Disney revealed on Monday that its musical animated feature Wish, starring Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) and Chris Pine (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) garnered 13.2 million views globally in its first five days streaming on Disney+.
This amounts to the third biggest premiere on the service, behind those of Encanto and Frozen 2, with a view being defined as total stream time divided by runtime.
Earlier this year securing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature, Wish takes place in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars,...
This amounts to the third biggest premiere on the service, behind those of Encanto and Frozen 2, with a view being defined as total stream time divided by runtime.
Earlier this year securing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature, Wish takes place in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Wish Movie Ott Release Date (Photo Credit – IMDb)
In November 2023, Disney’s animated musical fantasy film Wish was released in theatres. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, the film received mixed reviews, but mostly negative. It was a Thanksgiving treat for the audience which was released alongside Napoleon and Saltburn. The voice cast includes big names like Chris Pine, Ariana DeBose and many others.
The development of the musical fantasy began in 2018. The film’s title was announced during the 2022 D23 Expo Presentation. There’s a big news for those who missed watching the movie on the big screen. The animated film is all set to release on Disney+. In this article, we have mentioned the main cast, the plot and other crucial details about the musical fantasy.
Wish Movie Cast & Crew
The voice actors include Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Harvey Guillen,...
In November 2023, Disney’s animated musical fantasy film Wish was released in theatres. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, the film received mixed reviews, but mostly negative. It was a Thanksgiving treat for the audience which was released alongside Napoleon and Saltburn. The voice cast includes big names like Chris Pine, Ariana DeBose and many others.
The development of the musical fantasy began in 2018. The film’s title was announced during the 2022 D23 Expo Presentation. There’s a big news for those who missed watching the movie on the big screen. The animated film is all set to release on Disney+. In this article, we have mentioned the main cast, the plot and other crucial details about the musical fantasy.
Wish Movie Cast & Crew
The voice actors include Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Harvey Guillen,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
Top 10 animated movies of all time ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore a curated selection of the greatest animated films ever crafted. If your favorite isn’t included, don’t worry; there may be a follow-up if this piece strikes a chord with readers. Animated movies, particularly those tailored for young audiences, have traditionally been led by Disney and its offshoot Pixar. Despite their continuous reinvention of beloved tales, both studios have gifted us a wealth of timeless animated treasures. So, without delay, let’s begin our cinematic voyage through the enchanting world of animation.
10. Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director) Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75% IMDb Score: 7./10 Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes Available on: Disney Plus (US & India)
On his journey to the most important race of his career, Lightning McQueen gets separated from his hauler truck,...
Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore a curated selection of the greatest animated films ever crafted. If your favorite isn’t included, don’t worry; there may be a follow-up if this piece strikes a chord with readers. Animated movies, particularly those tailored for young audiences, have traditionally been led by Disney and its offshoot Pixar. Despite their continuous reinvention of beloved tales, both studios have gifted us a wealth of timeless animated treasures. So, without delay, let’s begin our cinematic voyage through the enchanting world of animation.
10. Cars (2006)
Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director) Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75% IMDb Score: 7./10 Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes Available on: Disney Plus (US & India)
On his journey to the most important race of his career, Lightning McQueen gets separated from his hauler truck,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
Greta Gerwig has entered the prestigious league of filmmakers whose films have crossed the $1 billion mark in box office earnings, thanks to the summer smash Barbie. The movie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and has propelled Gerwig into the rankings as the second female director to break global and US Box Office Records. Director Jennifer Lee achieved this milestone for Disney’s Frozen II co-directing alongside Chris Buck.
Among the elite list of 54 billion-dollar grossing films are sequels, Disney remakes and iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Avatar, James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, The Fast & The Furious Jurassic Park, The Dark Knight, Transformers and Disney and Pixar toons. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix joins the ranks as the most recent addition to cross the $1 billion mark at the box office.
Here’s a look at the 54 films that...
Among the elite list of 54 billion-dollar grossing films are sequels, Disney remakes and iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Avatar, James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, The Fast & The Furious Jurassic Park, The Dark Knight, Transformers and Disney and Pixar toons. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix joins the ranks as the most recent addition to cross the $1 billion mark at the box office.
Here’s a look at the 54 films that...
- 3/20/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney announced on Monday that its Golden Globe-nominated animated feature Wish, starring Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, will begin streaming on Disney+ on April 3rd.
An original musical comedy co-written by Disney Animation chief Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, Wish takes us to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Lee’s co-director on the Academy Award-winning Frozen, Chris Buck, directed alongside Fawn Veerasunthorn, with the latter making her directorial debut. With Alan Tudyk playing Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino, the film also features the voices of Angelique Cabral,...
An original musical comedy co-written by Disney Animation chief Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, Wish takes us to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Lee’s co-director on the Academy Award-winning Frozen, Chris Buck, directed alongside Fawn Veerasunthorn, with the latter making her directorial debut. With Alan Tudyk playing Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino, the film also features the voices of Angelique Cabral,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Walt Disney Animation Studios announced Monday that the musical feature “Wish,” which made more than $250 at the global box office, will premiere on the Disney+ streaming service in April.
The film takes place in the fictional town of Rosas wherein the charming King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) is able to grant people’s wishes. But when local girl Asha (Ariana DeBose) discovers what Magnifico really does with the wishes, it’s up to her and a fallen star to stop him and save the town.
“Wish” is directed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones. Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore wrote the script. Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice provided the film’s original song with a score by composer Dave Metzger.
During an interview with TheWrap back in January, co-director Buck said it was a challenge...
The film takes place in the fictional town of Rosas wherein the charming King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) is able to grant people’s wishes. But when local girl Asha (Ariana DeBose) discovers what Magnifico really does with the wishes, it’s up to her and a fallen star to stop him and save the town.
“Wish” is directed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones. Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore wrote the script. Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice provided the film’s original song with a score by composer Dave Metzger.
During an interview with TheWrap back in January, co-director Buck said it was a challenge...
- 3/18/2024
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
“Iwájú,” a new animated series on Disney+, is unlike anything else on the service. And really, it’s unlike anything in the history of Disney Animation – a collaborative project between Walt Disney Animation Studios, Kugali Media and Cinesite (a long-running visual effects and animation studio headquartered in England). A truly global affair, “Iwájú” imagines a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, where a 10-year-old finds herself embroiled in a high-stakes, technologically advanced tug-of-war.
And it all started with some good, old-fashioned trash talk.
Hamid Ibrahim, cocreator of “Iwájú” and the project’s production designer, said in 2019 that Kugali wanted to “kick Disney’s ass.” But Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios (and director of “Frozen”), wasn’t offended — she was intrigued. In 2020, “Iwájú” was announced as the first original series from Walt Disney Animation Studios, made in collaboration with Kugali.
After the public call-out, “a very, very organic and...
And it all started with some good, old-fashioned trash talk.
Hamid Ibrahim, cocreator of “Iwájú” and the project’s production designer, said in 2019 that Kugali wanted to “kick Disney’s ass.” But Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios (and director of “Frozen”), wasn’t offended — she was intrigued. In 2020, “Iwájú” was announced as the first original series from Walt Disney Animation Studios, made in collaboration with Kugali.
