has not been updated since 2019. Oh, oh, you didn't have to give me that last part. That hurts my feelings.
Speaker: I'm sorry. The rest of that, delightful. Yep, yep. Wow. that's where they might be now. Yes. oh Guys, thank you so much for listening to this episode. we We had a blast.
Speaker: I had the best time. Yours were really good, like a plus Oh, yours were really good. Yours were A++. plus plus We could just sit here complimenting each other back and forth. No, you're the best.
Speaker: um Let us know what your favorite Where Are They Now was. And next week, we are going to be back with another mini-sode, part two of our DCOM Oscars. Very excited.
Speaker: Also, if you have ideas for where you think a character is now, I'd love to hear it. Leave a comment. Yes. And do you think Andy Brink Brinker is selling drugs to kids? Let us know. Okay. See you next time. Bye.
Speaker: Bye.
