Nickelodeon’s live-action Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, starring Samantha Lorraine as Dora and Jacob Rodriguez as Diego, will simultaneously debut on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on July 2. We had the opportunity to speak to Lorraine and Rodriguez about this new story set in the Dora universe, as well as co-stars Mariana Garzón Toro and Acston Luca Porto.

“Dora is such a pivotal part of all of our lives and there’s such a youthful spirit to her,” Lorraine said when asked about Dora’s significance today, 25 years after the character was first introduced to the world in 2000. “It’s so important that we instill that [youthful spirit] in the youth of today, as well as even [in] adults who are going to watch this movie with their families. Keeping that positivity and that optimism in a leadership role is so important.”

“I get to be Diego,” answered Rodriguez. “That is crazy. That is, like, beyond belief. I never thought I’d be able to play such an iconic character ever in my career. And truly, this has been an honor of a lifetime.”

You can find the full conversation I had with cast of Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado here: