Fans should mark August 15 as the premiere date for the original Disney Channel movie How to Build a Better Boy, airing on Family Channel.
How far would someone go to prove a point? After Mae Hartley, a clever, tech‑savvy teen, is publicly embarrassed by Nevah, the school’s most popular girl, she teams with her friend Gabby Harrison to build a robotic boyfriend using Mae’s father’s video game software. They bring Albert to life, the perfect companion for Mae. When Albert shows up at school the next day, Mae could not be more pleased. Albert sings, he’s well liked, and he excels at sports. With a flawless partner by her side, Mae gains popularity, but the sudden status strains her friendship with Gabby. Tensions rise when Gabby discovers that Albert wasn’t created with video game software at all, but with government defense programming.
If Zapped premiered earlier in the summer, viewers will likely enjoy How to Build a Better Boy.
A magazine interview with Kelli Berglund, who stars as Mae, reveals details about the film and what filming was like on set.
Mae is described as a geeky‑chic, intelligent, tech‑savvy girl who hides insecurities and longs for happiness.
She isn’t a typical nerd. She carries hopes and dreams that slowly unfold, and the story shows that true happiness comes from friendship rather than popularity. Mae learns to value her real connections as the drama with Albert unfolds.
What sets this Disney Channel entry apart is that every character has a distinct voice. The film moves beyond stereotypes and shows how each person faces their own insecurities while Mae redefines what brings her joy.
Kelli notes that the ensemble brings genuine chemistry. The on‑screen dynamic between Mae and Gabby, and the way Mae connects with Albert, feels authentic and not forced.
Many Disney stars appear in the film, contributing to a warm, collaborative atmosphere on set, which helps the performances feel true to life.
On set, Marshall Williams, who plays Albert, brings musical talent and has a background on Canadian Idol. Noah Centineo and China Anne McClain also contribute their musical skills, adding to the film’s lively energy.
In the film, Mae’s father is a computer genius who creates the technology to generate a person. When asked what single invention they would build, Mae imagines a time machine—an idea she finds thrilling and would likely share with friends as a playful daydream.
The first thought is a time machine. If that were possible, Mae would likely travel to the past, perhaps the fifties or the eighties, and she would bring three friends to explore those eras for a few days and see how life differs from today.
Matt Shively’s tweet hinting at the premiere a year earlier is recalled by Berglund as a memorable moment from the shoot.
There is one standout memory from filming: a football‑field scene shot on a platform just outside the set, making it look like night. Several cast members are musically inclined, so guitars come out and the group sings together, turning a routine take into a fun bonding moment captured on video.
With anticipation high, the team looks forward to the premiere of How to Build a Better Boy.
Catch the premiere August 15th at 8:00 PM on Family Channel.