After the public call-out, “a very, very organic and...
- 3/11/2024
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
“Iwájú,” Disney Animation’s sci-fi long-form series about a futuristic Lagos (currently streaming on Disney+ and coming to The Disney Channel April 22), is a far cry from such culturally diverse features as “Moana,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” and “Encanto.” This is a Nigerian series — Disney’s first-ever outside collaboration of this kind — told from the Black team at Kugali Media, the U.K.-based Pan-African media company, voiced by Nigerian actors, and with a score from Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga.
“Iwájú” (which loosely means “the future” in Yoruba) began as a Kugali comic book anthology. Kugali co-founders Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, and Tolu Olowofoyeku let it be known in an interview they had their sights set on animation and were determined to “kick Disney’s arse in Africa.” This came to the attention of Disney Animation’s chief creative officer, Jennifer Lee, who was so impressed with the...
“Iwájú” (which loosely means “the future” in Yoruba) began as a Kugali comic book anthology. Kugali co-founders Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, and Tolu Olowofoyeku let it be known in an interview they had their sights set on animation and were determined to “kick Disney’s arse in Africa.” This came to the attention of Disney Animation’s chief creative officer, Jennifer Lee, who was so impressed with the...
- 3/4/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
2023 marked 100 years of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, celebrating a full century of groundbreaking and beloved generational classics that revolutionized the landscape of animated cinema, forever. To honor the institution's legacy, Disney put out "Wish," the company's first original fairy tale that was unfortunately met with less-than-stellar reviews, and the charming short film "Once Upon a Studio," which although well received, failed to earn a nomination at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Short. In fact, "Wish" was also shut out of the Best Animated Feature race, indicating that the House of Mouse is no longer the untouchable empire it once was and that resting on their legendary laurels isn't going to cut it anymore. It certainly must be a pretty tough pill for those working at Disney to swallow, especially those who are fighting tooth-and-nail to bring the company through its evolutionary next step.
It was announced in early 2023 that sequels to "Zootopia,...
It was announced in early 2023 that sequels to "Zootopia,...
- 2/7/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
If you wish upon a star, Disney’s latest animated film, Wish, will come to Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD platforms sooner than you think. A heartfelt celebration of the magic of Disney and a joyful new entry to the studio’s animated film legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios‘ Wish becomes available to view at home through digital retailers on January 23. Participating platforms include Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD versions landing on shelves on March 12.
Here’s the official synopsis for Wish:
In this animated musical-comedy, Asha (Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist in the kingdom of Rosas, makes a powerful wish that’s answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas—to save her community and prove that when one brave human connects with the magic of the stars,...
Here’s the official synopsis for Wish:
In this animated musical-comedy, Asha (Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist in the kingdom of Rosas, makes a powerful wish that’s answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas—to save her community and prove that when one brave human connects with the magic of the stars,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
As the producers of Disney‘s Wish, Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones say that every aspect of the film was inspired by each Disney animated film for the past 100 years. This included the animation style, the character of Star, and especially the villainous turn of Magnifico.
Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl who disagrees with how the kingdom’s ruler Magnifico (Chris Pine) treats the wishes of her fellow citizens. She wishes upon a star for change, but is surprised when that star comes down from the sky to answer her call. Even though Wish brings back the idea of the traditional villain, it was important for Magnifico to still stand out and have that turn from hero to villain.
‘Wish’, from left: Star, Asha (voice: Ariana DeBose), Valentino (voice: Akan Tudyk)
Deadline: Where did the story come from?
Peter Del Vecho: It actually came from Jennifer Lee.
Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl who disagrees with how the kingdom’s ruler Magnifico (Chris Pine) treats the wishes of her fellow citizens. She wishes upon a star for change, but is surprised when that star comes down from the sky to answer her call. Even though Wish brings back the idea of the traditional villain, it was important for Magnifico to still stand out and have that turn from hero to villain.
‘Wish’, from left: Star, Asha (voice: Ariana DeBose), Valentino (voice: Akan Tudyk)
Deadline: Where did the story come from?
Peter Del Vecho: It actually came from Jennifer Lee.
- 1/8/2024
- by Ryan Fleming
- Deadline Film + TV
The upcoming American animated musical fantasy film ‘Wish’ is about a seventeen-year-old girl named Asha who senses a darkness in the kingdom of Rosas which nobody else can sense and makes a passionate wish to the stars.
Ariana DeBose will give voice to the character of Asha in the movie. It is set to be released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on November 22, 2023.
Following is a list of other animated fantasy films that you might want to give a try if you like Wish.
Also Read: Love Lies Bleeding Starring Kristen Stewart Official Trailer Released!
Top 10 Films Like Animated Disney Movie Wish!
Raya and The Last Dragon (2021)- ComingSoon.net
Carlos López Estrada and Don Hall directed the American computer-animated fantasy action adventure movie the plot of which revolves around a warrior named Raya who embarks upon a journey of tracking down a dragon called Sisu that once transferred...
Ariana DeBose will give voice to the character of Asha in the movie. It is set to be released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on November 22, 2023.
Following is a list of other animated fantasy films that you might want to give a try if you like Wish.
Also Read: Love Lies Bleeding Starring Kristen Stewart Official Trailer Released!
Top 10 Films Like Animated Disney Movie Wish!
Raya and The Last Dragon (2021)- ComingSoon.net
Carlos López Estrada and Don Hall directed the American computer-animated fantasy action adventure movie the plot of which revolves around a warrior named Raya who embarks upon a journey of tracking down a dragon called Sisu that once transferred...
- 12/21/2023
- by Suvechchha Saha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
Updated with all winners: HBO/Max’s Sesame Street, Disney+’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Jack Black and Tony Hale were among the winners Sunday at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
The ceremony capped a full weekend for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which hosted the Children’s & Family Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday.
See the full list of winners both nights below.
Sesame Street won for Outstanding Preschool Series as well as for puppetry and direction, giving it five awards across the weekend, tying it with Saturday’s big winner, Netflix’s Lost Ollie. Guardians and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur from Disney Channel also scored best-in-field wins tonight to bring their tallies to four apiece.
Among the winners tonight in the voice categories, Black wo for reprising Po in Netflix’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight,...
The ceremony capped a full weekend for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which hosted the Children’s & Family Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday.
See the full list of winners both nights below.
Sesame Street won for Outstanding Preschool Series as well as for puppetry and direction, giving it five awards across the weekend, tying it with Saturday’s big winner, Netflix’s Lost Ollie. Guardians and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur from Disney Channel also scored best-in-field wins tonight to bring their tallies to four apiece.
Among the winners tonight in the voice categories, Black wo for reprising Po in Netflix’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO/Max’s Sesame Street, Disney+’s The Muppets Mayhem and Jack Black were among the winners at the second annual Children’ &’s and Family Emmy Awards, which were handed out Sunday night by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Among its wins, Sesame Street (in its 56th season) was named best preschool series, while The Muppets Mayhem — which was canceled last month after airing only one season — was named best children’s or family viewing series.
Black, meanwhile, won his first-ever Emmy for best voice performance in a children’s or young teen program for his work as Po on Netflix’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.
An excited Black took the stage to accept his award, giving a high kick and belting out “Kung Fu Panda, the dragon knight!”
