To celebrate the release of Red One, the cast made history by taking over SKYLIFT at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center for a first-of-its-kind photo opportunity in NYC. I was lucky enough to attend and interview Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J. K. Simmons, Lucy Liu, and Kiernan Shipka!

After Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

Throughout the global press tour for the film, Johnson has been posting fan interactions on social media. He told me about what it’s been like to travel and have those special moments, saying, “Thank you for asking that. It’s been amazing, and it’s also been very gratifying too, as well, for me. When I meet fans and we’re on the road, the moments are very fast, and they’re fleeting. Sometimes it’s only seconds that I get a chance to say, ‘Hello, how are you,’ and there’s a quick exchange. It’s very fast and they get emotional, and sometimes there’s tears and a lot of hugs. But also, I don’t get a chance to tell them, which is really what the interaction means to me as well. It’s very gratifying, and it makes me extremely grateful to be in the position that I’m in.”

Red One has some truly beautiful themes, especially regarding one’s inner child. The actors opened up to me about which messages unexpectedly resonated with them. Simmons shared, “I mean, there’s a lot that’s unexpected, and to me, the whole idea of Santa’s gift and the gift that we all share at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, and Dwayne’s character that he’s questioning if he still has that gift is that ability to see the little kid in everybody and to understand that we’ve all been through pain, we’ve all been through heartache, and we’ve all been through joy. Be kind.”

Liu added, “I just love the fact that it was a reminder about the child in ourselves and that was so touching. I think that was really unexpected, and when you get through the movie and the adventure part of it and then, finally get to the end, it’s just so heartwarming and unexpected.”

“I think that’s what you want in any good Christmas movie, someone who’s deserving of a second chance, someone who’s in need of the holiday spirit, someone who can rediscover reasons to be good,” Evans expressed. “That’s the best part of the holiday, it gives you time to reflect on those themes.”

Shipka mentioned, “I think these characters really all have beautiful arcs. There’s a level of maybe lack of hope or disillusionment in the beginning of the movie going on with a lot of these people and by the end, there’s a real kind of hopeful, feel-good message. I really love that.”

Next, they spoke with me about the excellent mix of comedy, action, and holiday that the story has. “Well, it’s a testament to Jake Kasdan, he had a full plate in trying to make sure all these genres were serviced and I think he did a great job,” Evans commented.

Shipka summed the experience up perfectly: “I mean, it was really fun because on one day, I’d feel like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m in an action movie,’ and then the next, I’m this sort of dark villain and the scene’s really intense, and then the next moment, it’s pure comedy and we’re all laughing. So, it was really a nice mixed bag of vibes.”

As for what stood out to Simmons, he answered, “Just how well they combined them. It’s a great thrill ride, it’s really fun, and it really hits you right in the heart. So, it’s the trifecta.”

Liu portrays Zoe Harlow and explained, “I just love that she was so involved in the saving of Christmas and that she really didn’t expect something like that because she was really the leader and head of MORA, which is all the mythological creatures. And so, that aspect, to me, was the most magical, making that a real thing, not just for kids but for adults.”

Meanwhile, Shipka takes on the role of the villain: “It was really fun because I had to get into her brain and go, ‘Why is she doing this, in this particular way?’ I really grew to love playing the character and finding the sort of love, even though she’s stealing Christmas after all but it was really fun. I’ve definitely played dark and twisted but I haven’t really played the villain and this was like, the real, you know, everyone’s running around because I took J. K. Simmons. I’m causing chaos and that’s fun.”

The actress previously played Sabrina Spellman on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and we both came to the conclusion that the situation could have been handled a lot easier if the character was there to assist. “We had Gryla in Sabrina, there was one episode, so when I read it, I was like, ‘I know that witch. I absolutely know that witch.’ I know, Sabrina would’ve figured it all out or she would’ve tried,” she agreed.

In the movie, the characters can adjust the reality of toys, and Evans knows which one he would pick: “That’s a good question… man, I want to give this the right answer. I had a lot of He-Man action figures and maybe Cringer, Battle Cat, he turned into that striped green tiger.”