In the upcoming announced Paramount+/Nickelodeon film My Weird School, Hero Hunter will be starring as A.J. and he filmed in Vancouver last year, with the film based on a best-selling children’s book series by Dan Gutman, and will also have Aaron Harris, Harper Zilmer and Nakai Takawira in the cast. Since 2020, Hero has played regular character Charlie Wilson in the Nickelodeon series Young Dylan alongside Young Dylan, Celina Smith and Jet Miller for the five series already released, and he has been a guest at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for the past couple of years. In 2024, Hero played Aiden in an episode of the PureFlix series Destination Heaven, and the previous year, he played Older James ‘Junior’ Sloane for Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+ and Young Caleb (Isaiah Russell-Bailey) in the Disney+ feature film Crater. Hero worked alongside Duane Henry, Mallian Butler and Melissa Joan Hart in 2021 when he played Timmy Aguilar in Mistletoe in Montana and he is set to play a main character in an unannounced project airing later this year and will be in the cast of a Disney Jr. series. We caught up with Hero about playing A.J. in the upcoming film My Weird School, his regular role of Charlie Wilson in Young Dylan and being a guest at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

It has been announced that you will be playing A.J. in the upcoming Paramount+/Nickelodeon film My Weird School, how did filming go last year and what are you looking forward to for the release?

Filming My Weird School was really fun and exciting. It was my first time ever filming in Vancouver, Canada which was a very cool and unforgettable experience. My castmates were very talented and fun to work with. Aaron (Harris), Harper (Zilmer), Nakai (Takawira), and I hung out and really got a chance to explore Vancouver when we weren’t filming. Our director Jonathan Judge created a great environment for us to thrive as young artists. I really enjoy being on set so filming My Weird School didn’t feel like work at all. I loved every moment on set with the cast and crew. I am really looking forward to seeing how the audience receives the film once it’s released. I hope the fans enjoy watching My Weird School as much as we enjoyed filming it.

Is there anything you can tell us about the film and your character, and how was it meeting the rest of the cast for the first time?

I can’t really get into much detail, but My Weird School is based on a bestselling children’s book series by Dan Gutman. My character A.J. hates school and is reluctant to give middle school a try. My friends Lex and Ryan convince me to give middle school a shot. The teachers begin to act a lot weirder than normal and we have to transform from middle school students to heroes on a quest to save the world.

Meeting the cast for the first time was really exciting. Aaron, Harper, Nakai, and I pretty much connected right away. They were all very kind, friendly, and down to earth. All of the adult actors were absolutely hilarious and fun to talk to.

Since 2020, you have been playing the regular role of Charlie Wilson in Young Dylan for Nickelodeon, how would you describe Charlie and what is he like to play?

I would describe Charlie Wilson as a very smart and gullible kid. Charlie is a very sheltered kid that doesn’t have much real world experience. Charlie really enjoys being a kid and he has no intentions of growing up anytime soon. Charlie loves science, space, cooking, and hanging out with his family. It is fun playing Charlie because the character and I have a lot of similarities. I really enjoy being a kid, I love cooking, science, and playing video games.

What do you enjoy most about filming for Young Dylan and how do you find the experience on set?

I really enjoy working and hanging out on set with Dylan, Celina (Smith), and Jet (Miller). Tyler Perry and our producer/director Mrs. Chip Hurd (Momma Chip) created such a nurturing and loving environment that it always felt like a second home. Every day I am on set filming Young Dylan, I feel like I am working with my family. I had just turned eight years old a couple of months before being cast as a series regular on Young Dylan. I had no idea five seasons later we would still be here living the dream. I will forever be grateful to Tyler Perry and Nickelodeon for giving me my first big opportunity as an actor.

What are some of your favourite highlights from playing Charlie so far and how has it been developing the role across the five seasons already released?

Charlie and I have kind of grown together throughout the years both physically and mentally. Charlie really looks up to Dylan so throughout the years you can see how Dylan’s influence has changed Charlie’s as a person. It’s been a very interesting journey taking Charlie from a character that was very dependent on his parents as a young grade schooler to see him now work towards being more independent as a preteen making his own choices and decisions.

Some highlights of playing Charlie would definitely be all of the cool costumes I’ve been able to wear throughout the years. I feel like the costumes really help me get into character.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role for your first regular character?

I believe I found out I booked the role right before or right after I turned eight years old. When we received the call from my agent and manager I remember being very excited after getting the news. I was still pretty young so the magnitude of the moment didn’t really hit me until my first day on set.

You’ve been a guest at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for the past couple of years, what is the event like to attend?

I always have the time of my life every time I attend the Kid’s Choice Awards. My favourite part of the event will always be meeting other talented actors, musical artists, and influencers on the Orange Carpet.

Last year, you played Aiden in an episode of the PureFlix series Destination Heaven, how was this?

I was able to work with the great actor Harry Lennix. It’s always a blessing when you get to share the screen with legendary actors like Mr. Lennix. We filmed in the great state of Kentucky and I had a great time hanging out on set with fellow actors Ava (Torres) and Zach (Colmenero).

What was it like playing Older James ‘Junior’ Sloane in Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+ in 2023?

The best part of being cast in Lessons in Chemistry is that I basically got paid to learn from great actors like Brie Larson, Aja Naomi King, and Paul James. They were very skilled, kind, and professional actors. Watching effortlessly command every scene was truly motivating and inspiring.

How was your time filming as Young Caleb (Isaiah Russell-Bailey) in the Disney+ feature film Crater?

The best part of filming Crater was meeting Isaiah. We are still friends to this day. We were filming in Louisiana so I tried delicious beignets for the first time. Working with Kid Cudi was also an experience I will always appreciate and remember.

In 2021, you were seen as Timmy Aguilar in Mistletoe in Montana alongside Duane Henry, Mallian Butler and Melissa Joan Hart, do you have any stand-out memories from working on this project that you can share?

One memory that stands out is I actually learned how to ride a horse on set. I also saw a mountain lion for the first time.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

My dad is an actor and he would take me along on most of his auditions. One day, when I was around 15 months, I was with my dad while he was getting new headshots. The photographer suggested to my dad that he should get into commercial acting. He even took a free headshot of me. My dad signed me up with an agent and the rest is history.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

Some of my favourite TV shows are Phineas and Ferb, The Simpsons, Jessie, Sonny with a Chance, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Abbott Elementary.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I like to spend time with my family, watch TV, play Marvel Rivals on my PlayStation, play chess with my sister, and cooking.

Apart from My Weird School, do you have any further projects upcoming that you can talk about, and what are you hoping 2025 brings for you?

I can’t give details but I am a main character in a huge project set to air sometime in 2025. I am also guest-starring in an episode of an Emmy-winning series that is airing really soon. I was also cast as a character in a Disney Jr. series that will air sometime this year. I really enjoy being on set and my goal for 2025 is to book a movie that will premiere in theatres.

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