“I’m really nervous and stoked to be here,” he added, noting that he was cast in the role 20 years ago.
Among its wins, Sesame Street (in its 56th season) was named best preschool series, while The Muppets Mayhem — which was canceled last month after airing only one season — was named best children’s or family viewing series.
Black, meanwhile, won his first-ever Emmy for best voice performance in a children’s or young teen program for his work as Po on Netflix’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight.
An excited Black took the stage to accept his award, giving a high kick and belting out “Kung Fu Panda, the dragon knight!”
“I’m really nervous and stoked to be here,” he added, noting that he was cast in the role 20 years ago.
- 12/18/2023
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For Disney’s 100th anniversary, writer-ep Jennifer Lee was tasked with creating an original fairytale that celebrated the legacy of Disney animated films. After finding a common theme in wishing upon a star, Wish was born as a way to dissect the power and vulnerability of the concept.
Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl who disagrees with how the kingdom’s ruler Magnifico (Chris Pine) treats the wishes of her fellow citizens. She wishes upon a star for change, but is surprised when that star comes down from the sky to answer her call. While Star was originally a character with a voice, Lee says the simpler version of Star led to a much more fun character with physical humor.
‘Wish’, from left: Star, Asha (voice: Ariana DeBose), Valentino (voice: Akan Tudyk)
Deadline: How did you arrive at that animation style? It’s very storybook-like.
Jennifer Lee:...
Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl who disagrees with how the kingdom’s ruler Magnifico (Chris Pine) treats the wishes of her fellow citizens. She wishes upon a star for change, but is surprised when that star comes down from the sky to answer her call. While Star was originally a character with a voice, Lee says the simpler version of Star led to a much more fun character with physical humor.
‘Wish’, from left: Star, Asha (voice: Ariana DeBose), Valentino (voice: Akan Tudyk)
Deadline: How did you arrive at that animation style? It’s very storybook-like.
Jennifer Lee:...
- 12/8/2023
- by Ryan Fleming
- Deadline Film + TV
Five years ago, while chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios Jennifer Lee was finishing work on “Frozen II,” she mentioned to her co-director, Chris Buck, that the studio’s 100th anniversary was coming up — and asked whether he’d want to be involved in any projects pegged to the anniversary?
They didn’t have any idea what that animated feature would be but they knew that “we wanted original characters, story and music,” says Buck.
They began gathering stills from every animated feature the studio had done and pinned them to a bulletin board.
They looked at the breadth of colors and styles. From “Pinocchio’s” Jiminy Cricket to “The Princess and the Frog’s” Tiana to Judy Hopps in “Zootopia,” one thing was apparent — that these and many other characters had all made wishes on stars.
“It feels very obvious. Of course, these characters are wishing on the stars.
They didn’t have any idea what that animated feature would be but they knew that “we wanted original characters, story and music,” says Buck.
They began gathering stills from every animated feature the studio had done and pinned them to a bulletin board.
They looked at the breadth of colors and styles. From “Pinocchio’s” Jiminy Cricket to “The Princess and the Frog’s” Tiana to Judy Hopps in “Zootopia,” one thing was apparent — that these and many other characters had all made wishes on stars.
“It feels very obvious. Of course, these characters are wishing on the stars.
- 12/7/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer Jennifer Lee had not yet written the script for “Wish” when Grammy nominated songwriter Julia Michaels wrote the demo for “This Wish” in 2020. But that demo, Lee says, “defined the whole movie; it became our North Star.”
Celebrating 100 years of storytelling at Disney, “Wish” pays homage to the celestial entity so many have wished upon. Ariana DeBose voices Asha, its main protagonist and heroine, a 17-year-old who lives in the magical kingdom of Rosas, ruled by Disney’s newest villain, King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine. Rosas is built on people’s wishes and hopes. When Asha makes a wish one night, she accidentally summons Star, an energetic character from the sky. An adventurous journey capturing hope, joy and the power of dreams follows.
Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, while Lee, Allison Moore and Buck penned the screenplay; Michaels and songwriting partner Benjamin Rice...
Celebrating 100 years of storytelling at Disney, “Wish” pays homage to the celestial entity so many have wished upon. Ariana DeBose voices Asha, its main protagonist and heroine, a 17-year-old who lives in the magical kingdom of Rosas, ruled by Disney’s newest villain, King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine. Rosas is built on people’s wishes and hopes. When Asha makes a wish one night, she accidentally summons Star, an energetic character from the sky. An adventurous journey capturing hope, joy and the power of dreams follows.
Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, while Lee, Allison Moore and Buck penned the screenplay; Michaels and songwriting partner Benjamin Rice...
- 12/4/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
A broad range of titles, animation styles and plenty of music define this season’s animated feature race, with some expected contenders still to debut.
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
- 12/4/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two stories from the entertainment industry made it onto Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” with Colin Jost and Michael Che taking on the Frozen sequels and the Lifetime movie sex scene.
Disney’s Jennifer Lee recently teased that while working on the third installment of the Frozen saga, the story was “so epic” they would need a fourth film, something CEO Bob Iger had confirmed before.
Jost made a joke stemming from the news adding, “By the time they come out they only thing frozen would be Elsa’s eggs.”
After the reaction from the live audience, Jost added, “She wants a career.”
Later on in the segment, Che brought up that Lifetime would be airing its first Christmas movie sex scene to which he quipped, “The sex scene will finally explain why Santa named that one reindeer Vixen. It’s a weird name for a reindeer.”
The Lifetime...
Disney’s Jennifer Lee recently teased that while working on the third installment of the Frozen saga, the story was “so epic” they would need a fourth film, something CEO Bob Iger had confirmed before.
Jost made a joke stemming from the news adding, “By the time they come out they only thing frozen would be Elsa’s eggs.”
After the reaction from the live audience, Jost added, “She wants a career.”
Later on in the segment, Che brought up that Lifetime would be airing its first Christmas movie sex scene to which he quipped, “The sex scene will finally explain why Santa named that one reindeer Vixen. It’s a weird name for a reindeer.”
The Lifetime...
- 12/3/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
The opening numbers for Napoleon have come in at the top end of expectations.
Worldwide box office Nov 24-26 Rank Film (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Napoleon (Sony) $66.7m $78.8m $46.3m $46.3m 57 2. The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate) $55m $197.2m $26.2m $98.9m 88 3. Wish (Disney) $36.8m $49m $17.3m $17.3m 28 4. Across The Furious Sea (various) $24.5m $24.6m $24.5m $24.6m 1 5. Trolls Band Together (Universal) $20.6m $145.8m $3.1m $81.3m 68 6. The Marvels (Disney) $14.3m $187m $7.9m $110.2m 53 7. 12:12 The Day (Seoul Spring) (various) $11.8m $12m $11.8m $12m 1 8. Thanksgiving (Sony) $8.6m $29m $1.5m $4.9m 17 9. Five...
