Disney's 'Wish' Movie: Everything to Know

From the cast to the release date, here’s everything to know about Disney's upcoming animated musical

Something magical is coming to Disney.

After years of telling tales about what happens when characters wish upon a star, Disney is finally exploring how the iconic wishing star came to be in the first place.

During Disney's D23 expo on Sept. 9, 2022, the studio announced the production of its upcoming animated musical, Wish. The film follows 17-year-old Asha, voiced by West Side Story Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, and centers on the legend of the wishing star. In the story, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the sky, which is answered by a ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star work to save her community.

Chris Buck, who is directing the film along with Fawn Veerasunthorn, spoke about the film's inspiration during the D23 presentation. "Fawn and I both grew up on Disney classics and fell in love with them," he said. "Truly is no greater power in the universe than someone with a true wish in their hearts."

During the announcement, Walt Disney Animation Studios' Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee said, "The film means so much to all of us at the studio and has been an incredible collaboration across all the generations."

In an interview with Deadline later that day, Debose spoke about her character Asha. "I'm really excited that little girls can identify with this character and have a character that, she's not one thing, she's many, many things, like many of the Disney characters," the actress said. "But how cool is it that she can sort of be created in an image like mine? I think that's amazing."

Disney gave fans a first look at the film with the release of a trailer on April 27, 2023, which teased plenty of magical moments and even an original song, "This Wish," from Debose.

From the cast to the release date, here's everything to know about Disney's Wish.

What is Wish about?

During the film's D23 announcement, Lee said that the upcoming animated musical asks the question: "How did the wishing star, upon which so many characters wished, come to be?"

The story, set in the fictional kingdom Rosas, follows an optimistic young woman named Asha. When the heroine makes a wish, she's answered by a cosmic force named Star. Together, Asha and Star work to defeat a villain that has been described as one of the most "formidable foes" in Disney history.

DeBose spoke about her role in the film during D23. "I am voicing the character, an original character mind you, named Asha who is kinda like me in some ways. She's got many parts to her, she's so smart, she's got a great sense of humor and she's trying to take care of people she loves most in the world," the actress shared. "She's a leader and doesn't realize it. She's just living and doing, and learning along the way, she doesn't always get it right, which is the definition of being human."

In addition to adventure, DeBose said that viewers can expect "a lot of singing."

"I think audiences can be excited about original songs, an original story," she added. "It's all the Disney magic you know and love, but it looks like us, and that's really exciting."

Who is in the cast?

DeBose, Chris Pine and Alan Tudyk will star in the upcoming film.

DeBose plays the main character, Asha, Pine portrays King Magnifico and Tudyk voices a goat named Valentino. When asked about his character, Tudyk simply said, "He's a cool guy."

Is there a trailer for Wish?

On April 27, 2023, Walt Disney Animation Studios shared the teaser trailer for Wish, which opens with a voiceover from King Magnifico (played by Pine) in which he describes "a place where wishes come true," before adding, "All you have to do is give your wish to me."

17-year-old Asha (played by DeBose) is then shown wishing on a star. She meets a spritely, magical being who grants Asha's goat the ability to speak.

The teaser also features a snippet of an original song from the film, "This Wish," which DeBose performs.

Who is directing Wish?

Wish will be directed by Oscar-winning Frozen helmer Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, who worked on animation for Raya and the Last Dragon. According to Disney, the film will blend a "timeless watercolor style with contemporary 3D CG animation" to pay homage to the watercolor illustrations that inspired Walt Disney.

When will Wish be released?

The film will be released in theaters on Nov. 22, 2023.

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