Mechanical dinosaurs. Teen pilots. An alien invasion.
On paper, Armorsaurs sounds like pure adrenaline — and it absolutely delivers. But according to series lead Jailen Bates, the Disney+ sci-fi adventure is powered by something much deeper.
“It’s incredibly surreal for this all to be happening,” Bates tells Celeb Secrets of the show’s massive streaming rollout. “Creating this show was such an incredible labor of love and I’m so happy that everyone gets to share in some of the excitement that Armorsaurs brings.”
After first debuting on Disney XD, the series is now getting a global second life on Disney+, opening the door to an even wider audience. “The Disney Plus premiere is most certainly an opportunity for a bigger impact and the chance to bring our series to different audiences around the world,” he says.
Bates stars as Liam Roberts, the brilliant scientist at the center of the top-secret Armorsaurs Program — a high-stakes operation pairing gifted teens with armored dinosaurs to defend Earth. While the premise is explosive, Bates was most drawn to Liam’s emotional core.
“What stood out to me most about Liam was his protectiveness and loyalty,” he explains. “When finding his emotional depth I was surprised how much care and fierce loyalty he has for his teammates and that influenced much of my motivations in my performance.”
Balancing intelligence with vulnerability in a universe built largely through virtual production wasn’t easy. “Having to almost entirely imagine the world around me was a huge task,” Bates admits. “But what anchors me the most… is the chemistry between my cast mates.”
That chemistry extended far beyond the screen. The actor spent three months filming in South Korea — an experience he calls “a culmination of learning, adventure, and so much good food” — and even embraced the show’s lighter moments, including donning “ridiculous caveman costumes” and turning oversized corn dogs into on-set props between takes.
For Bates, though, Armorsaurs ultimately comes down to connection. “Watch for the dinosaurs and stay for the heart, and teamwork,” he says.
With its global Disney+ debut officially here, Bates sits down with Celeb Secrets to learn more about how the series is grounded in loyalty, identity and heart. Make sure to keep scrolling to read the full Q&A below and don’t forget to let us know if you wind up watching (and loving) the series by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
Celeb Secrets: “Armorsaurs” is officially making its global streaming debut on Disney+ this week. What does it mean to you to have this series reach a worldwide audience in such a massive way?
Jailen Bates: “It’s incredibly surreal for this all to be happening. Creating this show was such an incredible labor of love and I’m so happy that everyone gets to share in some of the excitement that ‘Armorsaurs’ brings.”
CS: For anyone just discovering the show on Disney+, how would you describe Armorsaurs in your own words, and why is it the kind of sci-fi series families should be excited about?
JB: “‘Armorsaurs’ is an action packed adventure about teen pilots with extraordinary abilities and their Armored Dinosaurs fighting the world against an alien invasion. It’s exciting, and has you on the edge of your seat, but at the center of the show you will find a lot of heart and sincerity.”
CS: Can you tell us more about your character and your first reaction when you read the script?
JB: “Liam is an incredibly intelligent and persistent character and when I first had the pleasure to read the script I was drawn to the parts of him that I saw in myself. I was completely enamored in the world of ‘Armorsaurs’ and I knew it was something I had to be apart of.”
CS: The show originally premiered on Disney XD before moving to streaming. Do you feel like this new chapter gives the series a second life or even bigger impact?
JB: “The Disney Plus premiere is most certainly an opportunity for a bigger impact and the chance to bring our series to different audiences around the world.”
CS: You play Liam Roberts, a brilliant scientist who guides the teens in the Armorsaurs Program. What stood out to you most about Liam when you were building the character?
JB: “What stood out to me most about Liam was his protectiveness and loyalty. When finding his emotional depth I was surprised how much care and fierce loyalty he has for his teammates and that influenced much of my motivations in my performance.”
CS: Liam is incredibly intelligent but also vulnerable. How did you balance those “extraordinary” traits with keeping him grounded and relatable?
JB: “There is a bit of difficulty in grounding with this universe but what anchors me the most in the emotional moments that build the core of the show, is the chemistry between my cast mates and my emotional relationship with every character in each individual scene.”
CS: If Liam had to describe himself in three words, what do you think they would be, and do any of those words describe you in real life?
JB: “Logical, Caring, Determined. These are all words that absolutely describe Liam, in many ways I think I share in his determination and caring for others. As for the logical aspect I may be more of a dreamer than Liam.”
CS: You filmed in South Korea for three months. What was that experience like both professionally and personally?
JB: “It was an amazing experience that was a culmination of learning, adventure, and so much good food. Being in an entirely new environment for a chunk of a year was jarring to my body but the best experience I could have ever had an introduced me to an entirely new culture. I miss it everyday.”
CS: Sci-fi projects rely heavily on visual effects. What’s the biggest challenge of acting opposite something that isn’t physically there?
JB: “‘Armorsaurs’ utilized an entirely virtual production that was such a unique challenge to my creative brain. Having to almost entirely imagine the world around me was a huge task but I was more than ready to take it on.”
CS: On the flip side, we heard about the “ridiculous caveman costumes.” What’s the funniest behind-the-scenes moment from working with these costumes that still makes you laugh?
JB: “I loved these costumes! Fun fact on this day, coincidentally there were the most ginormous fried corn dogs on set that each of us grabbed and used as clubs between scenes.”
CS: If you could bond with any dinosaur (mechanical or real), which one would you choose and why?
JB: “I obviously have to go with the Trex because… cmon AJAX! In all seriousness because of how much power a T Rex has I would try my best to pilot it but I would wanna leave that to Liam.”
CS: What’s one piece of “scientist advice” Liam would give you in real life?
JB: “In order to distinguish a squirrel from a flying squirrel pay attention to the one glides.”
CS: Why do you think our readers should tune into “Armorsaurs” when it premieres on Disney+ this week?
JB: “‘Armorsaurs’ is an incredible journey for people of all ages to go on. Watch for the dinosaurs and stay for the heart, and teamwork.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, what’s one behind-the-scenes secret from working on “Armorsaurs” that we wouldn’t know just by watching it?
JB: “TJ catches it early in the season, but make sure to look twice at Liam’s Glasses the next time you watch.”