Worldwide box office Nov 24-26 Rank Film (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Napoleon (Sony) $66.7m $78.8m $46.3m $46.3m 57 2. The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate) $55m $197.2m $26.2m $98.9m 88 3. Wish (Disney) $36.8m $49m $17.3m $17.3m 28 4. Across The Furious Sea (various) $24.5m $24.6m $24.5m $24.6m 1 5. Trolls Band Together (Universal) $20.6m $145.8m $3.1m $81.3m 68 6. The Marvels (Disney) $14.3m $187m $7.9m $110.2m 53 7. 12:12 The Day (Seoul Spring) (various) $11.8m $12m $11.8m $12m 1 8. Thanksgiving (Sony) $8.6m $29m $1.5m $4.9m 17 9. Five...
- 11/27/2023
- by Charles Gant
- ScreenDaily
Jennifer Lee, the Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation, is teasing Frozen 3 and seemingly hints at a potential fourth film.
Although there’s not much Lee can say about the return to Arendelle, she shared that the third installment of the franchise is “so epic” they might need to make another film.
“Only what we have already shared, which is the team is hard at work, we are deeply excited about the story we are shaping together, and it’s so epic it may not fit into just one film,” Lee said in an interview.
In the same interview, Lee opened up about what has made Frozen such a classic.
“I believe it’s both the story of familial love with these two sisters, and the idea of love conquering fear,” she said, before talking about the themed-land opening at Disneyland Hong Kong, “I recently visited World of Frozen, and it is awe-inspiring.
Although there’s not much Lee can say about the return to Arendelle, she shared that the third installment of the franchise is “so epic” they might need to make another film.
“Only what we have already shared, which is the team is hard at work, we are deeply excited about the story we are shaping together, and it’s so epic it may not fit into just one film,” Lee said in an interview.
In the same interview, Lee opened up about what has made Frozen such a classic.
“I believe it’s both the story of familial love with these two sisters, and the idea of love conquering fear,” she said, before talking about the themed-land opening at Disneyland Hong Kong, “I recently visited World of Frozen, and it is awe-inspiring.
- 11/26/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
With “Wish,” Disney Animation celebrates its 100th anniversary by merging the 2D legacy of watercolor background paintings (dating back to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”) with cutting-edge CG. The result was a revitalization of the retro aesthetic in every department to better display the hand of the artist. Like a gateway drug, it has already carried over into an as-yet-unannounced feature with a very different 2D look.
The musical fantasy (directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn) was the perfect storm for a convergence of the past and present, as it pays tribute to Walt’s beloved wishing star — symbolic of his ethos about the importance of hopes and dreams. Asha (Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old very much in the mold of the modern Disney heroine, desperately wishes upon a star to save her medieval kingdom of Rosas when Sorcerer King Magnifico (Chris Pine) imprisons their wishes. Asha’s plea...
The musical fantasy (directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn) was the perfect storm for a convergence of the past and present, as it pays tribute to Walt’s beloved wishing star — symbolic of his ethos about the importance of hopes and dreams. Asha (Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old very much in the mold of the modern Disney heroine, desperately wishes upon a star to save her medieval kingdom of Rosas when Sorcerer King Magnifico (Chris Pine) imprisons their wishes. Asha’s plea...
- 11/25/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
It's another jam-packed episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks. First, Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with ace composer and musician, Jon Batiste, and Matthew Heineman, about their new documentary, American Symphony; then he battles an uncooperative microphone stand and emerges with an enormously fun interview with :a[Napoleon]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/napoleon-2023/' } stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby; and lastly two walking Disney encyclopaedias meet, as our Ben Travis sits down with Jennifer Lee, the writer of this week's :a[Wish]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wish/' } and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
On either side of all of those is a fun episode in which Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the actor whose back catalogue they would choose to watch for the rest of their lives; natter about...
On either side of all of those is a fun episode in which Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the actor whose back catalogue they would choose to watch for the rest of their lives; natter about...
- 11/24/2023
- by Chris Hewitt
- Empire - Movies
Unfulfilled potential is a powerful theme for a story. Making Disney’s choice to explore what might happen if an entire kingdom of subjects surrendered their chance to fulfil their destinies by entrusting their deepest wish – and every memory of it – to their king an intriguing premise. Is it better to live with the hope that one day your wish may come true or to hold that dream close to your heart and let it guide your life’s path?
We’ll never know. Because, sadly, the House of Mouse’s hundredth-anniversary offering fails to interrogate its own themes, choosing to bimble about looking pretty (it is Very pretty), ticking off generic highs and lows in the place of real plot points and making knowing nods to animated features past instead. Leaving us to gloomily ponder what might have been.
Asha (Ariana DeBose) is a tour guide in her beloved Mediterranean home Rosas.
We’ll never know. Because, sadly, the House of Mouse’s hundredth-anniversary offering fails to interrogate its own themes, choosing to bimble about looking pretty (it is Very pretty), ticking off generic highs and lows in the place of real plot points and making knowing nods to animated features past instead. Leaving us to gloomily ponder what might have been.
Asha (Ariana DeBose) is a tour guide in her beloved Mediterranean home Rosas.
- 11/24/2023
- by Emily Breen
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on November 22nd, 2023, reviewing “Wish,” the latest original film from Walt Disney Studios. In theaters on November 22nd, 2023.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The film involves the kingdom of Rosas, ruled by King Magnifico (voice of Chris Pine). Magnifico is also a sorcerer, and he figured out a way to grant all wishes to the citizens of Rosas. But to maintain his power, he hoards the wishes and grants only a couple each year. Enter 17-year-old Asha (Adriana DeBose) who is hoping to become the King’s apprentice and get a wish for her 100 year old grandfather (Victor Garber). When a suspicious King rejects her, Asha learns dark things about his lust for power … so she focuses her hope by wishing on a star … which is alive and comes down from the sky to help her.
”Wish,” is in theaters on November 22nd.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The film involves the kingdom of Rosas, ruled by King Magnifico (voice of Chris Pine). Magnifico is also a sorcerer, and he figured out a way to grant all wishes to the citizens of Rosas. But to maintain his power, he hoards the wishes and grants only a couple each year. Enter 17-year-old Asha (Adriana DeBose) who is hoping to become the King’s apprentice and get a wish for her 100 year old grandfather (Victor Garber). When a suspicious King rejects her, Asha learns dark things about his lust for power … so she focuses her hope by wishing on a star … which is alive and comes down from the sky to help her.
”Wish,” is in theaters on November 22nd.
- 11/23/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Spoiler Alert: This story discusses major plot points for “Wish,” currently playing in theaters.
Disney’s animated feature “Wish” features over 100 nods.
As the animation studio celebrates its centennial year, “Wish” pays homage to classic Disney films from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “Peter Pan,” “Sleeping Beauty” and more. Speaking with Variety, director Chris Buck explained they are “Disney nods” rather than easter eggs.
“We wanted to get the story to work first,” Buck says. “Once we had that, and we started going into production, we could start layering in all the nods.”
It wasn’t just fellow director Fawn Veerasunthorn and writer and Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee helping to incorporate them. According to Buck, “every artist and every department was saying, ‘What if we tried this?'”
While some are more obvious than others, Buck teases, “There are so many that are truly hidden,...
Disney’s animated feature “Wish” features over 100 nods.
As the animation studio celebrates its centennial year, “Wish” pays homage to classic Disney films from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “Peter Pan,” “Sleeping Beauty” and more. Speaking with Variety, director Chris Buck explained they are “Disney nods” rather than easter eggs.
