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- Ariana DeBose Stirs Up a Storm in the Trailer For Disney’s Animated Musical “Wish”
Ariana DeBose Stirs Up a Storm in the Trailer For Disney’s Animated Musical “Wish”
Disney
“When you wish upon a star . . .” It’s one of the most famous lyrics in the Disney canon, coming from the company’s 1940 film “Pinocchio.” It’s also part of the inspiration for the new Disney animated feature musical “Wish,” which releases this fall. Disney first announced the project at D23 Expo in September 2022, which POPSUGAR was on hand for. It stars Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as Asha, an optimist living in the magical kingdom of Rosas.
“Wish” follows Asha as she tries to save her kingdom by – of course – making a wish. Asha’s plea is literally answered by a little cosmic ball of energy called Star. The pair’s journey is previewed in the film’s first trailer, which Disney released April 27. Joining DeBose is Chris Pine as the nefarious King Magnifico, Disney announced on April 26. Executive producer and cowriter Jennifer Lee said of Pine’s casting in a statement, “As the most powerful person in the kingdom, King Magnifico needed to be played by someone who could give all the charm, cleverness and charisma to this magnanimous character, and Chris is beautifully bringing all of that and then some.”
Actor Alan Tudyk – a Disney favorite who’s lent his talents to “Frozen,” “Disenchanted,” and many more – voices a pajama-wearing goat named Valentino. The project is directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
Disney has said that “Wish” and its focus on the wishing star, a feature of so many Disney films, is meant to honor 100 years of Disney, which the company is celebrating this year. Disney released the full trailer for the movie on Sept. 27 and shared the rest of the movie’s star-studded voice cast.
Ahead is everything we know about “Wish” so far.
Disney
"Wish" Cast
The movie’s voice cast features DeBose as Asha, Pine as King Magnifico, and Tudyk as Valentino. On Sept. 27, Disney revealed the full voice cast. Angelique Cabral voices Queen Amaya, Magnifico’s wife; Victor Garber voices Asha’s grandfather, Sabino; and Natasha Rothwell is Asha’s mom, Sakina.
Disney also previewed that Asha has a close group of friends, including Jennifer Kumiyama as Dahalia, Evan Peters as Simon, Harvey Guillén as Gabo, Ramy Youssef as Safi, Niko Vargas as Hal, Della Saba as Bazeema, and Jon Rudnitsky as Dario.
Disney
"Wish" Plot
The movie takes place in the kingdom of Rosas, which Disney describes as a “a fantastical land located off the Iberian Peninsula.” Asha, 17, lives in Rosas, which is also known as the kingdom of wishes. People come from all over to speak to the king and tell him their deepest desires, and King Magnifico promises to grant their wishes – someday. He gets to decide when wishes come true.
In the full trailer, we learn Asha is upset to learn that Magnifico gets to decide whose wishes come true, and she makes her own wish on a star that changes everything. Magnifico sees her wish as a threat and brands Asha as a traitor.
DISNEY
"Wish" Music
The songs of “Wish” are written by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, with a score by composer Dave Metzger. The first trailer teases one of the songs, “This Wish,” sung by DeBose as Asha.
DISNEY
"Wish" Release Date
“Wish” hits theaters on Nov. 22, just in time for Thanksgiving. It’s not clear when it’ll stream on Disney+.
