Under Wraps: the 1997 DCOM mummy movie that’s not on Disney+

Disney Channel’s Under Wraps premiered Oct. 25, 1997, then got a remake in 2021 and a sequel in 2022. Here’s the story behind all three mummy movies, and why the original is so hard to find.

A year before Halloweentown, Disney Channel had a mummy.

Under Wraps premiered on Disney Channel in October 1997. Three kids find a mummy on Halloween, accidentally bring him back to life and then have to get him home before midnight.

Disney calls it the very first Disney Channel Original Movie. It got a modern remake in 2021 and a sequel in 2022, and both of those are streaming on Disney+.

The original is another story. Here’s everything to know about all three.

What is Under Wraps about?

In the 1997 movie, three kids discover a 3,000-year-old mummy on Halloween and accidentally set him free, according to D23, Disney’s official fan club.

They soon learn they have to return their new friend to his resting place before midnight. If they don’t, he’ll turn to dust and lose his immortal soul, D23 says.

Greg Beeman directed it. Mario Yedidia played Marshall, Adam Wylie played Gilbert and Clara Bryant played Amy, according to D23.

The mummy was played by Bill Fagerbakke. If his voice sounds familiar, that’s because he’s also the voice of Patrick Star on “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

Was Under Wraps the first Disney Channel Original Movie?

That’s how Disney tells it. D23 called Under Wraps “the first-ever Disney Channel Original Movie” in 2021, saying it launched a franchise of more than 100 titles.

There’s a small wrinkle. D23’s own list of Disney Channel Original Movies puts “Northern Lights” first, on Aug. 23, 1997. Under Wraps comes second, on Oct. 25, 1997.

Either way, Under Wraps kicked off Disney Channel’s run of Halloween movies. “Halloweentown” followed on Oct. 17, 1998, and “Don’t Look Under the Bed” came a year after that, according to the same D23 list.

Can you stream the original Under Wraps?

No. As of this writing, the 1997 Under Wraps isn’t streaming anywhere in the U.S., including Disney+, according to JustWatch. It’s available on DVD.

It’s been missing for a while. When the remake arrived in 2021, Cheat Sheet pointed out that the original wasn’t on Disney+, either.

So if you want to see the first DCOM, you’ll need a disc, or a lucky TV airing.

Here’s an original 1997 promo, saved by a fan channel:

What is the Under Wraps remake about?

The 2021 remake follows the same basic idea with a new cast.

Three 12-year-old friends, Marshall (Malachi Barton), Gilbert (Christian J. Simon) and Amy (Sophia Hammons), sneak into a neighbor’s spooky basement and find an Egyptian mummy, D23 reported. They accidentally expose his amulet to moonlight, which brings him back to life.

This time the mummy is 4,000 years old, and he’s played by Phil Wright, according to D23. He turns out to be gentle and kind, and he likes hot sauce, just like Marshall’s Grandpa Harold. So the kids name him Harold.

There’s a deadline again, too. The amulet gives Harold a three-day pass among the living, and he has to get back to his resting place by midnight on Halloween, D23 said. A group of criminals wants to sell him to the highest bidder.

Alex Zamm directed it and co-wrote the remake with William Robertson, based on the original by Don Rhymer, according to D23.

“I equally felt the honor and the privilege of remaking one of my favorite movies,” Zamm told D23. “I have done a lot of sequels, but when you do a reboot, you feel the pressure of honoring the original and keeping its DNA intact.”

It premiered on Disney Channel on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, D23 says. It hit Disney+ a week later, on Oct. 8, Cheat Sheet reported.

Disney Channel posted this first look:

Is there an Under Wraps 2?

Yes. Under Wraps 2 premiered on Disney Channel on Sept. 25, 2022, and came to Disney+ on Sept. 30, according to D23.

This time Amy is getting ready for her dad’s Halloween-themed wedding, D23 says. Then the kids learn that Harold and his love, Rose, may be in danger.

The threat is Sobek, an evil mummy with a 1,000-year-old grudge against Harold. Sobek used to be Harold’s best friend. He wakes up looking for revenge and kidnaps Rose, so the gang has to save her and still make it back in time for the wedding, according to D23.

Here’s Disney Channel’s trailer:

Where can you watch Under Wraps?

Here’s the current lineup, according to JustWatch:

• Under Wraps (1997): not streaming. DVD only.

• Under Wraps (2021): streaming on Disney+.

• Under Wraps 2 (2022): streaming on Disney+.

What are some fun facts about Under Wraps?

The original Gilbert came back. Adam Wylie, who played Gilbert in 1997, has a role as Beuller in Under Wraps 2, D23 says.

The mummy got older. He’s 3,000 years old in the original and 4,000 years old in the remake, according to D23.

There’s a real family photo on set. Barton told D23 that the picture of Marshall and his Grandpa Harold next to Marshall’s bed is a real photo of Barton and his great-grandpa.

Harold has a big mirror moment. Wright told D23 that one of his favorite scenes is when Harold first sees himself in a mirror and realizes how much he’s aged.

“You literally see him go through the five stages of grief in that one scene!” he said.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• D23 Disney A to Z: Under Wraps (1997), Under Wraps (2021), Under Wraps 2 and Disney Channel Original Movies entries

• Zach Johnson, D23, Sept. 29, 2021: Unraveling the mysteries of Disney Channel’s Under Wraps

• Elisabeth McGowan, Cheat Sheet, Oct. 7, 2021: How to watch the 2021 Under Wraps remake and the 1997 movie

• JustWatch: Under Wraps (1997), Under Wraps (2021) and Under Wraps 2 U.S. streaming listings, checked Oct. 10, 2026

• Disney Channel on YouTube: Meet My Mummy! (Aug. 14, 2021) and the Under Wraps 2 trailer (Aug. 12, 2022)

• DCOM Archives on YouTube: Under Wraps (1997) original promo

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