“We wanted to get the story to work first,” Buck says. “Once we had that, and we started going into production, we could start layering in all the nods.”
It wasn’t just fellow director Fawn Veerasunthorn and writer and Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee helping to incorporate them. According to Buck, “every artist and every department was saying, ‘What if we tried this?'”
While some are more obvious than others, Buck teases, “There are so many that are truly hidden,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Disney is wishing upon a box office star this Thanksgiving, as its latest animated movie “Wish” takes on Apple and Sony’s historical drama “Napoleon.”
“Wish” is expected to come out on top this weekend, but “Napoleon” won the first box office battle in previews. “Napoleon” made $3 million in previews, which began on Tuesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and “Wish” made $2.3 million.
The family-friendly animated movie about Disney’s iconic wishing star is expected to make $35 million over the typical weekend. With the extra-long Thanksgiving holiday, it could add up to between $45 million and $50 million over the five days. “Napoleon,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the brutal French ruler, is projected to make $16 million over the weekend and around $22 million in the extended holiday frame. Apple backed the film but Sony is distributing it, much like how Apple and Paramount rolled out “Killers of the Flower Moon.
“Wish” is expected to come out on top this weekend, but “Napoleon” won the first box office battle in previews. “Napoleon” made $3 million in previews, which began on Tuesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and “Wish” made $2.3 million.
The family-friendly animated movie about Disney’s iconic wishing star is expected to make $35 million over the typical weekend. With the extra-long Thanksgiving holiday, it could add up to between $45 million and $50 million over the five days. “Napoleon,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the brutal French ruler, is projected to make $16 million over the weekend and around $22 million in the extended holiday frame. Apple backed the film but Sony is distributing it, much like how Apple and Paramount rolled out “Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 11/22/2023
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Wish: Julia Michaels, Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck & more on the magic, music & celebration of Disney100
To celebrate the release of Disney’s Wish, their new animated feature that helps celebrate the studio’s 100th birthday, we had the pleasure of chatting with some of the creatives who helped make it all possible.
The film is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Featuring the voices of Academy Award®-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha and Chris Pine as Magnifico.
Related: Our red carpet interviews with Ariana DeBose & more at the Wish UK premiere
Chatting to...
The film is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Featuring the voices of Academy Award®-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha and Chris Pine as Magnifico.
Related: Our red carpet interviews with Ariana DeBose & more at the Wish UK premiere
Chatting to...
- 11/22/2023
- by Scott Davis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To celebrate its well-earned 100th anniversary, the Walt Disney Animation Studios (hereinafter "Disney Studios") turned over its latest animation effort, Wish, to one of their veteran, in-house A-teams, Frozen co-director Chris Buck and co-writer Jennifer Lee. Together with first-timer Fawn Veerasunthorn sharing co-directing duties with Buck, screenwriter Allison Moore doing the same with Lee on scripting duties (plus an assortment of credited and uncredited writers), and the best animation Disney’s money can buy, Wish delivers handsome, eye-catching visuals, hummable songs two or three steps above mediocre (all ably performed by the voice cast), and the now obligatory self-empowerment narrative to mostly positive, if occasionally middling, muddled, results. Liberally interweaving classic references, including Disney’s...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 11/22/2023
- Screen Anarchy
If there's a constant, all-encompassing rule to the universe, it's that absolutely nothing is built to last. If all matter is doomed to the inescapable fate of entropy, and every living thing eventually dies, then what hope do such lovely intangibles as love, desire, and dreams have?
Well, to quote that ersatz Disney prince, Vision, "a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts." Love, dreams, and wishes are beautiful almost because of the fact that they can't always come true; it's the hope, the having of these wishes, that makes life worth living more than merely the attainment of them. Walt Disney and the studio that still bears his name have been a proponent of this principle for Disney (the man's) entire life and Disney (the studio's) existence to date. And now that the studio has reached the milestone of sticking around for 100 years, it's only natural that they'd wish to...
Well, to quote that ersatz Disney prince, Vision, "a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts." Love, dreams, and wishes are beautiful almost because of the fact that they can't always come true; it's the hope, the having of these wishes, that makes life worth living more than merely the attainment of them. Walt Disney and the studio that still bears his name have been a proponent of this principle for Disney (the man's) entire life and Disney (the studio's) existence to date. And now that the studio has reached the milestone of sticking around for 100 years, it's only natural that they'd wish to...
- 11/22/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Occasionally, a flick comes at the right time. And for me, as we head into the holiday season, Wish was one of them (read our review). It may not be technically the best of the current Disney releases, but something about its story and music spoke to this viewer. The film features terrific performances from its stars, including Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, and Victor Garber. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, from a script by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, Wish comes from the inspiration of 100 years of Disney animation. From classic cameos to the lovely tunes from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, Wish was a delight.
Last week, we had the thrill of attending an in-person junket for the film. With the strike ending, Hollywood was again ready to get their voice out there. And after attending a preview event for Wish, it was nice to...
Last week, we had the thrill of attending an in-person junket for the film. With the strike ending, Hollywood was again ready to get their voice out there. And after attending a preview event for Wish, it was nice to...
- 11/21/2023
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
It’s become a holiday tradition for Disney to release an animated movie around Thanksgiving, and this year is no different. “Wish,” a musical origin story for the Wishing Star that so many Disney characters have wished upon before, is expected to lead box office charts over the busy weekend.
But it won’t be all Disney, all the time, like it was last year when two of the studio’s offerings, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Strange World,” topped the box office. Moviegoers will be able to feast on several titles, including another newcomer, Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon,” and leftovers like “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and “Trolls Band Together.” A few indies, such as Emerald Fennell’s steamy thriller “Saltburn” and Alexander Payne’s feel-good drama “The Holdovers,” will expand nationwide.
“Wish,” which features original music and the voices of Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine,...
But it won’t be all Disney, all the time, like it was last year when two of the studio’s offerings, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Strange World,” topped the box office. Moviegoers will be able to feast on several titles, including another newcomer, Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon,” and leftovers like “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and “Trolls Band Together.” A few indies, such as Emerald Fennell’s steamy thriller “Saltburn” and Alexander Payne’s feel-good drama “The Holdovers,” will expand nationwide.
“Wish,” which features original music and the voices of Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Plot: When a young woman discovers that the wishes of her community are being destroyed by an egomaniac ruler, she must try and create a little magic herself to bring joy to everyone.
Review: “When You Wish Upon A Star” is a song that has become a staple for even the slightest inclusion of Disney in their lives. It’s impossible not to be able to recognize the iconic tune featured in the animated classic Pinocchio. Initially performed by Cliff Edwards, the music has become a signature for everything Disney. And with the current 100-year celebration, Walt Disney Animation is bringing audiences their latest big-screen musical adventure, the appropriately titled Wish. The Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn-directed feature is a joyful, sweet, and engaging tale; although wishes may not come true for all audiences, it sure did for the audience I saw it with.
Wish tells the story of the magical town of Ramas.
