They didn’t plan for this.
Sophia Wiley, 18, plays good-hearted Agatha, despite her witchy name, in Netflix’s new fantasy movie School of Good and Evil. A cheerful, sunlit room with white walls and a gray sofa in her home in Salt Lake City behind her.
Moments later, Sofia Ann Caruso, 21, who plays best friend Sophie, materializes, her short black fringe blending into the dark black background of her Upper West Side apartment. It’s gone.
“Oh, I want a blanket too,” Caruso said, grabbing a blanket from off-screen and wrapping it around his shoulders. “I thought I had to hide!”
Both actresses (yes, both named So-fee-uh – there’s no bias in either spelling) are debuting as the feature film leads in School of Good and Evil. Stream on Netflix on wednesday. Based on the Young Adult book series by Soman Chainani about a magical school for storybook heroes and villains, the film follows the adventures of Sophie and Agatha. (The starry cast also includes Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Michelle Yeoh, and Laurence Fishburne.)
Wiley, best known for playing Gina Porter in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and Lydia Deetz in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice, joined us in a video interview last week. Caruso gave an interview. ,” shared what it was like to lead the first film, how the crew distinguished them on set, and who most resembled each character in real life. Below is an edited excerpt from that conversation.
How much did you know about the series before you auditioned?
Sophia Anne Caruso I first heard about this book in the summer of 2017.
Sophia Wiley I had a meeting with a producer to discuss a lot of projects, and it was like, ‘School of Good and Evil, sounds very familiar.’ I went to Goodreads and realized it was on my “to read” list.
Caruso As soon as we tested it, it became clear that Zoom was also easy to talk to and friendly. We were connected immediately.
It was your first lead role in a feature film. What was your biggest adjustment?
Wiley I certainly had a preconceived notion of what it meant to be the main character in the film, but once I started setting it up, it was like, ‘Oh no, we’re all sharing the burden here.
Caruso I really was on set more! My attitude did not change.
How did people tell the two of you apart on set?
Wiley Most people called us by our last name.
Caruso But then people mistakenly started calling me my character’s name, Sophie.
Who do you most like Sophie? Who do you most like Agatha?
Wiley Sophia, you’re not as nervous as Sophie, but you don’t care how people perceive you.
Caruso You have the heart of Agatha. I have a Sophie attitude. Her fire, you have her vulnerability as well as her charm.
The film was shot in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Did you have any fun when you weren’t shooting?
Caruso Sophia and I were busy with work and on our days off we would either sleep or relax on the beach listening to music. I didn’t have the energy to do anything. I was sitting on the lawn reading a book.
Wiley I was only 17 years old and had just finished fourth grade, but Sophia asked me, “Would you like some coffee?” “I’m doing algebra,” she would say. It was terrible.
Unlike books, school students do not wear uniforms. What kind of input did you have for the costume?
Wiley I would make a Zoom call with Rene [Ehrlich Kalfus, the costume designer]Agatha’s arc starts off dirty with the Gavaldon scene, and when she transitions to school and becomes a princess, or at least in a princess dress, I get a remark on what it looks like. Although my character looks quite different from how it’s described in the book, rather than wearing outfits and hair and makeup that don’t suit me, it makes me feel like I have a true collaborator. It’s wonderful.
Caruso We’ve never had a more supportive team when it comes to the costume process. We spoke with Rene about how Sophie starts out as a princess and then ends up in a bag of potatoes. And when she’s glam again, it’s not princess glam, it’s punk glam.
What was the most difficult part of making this film?
Wiley The special effects moments were very difficult.For some reason the idea was in my head that magic was on set with us [laughs]Then we show up and we’re like, “Where’s this bony bird that’s supposed to be taking us away? All I see is this guy in a green suit with a stick.” Thing.
Caruso On the last day of shooting, we had to do the Stinf scene. [a bird that has just a skeleton] where we are being transported to school. It was difficult, not only because you have to use your imagination, but also because you are in a very tight, very uncomfortable body casing for hours at a time.
Wiley I must add that Sophia Ann was the sweetest, most protective and caring person that day. Even though she was 20 feet tall, she quickly realized something was wrong.i liked [in a weak voice], “No!” And she was like, “Get her down!” I was like, ‘What a good scene partner. I know that not only does she have my back in the scene as a character, but she has my back as Sophia.
If you could have magical powers, what would it be?
Caruso I want to become a genie who grants infinite wishes.
Wiley I always wanted to be invisible — I wanted to know everyone’s opinion of me without knowing that I knew their opinion.
The “School of Good and Evil” series consists of 6 volumes. Have you heard anything about the movie sequel?
Wiley I’ve heard rumors, but nothing is certain.
Caruso Depends on how many viewers want another — if people want another, we make another!