It was the turn of the millennium. Disney Channel was hitting its stride with "Disney Channel Original Movies" (DCOMs), and honestly, we were all obsessed with the idea of secret identities. Before the MCU turned every actor into a household name, we had the Marshall family. Up, Up and Away premiered in January 2000, and it kinda hit different because it wasn't just about capes. It was about the one kid in a family of legends who didn't have a single power. No flight. No super strength. Just... Scott.
People still search for the Up Up and Away cast because the movie occupies this weird, nostalgic space in our brains. It wasn't as flashy as Sky High would be a few years later, but it had heart. And let's be real—the cast was actually stacked with talent that went on to do some pretty massive things. If you grew up watching Scott Marshall try to fake his way through superhero training, you might be surprised where those actors ended up.
The Marshall Family: More Than Just Spandex
The core of the movie was the family dynamic. It wasn't just about fighting "The Brain"—it was about the pressure of living up to your parents.
Michael J. Pagan played Scott Marshall. He was the heart of the film. Scott was the "normal" one, and Pagan played that insecurity perfectly. After the movie, he didn't just vanish. You might remember him from How Stella Got Her Groove Back or his later work in CSI: Miami. He's stayed relatively low-key compared to some child stars, but his performance as the lead is what made the movie work. Without his grounded energy, the whole "superhero family" thing would have felt a bit too cheesy.
Then you have the parents. Robert Townsend played Jim Marshall (Bronze Eagle). Townsend is a legend. Period. Even before this DCOM, he was a massive deal in Hollywood for The Five Heartbeats and Hollywood Shuffle. He didn't just act in the movie; he actually directed it. That’s probably why the comedic timing feels so much better than your average 2000s kid's flick. He brought a level of professional polish that most made-for-TV movies lacked.
Alex Datcher was Judy Marshall (Warrior Woman). She brought that "cool but tough" mom energy. Datcher had already established herself with roles in Passenger 57 and Star Trek: Next Generation. After her stint as Warrior Woman, she continued working steadily in television, appearing in shows like The Practice and Any Day Now.
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The Supporting Heroes and Villains
We can't talk about the Up Up and Away cast without mentioning the scene-stealers. Sherman Hemsley as Edward Marshall (Steel Condor) was a stroke of casting genius. If you’re a fan of classic TV, you know him as George Jefferson. Seeing a sitcom icon play a grumpy, aging superhero who's losing his powers was genuinely funny. He brought a legacy feel to the film. Sadly, Hemsley passed away in 2012, but his role as the grandfather remains a highlight for many fans.
And the kids?
- Kasan Butcher (Adam Marshall): Played the older brother with super strength and speed. He went on to have a solid career in shows like Malcolm in the Middle and The Parkers.
- Arreale Davis (Molly Marshall): The little sister with X-ray vision. She did some work in The Proud Family (voicing various characters) and appeared in The Bernie Mac Show.
- Kevin Connolly (Malcolm): This is the one that usually shocks people. Before he was Eric Murphy on Entourage, Kevin Connolly was the guy trying to help the Marshalls. It’s wild to see him in baggy 2000s clothes before he became a Hollywood power player.
Why the Up Up and Away Cast Felt Different
Look, most DCOMs are... well, they’re DCOMs. They’re bright, loud, and sometimes a little shallow. But the Up Up and Away cast felt like a real family. Part of that is because Robert Townsend focused on the "human" side of being a "super."
The movie tackled the idea of environmentalism and corporate greed through the "Earth Protectors" storyline. It was surprisingly ahead of its time. The cast had to balance the campy nature of wearing silver bodysuits with the actual stakes of a family being torn apart by expectations.
Honestly, the chemistry between Michael J. Pagan and Kevin Connolly is what carries the "non-powered" side of the story. They felt like actual friends, not just two actors reading lines in a studio. When you look back at the Up Up and Away cast, you see a group of actors who were either at the peak of their character-actor careers or just starting what would become massive journeys in the industry.
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What Most People Forget About the Production
It’s easy to look back and think everything was green screen, but back in 1999/2000, Disney was still doing a lot of practical stunts for these movies. Robert Townsend has mentioned in past interviews that he wanted the flight sequences to feel "weighty."
The "The Brain" storyline—involving a villain who used software to brainwash kids—feels incredibly prophetic now. In the year 2000, we were worried about Y2K. Today, we’re worried about algorithms. The cast had to sell this idea of "digital mind control" long before social media was even a thing.
The Legacy of the Film
Is it the best superhero movie ever? No. But the Up Up and Away cast helped bridge the gap between the 90s era of "silly" heroes and the more serious tone we saw later. It was one of the first times we saw a Black superhero family as the lead in a mainstream Disney production. That matters. It paved the way for things like The Incredibles (which shares a lot of DNA with this movie) and later, the more diverse representation we see in the MCU.
How to Revisit the World of Up, Up and Away
If you're looking to dive back into the nostalgia, here is how you can actually engage with the history of the Up Up and Away cast and the movie's production:
1. Track the Directing Career of Robert Townsend
If you liked the vibe of the movie, check out Townsend’s other work. He has a very specific way of blending social commentary with humor. Watching The Meteor Man (1993) is a great next step because it’s his other major foray into the superhero genre, and it features many of the same themes regarding community and heroism.
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2. Look for the "Entourage" Connection
For a fun "where are they now" moment, watch Kevin Connolly in the early seasons of Entourage. It is jarring to see the transition from his role as a helpful sidekick in a Disney movie to a fast-talking Hollywood manager. It shows the range of the performers Disney was hiring at the time.
3. Analyze the Trope of the "Powerless" Hero
The movie is a prime example of the "Normal Person in a Super World" trope. If you're a writer or a film buff, compare Scott Marshall’s journey to characters like Will Stronghold in Sky High or even Mirabel in Encanto. You'll see that the Up Up and Away cast laid the groundwork for how Disney handles the "black sheep" of a magical family.
4. Check Disney+ Special Features
Sometimes, Disney+ hides vintage "Making Of" featurettes in the "Extras" tab of their older movies. These often show Robert Townsend on set, directing the cast through the wire-work and stunts. It gives you a real appreciation for how much work went into these TV movies before CGI became the easy way out.
The Up Up and Away cast represents a specific moment in time. They weren't just actors in a kid's movie; they were part of a shift in how we tell stories about heroes. Whether it was Sherman Hemsley bringing his sitcom timing or Michael J. Pagan anchoring the emotional stakes, they made a movie about flying feel like it was actually about grounded, human problems.
Next time you’re scrolling through Disney+, don’t just skip past the "Old School" section. There’s a lot of craft in those early 2000s films that often gets overlooked. Seeing these actors in their early roles is a reminder that everyone starts somewhere—even the people who can fly.