Review: “When You Wish Upon A Star” is a song that has become a staple for even the slightest inclusion of Disney in their lives. It’s impossible not to be able to recognize the iconic tune featured in the animated classic Pinocchio. Initially performed by Cliff Edwards, the music has become a signature for everything Disney. And with the current 100-year celebration, Walt Disney Animation is bringing audiences their latest big-screen musical adventure, the appropriately titled Wish. The Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn-directed feature is a joyful, sweet, and engaging tale; although wishes may not come true for all audiences, it sure did for the audience I saw it with.
Wish tells the story of the magical town of Ramas.
- 11/21/2023
- by JimmyO
- JoBlo.com
The stars of Disney’s Wish are out to celebrate the film’s premiere!
The event was held on Monday (November 20) at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
Ariana DeBose, who voices and sings as Asha in Wish, headlined the red-carpet premiere. The Oscar-winner dazzled in a purple gown.
Julia Michaels, who wrote original songs for the movie, was also present at the premiere, as was singer Rochelle Humes.
Also in attendance were producers Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones and Peter Del Vecho, executive producer Jennifer Lee, and co-directors Fawn Veerasunthorn, and Chris Buck.
Disney’s Wish opens in theaters on November 22.
Also pictured inside are photos from the Wish screening and Q&a event on Sunday (November 19) in London.
Browse through the gallery to see all the photos from the Wish premiere and screening event…...
The event was held on Monday (November 20) at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
Ariana DeBose, who voices and sings as Asha in Wish, headlined the red-carpet premiere. The Oscar-winner dazzled in a purple gown.
Julia Michaels, who wrote original songs for the movie, was also present at the premiere, as was singer Rochelle Humes.
Also in attendance were producers Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones and Peter Del Vecho, executive producer Jennifer Lee, and co-directors Fawn Veerasunthorn, and Chris Buck.
Disney’s Wish opens in theaters on November 22.
Also pictured inside are photos from the Wish screening and Q&a event on Sunday (November 19) in London.
Browse through the gallery to see all the photos from the Wish premiere and screening event…...
- 11/21/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Oscar winner Ariana DeBose voices an all-singing heroine in an overstuffed yet underpowered attempt to replicate the success of Frozen
A decade ago, at a time when both Disney and Pixar’s animation output was not exactly unsuccessful but entirely unmemorable, Frozen became a sticky $1.2bn game-changer, a box office hit that turned into an all-consuming phenomenon. It won Oscars, produced earworms that burrowed (a little too) deep, spawned a $1.45bn sequel, led to a hit Broadway musical and showed Disney how to dust off the contemporarily critiqued princess narrative rather than throw it away completely.
Opening in the same Thanksgiving slot 10 years later, with a script co-written by Frozen’s Jennifer Lee, Wish is a bullishly positioned successor, another self-aware, formula-tweaking Disney Princess narrative with as many radio-friendly power ballads as there are Christmas-timed merchandising opportunities. But Wish feels less like Disney’s new Frozen and more like an off-brand rip-off,...
A decade ago, at a time when both Disney and Pixar’s animation output was not exactly unsuccessful but entirely unmemorable, Frozen became a sticky $1.2bn game-changer, a box office hit that turned into an all-consuming phenomenon. It won Oscars, produced earworms that burrowed (a little too) deep, spawned a $1.45bn sequel, led to a hit Broadway musical and showed Disney how to dust off the contemporarily critiqued princess narrative rather than throw it away completely.
Opening in the same Thanksgiving slot 10 years later, with a script co-written by Frozen’s Jennifer Lee, Wish is a bullishly positioned successor, another self-aware, formula-tweaking Disney Princess narrative with as many radio-friendly power ballads as there are Christmas-timed merchandising opportunities. But Wish feels less like Disney’s new Frozen and more like an off-brand rip-off,...
- 11/20/2023
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
This year marks Disney’s 100th anniversary as an animation studio, and they’ve decided to celebrate the occasion by taking several of their classic characters and throw them all together into the same film for one magical story. That, at least, is what Wish is supposed to be—if you squint hard enough. The film plays incredibly coy with its portrayal of its classical Disney archetypes and tropes, choosing to take recognizable characters and their trademark traits and transpose them onto ancillary characters with only seconds of screen time.
What Zack Snyder did to DC Comics is what Wish does to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and that’s extremely odd for a studio so surgically effective at fracking its own nostalgia to new audiences. That wouldn’t be such a knock against Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn’s film had it turned out to have a life and vibrancy all its own.
What Zack Snyder did to DC Comics is what Wish does to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and that’s extremely odd for a studio so surgically effective at fracking its own nostalgia to new audiences. That wouldn’t be such a knock against Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn’s film had it turned out to have a life and vibrancy all its own.
- 11/20/2023
- by Justin Clark
- Slant Magazine
This article appears in the new issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.
When it came to creating the animated film that would be released on the 100th anniversary of Disney Studios, Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer and co-creator of Frozen, Jennifer Lee, was deeply aware of the massive task that she and everyone at the storied animation studio would be taking on. “I started talking with my fellow Frozen director, Chris Buck, about how Disney would be turning 100 this year,” Lee shared at a press event celebrating their newest animated feature. “We acknowledged what a privilege and responsibility it is at this significant time. And we thought what a wonderful way to celebrate a century of storytelling, to tell a joyful, original story with original characters and songs inspired by our legacy of films.” That film is Wish, the 62nd animated Disney film that follows a young woman,...
When it came to creating the animated film that would be released on the 100th anniversary of Disney Studios, Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer and co-creator of Frozen, Jennifer Lee, was deeply aware of the massive task that she and everyone at the storied animation studio would be taking on. “I started talking with my fellow Frozen director, Chris Buck, about how Disney would be turning 100 this year,” Lee shared at a press event celebrating their newest animated feature. “We acknowledged what a privilege and responsibility it is at this significant time. And we thought what a wonderful way to celebrate a century of storytelling, to tell a joyful, original story with original characters and songs inspired by our legacy of films.” That film is Wish, the 62nd animated Disney film that follows a young woman,...
- 11/20/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
The all-new musical-comedy welcomes audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Featuring the voices of Academy Award®-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as Magnifico, and Alan Tudykas Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino, the film is helmed by Oscar®-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (“Raya and the Last Dragon”), and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones (“Encanto”). Jennifer Lee executive produces—Lee and Allison Moore are writers on the project. With original songs by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A brave young woman who comes into her own via mild danger and zippy musical numbers: check. Talking animals: check. An adorable sidekick of indeterminate origin: check. A menacing evildoer who traffics mostly in scary green magic: check. A world populated almost exclusively by sweet citizens who continuously break into song: check. Dead parent: check check check! For its latest original animated outing, Disney sticks to the usual trappings with a few twists here and there, most of them appealing to moviegoing families desperate for a new film to entertain kiddos to over the holidays.
Co-directed by veteran Chris Buck (“Frozen”) and first-time director Fawn Veerasunthorn, “Wish” feels superficially familiar but contains some canny contemporary trappings that hint at a new direction for Disney. Co-written by Buck, Jennifer Lee (Disney Animation’s chief creative officer and “Frozen” maestro), and Allison Moore, “Wish” bumps up some classic elements (self-determination! caring for others!
