Honestly, if you grew up with a TV in the late 90s, you probably have a dusty memory of a mummy eating a cheeseburger or getting stuck in a hospital revolving door. That was Under Wraps. Most people don't realize that this weird little flick about three kids and their 4,000-year-old best friend wasn't just another Halloween special. It was the literal blueprint.
Before High School Musical or Camp Rock were even glints in Disney's eye, there was Harold.
Released on October 25, 1997, Under Wraps was the very first official Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM). Sure, there were "Disney Channel Premiere Films" before it, but this was the one that launched the branding we know today. It was an experiment. The actors themselves didn't even know if it would be a hit or just vanish into the late-night cable void.
The Mummy That Actually Had a Soul
The plot is deceptively simple. Three 12-year-olds—Marshall, Gilbert, and Amy—accidentally stumble upon a mummy in the basement of a "dead" neighbor's house.
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Except the neighbor isn't actually dead (he's just a tax evader named Mr. Kubat), and the mummy isn't a cursed monster. He’s just Harold. Played by Bill Fagerbakke—who you definitely know as the voice of Patrick Star on SpongeBob SquarePants—Harold is basically a giant, bandaged toddler. He’s clumsy. He’s confused. He’s weirdly obsessed with hot sauce.
There is a ticking clock, though. If Harold isn't back in his sarcophagus by midnight on Halloween, he turns to dust. Gone. Poof.
Why the 1997 Version Hits Different
A lot of modern fans who discovered the franchise through the 2021 remake don't realize how much "edge" the original actually had. For a TV-G movie, it’s surprisingly gritty. Mr. Kubat isn't some cartoon villain; he's a guy who literally sends an attack dog after children.
Then there's the chemistry. Mario Yedidia (Marshall), Adam Wylie (Gilbert), and Clara Bryant (Amy) felt like real kids. They were mean to each other sometimes. They had messy rooms. Marshall was dealing with his parents' divorce and his mom’s new boyfriend, Ted—who was also played by Bill Fagerbakke in a clever bit of dual casting.
It wasn't sanitized. It was just... 90s.
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The 2021 Remake and the "New" Harold
Fast forward to 2021. Disney decided to dig the body back up—pun intended.
The remake keeps the core DNA: three friends, one mummy, one Halloween deadline. But everything got a 21st-century coat of paint. Malachi Barton took over as Marshall, and the cast became significantly more diverse, reflecting a much more realistic version of a modern neighborhood.
Here is the big shift: The new Harold, played by Phil Wright, is a world-class dancer.
In the 97 version, Harold was stiff. He moved like his joints were full of sand. In the remake, Harold is the life of the party. He’s doing backflips and splits. It changes the vibe from a "boy and his dog" story to more of a "boy and his cool, ancient influencer friend" story.
Major Differences You Might Have Missed
- The Villain: In the remake, Kubat (or "Killbot" as the kids call him) is more of a constant, lurking presence.
- The Tech: 1997 Harold was baffled by a hospital. 2021 Harold is fighting with autonomous vacuums and Siri.
- The Heart: The remake leans much harder into the "family" aspect, specifically Marshall's relationship with his mom's boyfriend. It’s softer. More "Disney."
Under Wraps 2: Expanding the Mummy-Verse
Because the 2021 remake was a massive hit on Disney+, we got a sequel in 2022. This is where the franchise finally stepped out of the shadow of the original 90s film.
Under Wraps 2 brings back the new trio as they head to a spooky, Salem-style town called Rockport for Amy’s father’s wedding. But they aren't just babysitting Harold this time. They have to deal with Sobek, an evil mummy with a thousand-year-old grudge.
It's actually a pretty big deal for Disney Channel history because it features one of the network's first prominent LGBTQ+ weddings between Amy’s father and his fiancé, Carl.
Where is the Original Cast Now?
It’s been decades. People change. Bandages come off.
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- Adam Wylie (Gilbert): He’s still acting and doing voice work. He even made a meta-cameo in Under Wraps 2 as a jeweler named Beuller.
- Clara Bryant (Amy): She walked away from Hollywood in 2007. She’s now a lawyer. Talk about a career pivot.
- Mario Yedidia (Marshall): Like many child stars of that era, he stepped out of the spotlight and lives a private life.
- Bill Fagerbakke (Harold): The man is a legend. Between SpongeBob and his role as Dauber on Coach, he’s never really stopped being on our screens.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Movie Night
If you're planning to revisit these movies or introduce them to a new generation, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch the 1997 original first. It’s available on various digital platforms like Amazon and iTunes. It sets the tone for the entire DCOM era.
- Look for the dual roles. In both versions, pay attention to the actors playing the mummy and the "authority figures." There are often fun nods to the audience.
- Check the credits. The 2021 version has a lot of "Easter eggs" referencing the original, including specific lines of dialogue that were lifted directly from the 97 script.
- The "Monster" Factor: If you have younger kids (ages 5-8), start with the 2021 remake. It’s significantly less "scary" than the 1997 version, which has a few jumpscares that might be a bit much for the very little ones.
The legacy of Under Wraps isn't just about a mummy in a leather jacket. It’s about the fact that Disney realized they could make "real" movies for TV that kids actually cared about. Without Harold, we don't get Zenon, Kim Possible, or Descendants. Not bad for a guy who spent 4,000 years in a basement.
To fully appreciate the evolution, track down the 1997 original on DVD or digital—it's a fascinating time capsule of what Disney thought "cool" looked like before the internet took over everything.