Watch: Dylan Sprouse Hilariously Whips Out Proof He and Cole Sprouse Are “Children of Incest”
Yes, Dylan Sprouse has a suite life—but it’s not from residuals.
The Disney Channel alum got candid about his pay as a former child star, revealing that he hasn’t received “a single f–king residual” for starring in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody with his twin brother Cole Sprouse.
“The only residual check I’ve ever received for The Suite Life at all was a crossover episode with Hannah Montana for five cents,” Dylan shared on the Nov. 3 episode of his and Brendan Columbus‘ Wildmen podcast. “In a time where residuals would have been great, not a single paycheck for being arguably one of the most popular shows on television.”
Dylan went on to point out that The Suite Life—which also costarred Brenda Song, Ashley Tisdale, Kim Rhodes and Phill Lewis—was beating The Sopranos in ratings during its three-season run from 2005 to 2008.
“That pops in my head every once in a while,” the 34-year-old continued, adding that The Suite Life was “translated into 80 different languages” so it could be broadcasted in different countries. “That’s insane.”
What’s more, according to Dylan’s costar Phill, the cast had a “bizarre contract” that allowed Disney to shoot as many episodes of The Suite Life in one calendar year and “call it a season.”
“One season, we shot 30 episodes of television,” recalled Phill, who played hotel manager Mr. Moseby. “But they called it one season because they didn’t have to pay us bumps in between.”
E! News has reached out to Disney for comment but hasn’t heard back.
Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Warner Bros.
Still, Dylan doesn’t regret his time on the hit children’s show. After all, he made lifelong friends within the cast.
“You were such the force you were on set, as well as still in the bog with us,” Dylan told Phill, 58. “I don’t think that the show would have felt like the family—nor would it have survived even two years—without you because you were the father of the set.”
And that’s why Dylan is totally open to working with the original cast again. As he put it, “I still love everyone to death.”
But that doesn’t mean he’d like to see a Suite Life of Zack & Cody revival.
It’s A Laugh Productions/Walt Disney TV/Kobal/Shutterstock
“I’m seeing all of these older Disney Channel shows get their reboot, but the reboot’s always sans this and this person,'” the Under Fire star said. “And I go, ‘Well, that’s just not the same.'”
Besides, Dylan believes the original show “lives very well” on streaming platforms for “people who are nostalgic” as well as the next generation.
“I was at a Dodger game recently and a kid came up to me,” he added. “She was like, ‘Did you do a Disney Channel show?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I used to a while ago.’ And she goes, ‘It’s my dad’s favorite show.'”
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