Co-directed by veteran Chris Buck (“Frozen”) and first-time director Fawn Veerasunthorn, “Wish” feels superficially familiar but contains some canny contemporary trappings that hint at a new direction for Disney. Co-written by Buck, Jennifer Lee (Disney Animation’s chief creative officer and “Frozen” maestro), and Allison Moore, “Wish” bumps up some classic elements (self-determination! caring for others!
- 11/17/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
There’s a character in Disney’s self-mythologizing movie Wish whose life dream is to inspire the next generation. He lives in Rosas, the fictional kingdom ruled by the self-taught sorcerer Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine). For reasons that remain murky, the wizard hoards his constituents’ wishes in his castle tower. When residents of Rosas turn 18, they relinquish their greatest dream in hopes that one day their benevolent dictator will fulfill it. Magnifico, like all authoritarian leaders, insists that it’s a small price to pay for their safety and eternal peace of mind.
The whole premise is very Disney, and Wish plays out as one would expect. Magnifico meets his match in Asha (Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old girl who dares to question the order of things. Their encounter represents the generational crossroads that Disney finds itself at during its centennial. In him, a symbol of authority and empire. In her,...
The whole premise is very Disney, and Wish plays out as one would expect. Magnifico meets his match in Asha (Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old girl who dares to question the order of things. Their encounter represents the generational crossroads that Disney finds itself at during its centennial. In him, a symbol of authority and empire. In her,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This holiday season’s Wish is the 62nd feature film from the fabled Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the only one to be released during the animation house’s 100th anniversary. You can feel the weight of legacy in nearly every pixel of the film’s exquisitely designed frames.
Ever since Disney made the fateful choice to shut down Wdas’ hand-drawn divisions some 15 years ago, the studio has struggled with a sense of loss; the loss of history, the loss of legacy; and the loss of a little bit of that Disney magic. In the same timeframe, the company also scaled new creative heights, releasing several of their best so-called princess (or fairy tale) movies in the canon—Tangled, Frozen, Moana—and some true groundbreaking risks like Zootopia and the first Wreck-It Ralph. However, it’s never been quite the same.
This may be why nostalgia for dreams of old permeates Wish.
Ever since Disney made the fateful choice to shut down Wdas’ hand-drawn divisions some 15 years ago, the studio has struggled with a sense of loss; the loss of history, the loss of legacy; and the loss of a little bit of that Disney magic. In the same timeframe, the company also scaled new creative heights, releasing several of their best so-called princess (or fairy tale) movies in the canon—Tangled, Frozen, Moana—and some true groundbreaking risks like Zootopia and the first Wreck-It Ralph. However, it’s never been quite the same.
This may be why nostalgia for dreams of old permeates Wish.
- 11/17/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Disney has created an entire legacy on the concept of wishing on a star, but what happens if that star was an adorable, autonomous being? That’s just the start of Disney’s centennial feature, “Wish,” an animated musical that simultaneously pays homage to the Walt Disney Company while forging a new path of storytelling meant to sustain another hundred years.
But the idea of making a film to represent 100 years of storytelling is a tall feat, and it’s the biggest barrier to “Wish.” For all the film’s adoration of the Disney Company, and it’s back to basic approach of celebrating a great villain, Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore’s screenplay often feels underwritten, with characters who are delightful but lacking that wee bit of verisimilitude to make them jump off the page. Make no mistake, “Wish” is a darling film with fantastic music and amazing voice performances,...
But the idea of making a film to represent 100 years of storytelling is a tall feat, and it’s the biggest barrier to “Wish.” For all the film’s adoration of the Disney Company, and it’s back to basic approach of celebrating a great villain, Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore’s screenplay often feels underwritten, with characters who are delightful but lacking that wee bit of verisimilitude to make them jump off the page. Make no mistake, “Wish” is a darling film with fantastic music and amazing voice performances,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
A full decade after the Walt Disney Co.’s musical animation Frozen became a worldwide box-office phenomenon — and the enduring soundtrack to the lives of parents with little kids everywhere — the very first theme park attraction dedicated to the film is set to open its doors Monday at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
The belated leveraging of the internationally beloved IP is expected to drive further gains for Disney’s lucrative, newly renamed Experiences group, including its theme parks, cruise lines and consumer products businesses, which reported a 31 percent surge in operating income last quarter.
The launch also underscores the role the Asia-Pacific region will play in Disney’s recently unveiled plans of “turbocharging growth in our parks and experiences business,” as CEO Bob Iger put it on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call earlier this month. In September, Disney said it will spend $60 billion over the next 10 years to...
The belated leveraging of the internationally beloved IP is expected to drive further gains for Disney’s lucrative, newly renamed Experiences group, including its theme parks, cruise lines and consumer products businesses, which reported a 31 percent surge in operating income last quarter.
The launch also underscores the role the Asia-Pacific region will play in Disney’s recently unveiled plans of “turbocharging growth in our parks and experiences business,” as CEO Bob Iger put it on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call earlier this month. In September, Disney said it will spend $60 billion over the next 10 years to...
- 11/16/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Disney just can't — apologies in advance — let it go. With our third trip to the magical kingdom of Arendelle for Frozen 3 still to arrive, now we're learning that the Mouse House is also developing a fourth outing of the powerhouse animated franchise, which has so far earned more than $2 billion for the company.
Iger didn't go so far as to confirm that a fourth visit with Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel), but he did say this on Stateside show Good Morning America: "Frozen 3 is in the works, and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works too," Disney’s CEO said on Thursday morning. "But I don’t have much to say about those films right now. [Director] Jennifer Lee, who created the original Frozen and Frozen 2, is hard at work with her team at Disney animation on not one but actually two stories." Hints of a two-part tale then,...
Iger didn't go so far as to confirm that a fourth visit with Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel), but he did say this on Stateside show Good Morning America: "Frozen 3 is in the works, and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works too," Disney’s CEO said on Thursday morning. "But I don’t have much to say about those films right now. [Director] Jennifer Lee, who created the original Frozen and Frozen 2, is hard at work with her team at Disney animation on not one but actually two stories." Hints of a two-part tale then,...
- 11/16/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Disney boss Bob Iger has confirmed that the studio has plans for Frozen 4, even though Frozen 3 isn’t even out yet.
Disney CEO Bob Iger stopped by Good Morning America to talk about Disney’s latest theme park land, World Of Frozen, but the attention has shifted on something else Iger announced during the popular morning show.
“Well, I’ll give you a little surprise there, Michael. Frozen 3 is in the works and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works too,” Iger told Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Givens and Michael Strahan, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The words “might be” feel pretty crucial here. Disney hasn’t officially greenlit a fourth instalment of the animated franchise as of yet and since Frozen 3 has barely begun production, we’re guessing there’s perhaps only a basic idea for a fourth film at this point.
“But Jenn Lee, who...
Disney CEO Bob Iger stopped by Good Morning America to talk about Disney’s latest theme park land, World Of Frozen, but the attention has shifted on something else Iger announced during the popular morning show.
“Well, I’ll give you a little surprise there, Michael. Frozen 3 is in the works and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works too,” Iger told Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Givens and Michael Strahan, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The words “might be” feel pretty crucial here. Disney hasn’t officially greenlit a fourth instalment of the animated franchise as of yet and since Frozen 3 has barely begun production, we’re guessing there’s perhaps only a basic idea for a fourth film at this point.
