Disney is giving fans the power to take their biggest dream and believe in it with all their hearts in the upcoming animated fairytale, Wish.
The teaser trailer for Wish debuted this morning during an episode of Good Morning America, and if it didn’t bring a tear to your eye, well, we’d like to chat. We certainly didn’t anticipate kicking off our Thursday morning trying to choke back years, but there’s something inherently magical about the film’s premise already, and we’ve only seen a few moments of it.
A century in the making, Wish is getting back to what exists at the heart of Disney and its fans — the belief in magic that has the capability to overcome and survive through all things.
Disney films are made more magical by the cast and crew that believe in the story they’re telling; this will undeniably ring true as fans pour into theaters this holiday season, to make their own wishes and believe in them. When it comes to magic and faith in the unreal — there’s no better time than now to start believing.
So who stars in Disney’s Wish, and what is the premise for the film? Sit back and relax because, as usual, we’ve got you covered.
What is Disney’s Wish?
Disney’s upcoming animated movie, Wish, is sure to become the kind of film you revisit not just in the immediate future but for generations to come. You’ll likely share it with your kids and their kids and lots of friends and family along the way. It just feels like the type of movie that’s going to make an impact in the hearts of Disney lovers everywhere.
The teaser trailer does a phenomenal job at capturing the heart and magic of the story so far, and it appears that the entire film hinges on a wish, one that each character desires for their own unique reason. Just like in our day-to-day lives, some people wish for good, while others use wishes for selfish gain; and there’s always a battle of good vs. evil building just under the surface.
Fandom provides the following synopsis for Wish:
“Wish asks the question: ‘How did the wishing star, which so many Disney characters wished upon, came to be?’ Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, the story introduces Asha, an optimist with a sharp wit who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, her plea is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes 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.”
Honestly, after seeing the trailer, we’re anxiously anticipating our little boundless energy Star to follow us around, too. Just seeing the little wishing star floating around was enough to put a massive smile on our faces this afternoon. Seriously, we wouldn’t even need to have wishes provided to us; we just want a little sparkle to follow us around for the good and the not-so-great.
Chris Pine
Chris Pine is set to play the charming and magnificent ruler King Magnifico, but it’s evident that the desires deep within his heart might not be for the better of those around him; in fact, there’s a scene where he’s acting quite selfish. Could the magnificent king be the newest Disney villain fans will harbor a secret draw to? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
Speaking to Deadline, Jennifer Lee, Wish’s executive producer, said the following about Pine’s character and how he was the perfect fit to breathe life into the king.
“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.”
Of course, as we said above, King Magnifico appears to have less-than-stellar motives for his great wish, and with a Frozen-esque style about him, we’re keeping a close eye on any promo that further shows us glimpses into his character. He seems like the kind of ruler with a loyal following, but could he be the kind of ruler that’s also pulling the wool over their eyes every chance he gets?
Pine is a stellar actor, someone — as Lee said — who wears charisma and charm on his sleeve, and he’s also responsible for breathing life into characters like Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman, Cinderella’s Prince in Into The Woods, James T. Kirk in Star Trek, and Darwin Tremor in Smokin’ Aces, to name a few. We can’t wait to see what he brings to the table as King Magnifico later this year!
Alan Tudyk
Breathing life into a four-legged character, Alan Tudyk plays the adorable and soon-to-be beloved sheep named Valentino in Wish, and he will undeniably be a forever love in the hearts of Disney fans everywhere. When we first meet the sheep, he’s as normal as an animated sheep in a Disney film can be, baa-ing as he happily hops alongside his human best friend, Asha.
Upon meeting the sweet wishing star, the sheep takes in some of the magic and soon finds himself able to speak! It’s an adorable scene, and he’s already become the kind of character we can’t wait to get more of. As Asha attempts to chase the magical wish, her loyal sheep will be by her side the entire time, and we’re anticipating some sweet and hilarious banter along the way.
Tudyk has taken on many roles across the entertainment realm so far, like the narrator in Strange World, Duke Weaselton in Zootopia, Toucan in Encanto, Tuk Tuk in Raya and the Last Dragon, and Bradley Slater in Oddball. A well-known voice actor, we know he’ll bring talent and passion to the role of the sweet sidekick, and we adore him already.
Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose plays the character at the heart of the series, Asha, as she chases a wish that could make life better for everyone she knows and loves. Asha is determined, brave, strong, and ready to fight whatever enters her path to ensure that she saves the day on her own; she’s playing the hero in this story.
Speaking to Good Morning America today, DeBose opened up a bit more about the role, sharing her thoughts on Asha in her own words.
“Well, I voice Asha; she’s a new Disney heroine — we love that, we love that — she is her own hero. I love that. But honestly, she’s a quick-witted idealist and she takes a stand against the ruler of Roe SAS in order to save her community and the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico, who is voiced by the great Chris Pine. Oh my gosh, yeah, I’m such a fan of his he just has the most buttery and delicious villainous vocal quality in this.”
Of course, like us, she also sang the praises of Chris Pine and said that his villainous technique in the movie is as smooth as butter, not that we were expecting anything less. We can’t wait to see what the road holds for Asha in the film, and no matter what she faces, we know she’ll find a deep inner strength to help guide her through it, and she’ll have a precious friend right by her side the entire time.
Director Chris Buck had the following to say to PEOPLE about the film and what the role looks like for DeBose’s character, Asha:
“Our heroine, Asha, lives in Rosas, known as the kingdom of wishes. People come from everywhere to give their wishes to a magical king who promises to grant their deepest desires—someday. Only he can decide which wishes will come true and when.”
Veerasunthorn also spoke with the publication about the types of stories that explore the heart of Disney magic… that four-letter word: a wish.
“Especially stories where we explore the power of someone with a wish, combined with the conviction to make that wish come true. Being able to honor that legacy with this incredible story and these amazing characters has been a joy for our entire team,”
DeBose is another entertainment powerhouse who has played characters like Maya in Westworld, Anita in West Side Story, Alyssa Greene in The Prom, Daphne in Seaside, Emma Tate in Schmigadoon!, and has hosted award ceremonies, been part of major theatrical projects, and is a force in the realm as a whole.
Wish is set to hit theaters this November, just in time for the holiday season, and it’s evident to all of us that it’s the kind of feel-good family film everyone jumps at the opportunity to see during the most magical time of year. What better way to experience that than alongside a movie about hopes, dreams, wishes, and doing what’s right — no matter what?