“But Jenn Lee, who...
- 11/16/2023
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
Do you want to build a franchise? Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that in addition to “Frozen 3,” a fourth “Frozen” film is in the process of creatively defrosting.
During a “Good Morning America” segment, Iger announced from Hong Kong Disneyland that “Frozen 4” “might” happen soon.
“Well, I’ll give you a little surprise there Michael,” Iger said to host Michael Strahan. “‘Frozen 3’ is in the works and there might be a ‘Frozen 4’ in the works, too. But, I don’t have much to say about those films right now. But Jenn Lee, who created ‘Frozen,’ the original ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen 2,’ is hard at work with her team at Disney Animation on not one but actually two stories.”
Disneyland recently opened the World of “Frozen” at the Hong Kong theme park.
“Essentially, they are the physical embodiment of some of the greatest stories that we’ve told,” Iger said of...
During a “Good Morning America” segment, Iger announced from Hong Kong Disneyland that “Frozen 4” “might” happen soon.
“Well, I’ll give you a little surprise there Michael,” Iger said to host Michael Strahan. “‘Frozen 3’ is in the works and there might be a ‘Frozen 4’ in the works, too. But, I don’t have much to say about those films right now. But Jenn Lee, who created ‘Frozen,’ the original ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen 2,’ is hard at work with her team at Disney Animation on not one but actually two stories.”
Disneyland recently opened the World of “Frozen” at the Hong Kong theme park.
“Essentially, they are the physical embodiment of some of the greatest stories that we’ve told,” Iger said of...
- 11/16/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Disney has just given Frozen fans a reason to celebrate. In a surprising announcement, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that not only is ‘Frozen 3‘ underway, but a fourth installment is also in the pipeline. This news comes even before Frozen 3 hits the theaters, showing Disney’s deep confidence in this beloved franchise.
The announcement was made during Iger’s appearance on Good Morning America, following the opening of the “World of Frozen” at Disneyland in Hong Kong. It’s clear that Disney is doubling down on the magic of Frozen, a story that has captured hearts globally.
New: A new "Frozen 4" movie may be "in the works," Disney CEO Bob Iger reveals! https://t.co/LMUF7DsEHt pic.twitter.com/H2kPet2nCu
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 16, 2023
What’s particularly exciting is that Jennifer Lee, the creative genius behind the first two Frozen films, is leading the development of these new chapters.
The announcement was made during Iger’s appearance on Good Morning America, following the opening of the “World of Frozen” at Disneyland in Hong Kong. It’s clear that Disney is doubling down on the magic of Frozen, a story that has captured hearts globally.
New: A new "Frozen 4" movie may be "in the works," Disney CEO Bob Iger reveals! https://t.co/LMUF7DsEHt pic.twitter.com/H2kPet2nCu
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 16, 2023
What’s particularly exciting is that Jennifer Lee, the creative genius behind the first two Frozen films, is leading the development of these new chapters.
- 11/16/2023
- by Hrvoje Milakovic
- Fiction Horizon
Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that Frozen 4 is in the works, with the new installment joining the previously confirmed Frozen 3.
Iger made the announcement today on Good Morning Americafrom Hong Kong Disneyland. “Frozen 3 is in the works,” Iger said in an interview, “and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works, too. But, I don’t have much to say about those films right now. But Jenn Lee who created Frozen, the original Frozen and Frozen 2, is hard at work with her team at Disney Animation on not one but actually two stories.”
Immediately following the opening ceremony for Disneyland’s new ‘World of Frozen’ in Hong Kong, Iger said, “For years at our Disney Parks, we’ve been creating these large immersive worlds. Essentially, they are the physical embodiment of some of the greatest stories that we’ve told…And of course, Frozen being one of our most valuable franchises,...
Iger made the announcement today on Good Morning Americafrom Hong Kong Disneyland. “Frozen 3 is in the works,” Iger said in an interview, “and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works, too. But, I don’t have much to say about those films right now. But Jenn Lee who created Frozen, the original Frozen and Frozen 2, is hard at work with her team at Disney Animation on not one but actually two stories.”
Immediately following the opening ceremony for Disneyland’s new ‘World of Frozen’ in Hong Kong, Iger said, “For years at our Disney Parks, we’ve been creating these large immersive worlds. Essentially, they are the physical embodiment of some of the greatest stories that we’ve told…And of course, Frozen being one of our most valuable franchises,...
- 11/16/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Chris Pine and Ariana DeBose are celebrating the release of their new film, Wish!
The actors attended events on the East and West coasts of the United States to promote the Disney animated movie.
First, Chris and Ariana joined filmmakers Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn, Peter Del Vecho, and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones at a Walt Disney Animation Studios photocall on Friday (November 10) in Burbank, Calif.
On Saturday (November 11), Ariana gave a surprise performance of “This Wish” in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland.
Lastly, Chris, Ariana, and Victor Garber attended a special screening of Wish on Wednesday (November 15) in New York City.
Check out the trailer for the movie here!
Wish opens in theaters on Friday, November 22.
Watch the full clip of Ariana DeBose’s performance, and browse through the gallery for more photos from the events…...
The actors attended events on the East and West coasts of the United States to promote the Disney animated movie.
First, Chris and Ariana joined filmmakers Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn, Peter Del Vecho, and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones at a Walt Disney Animation Studios photocall on Friday (November 10) in Burbank, Calif.
On Saturday (November 11), Ariana gave a surprise performance of “This Wish” in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland.
Lastly, Chris, Ariana, and Victor Garber attended a special screening of Wish on Wednesday (November 15) in New York City.
Check out the trailer for the movie here!
Wish opens in theaters on Friday, November 22.
Watch the full clip of Ariana DeBose’s performance, and browse through the gallery for more photos from the events…...
- 11/16/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for The Iron Claw, The Marvels and Wish.
The Marvels special screening
Director Nia DaCosta, producer Kevin Feige, executive producers Mary Livanos and Jonathan Schwartz, and composer Laura Karpman attended a special screening event for The Marvels in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Two days later, after the end of the actors strike when SAG-AFTRA reached a new deal with the studios and streamers, star Iman Vellani made an appearance alongside DaCosta at a special screening event in Los Angeles.
Laura Karpman, Kevin Feige, Nia DaCosta, Rizzo the cat, Mary Livanos and Jonathan Schwartz Nia DaCosta and Iman Vellani
The Iron Claw premiere
Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons joined filmmaker Sean Durkin at the world premiere of their wrestling film in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday.
The Marvels special screening
Director Nia DaCosta, producer Kevin Feige, executive producers Mary Livanos and Jonathan Schwartz, and composer Laura Karpman attended a special screening event for The Marvels in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Two days later, after the end of the actors strike when SAG-AFTRA reached a new deal with the studios and streamers, star Iman Vellani made an appearance alongside DaCosta at a special screening event in Los Angeles.
Laura Karpman, Kevin Feige, Nia DaCosta, Rizzo the cat, Mary Livanos and Jonathan Schwartz Nia DaCosta and Iman Vellani
The Iron Claw premiere
Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons joined filmmaker Sean Durkin at the world premiere of their wrestling film in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday.
- 11/10/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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