Spellbound (2024 film) explained

Spellbound
Director:Vicky Jenson
Music:Alan Menken
Studio:Skydance Animation
Distributor:Netflix
Runtime:109 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Language:English

Spellbound is an upcoming American animated musical adventure fantasy comedy film directed by Vicky Jenson from a screenplay by Julia Miranda and the writing team of Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin. It features music composed by Alan Menken, who also wrote the songs with longtime collaborator and lyricist Glenn Slater. Produced by Skydance Animation, the film features the voices of Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Tituss Burgess, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman. Set in the world of magic known as Lumbria, the story follows Princess Ellian (Zegler) who must break the spell that has turned her parents into monsters and split her kingdom in two.

The project, initially titled Split, was announced in July 2017, shortly after Skydance Animation was formed in March 2017, with Paramount Pictures scheduling distribution for 2019. The film subsequently underwent changes, such as release dates, with Jenson later announced as the director, and the film's title changed to The Unbreakable Spell,[2] before eventually getting to its current title. The film was acquired by Apple TV+ in December 2020, before Netflix took over the rights in October 2023. Much of the main voice cast signed on in June 2022, following Zegler's casting in April 2022. Production was done remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spellbound is scheduled for release on November 22, 2024 on Netflix.

Premise

The story is set in Lumbria, a world of magic where a young girl named Ellian must break a spell that has split her kingdom in two and transformed her parents into monsters.[3]

Voice cast

Production

Development

In March 2017, Skydance Media formed a multi-year partnership with Madrid-based animation studio Ilion Animation Studios, forming an animation division called Skydance Animation.[4] In July, it announced Split, and it was revealed by Skydance Media CEO David Ellison that Linda Woolverton was writing the film.[5] [6] It would be distributed by Paramount Pictures as part of their deal with Skydance Media and was given a release date for sometime in 2019. Following John Lasseter's hiring as CCO of Skydance Animation, then-chief of Paramount Animation Mireille Soria announced that Paramount Animation would end its informal work with Skydance.[7]

In April 2020, composer Alan Menken announced that he was working on the project with Lasseter,[8] which was renamed to The Unbreakable Spell before it became Spellbound.[9] The film would be directed by Vicky Jenson, from a screenplay by Woolverton and the writing team of Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin, with songs by Menken and longtime collaborator Glenn Slater. In July 2020, it was announced that Spellbound was still going to be released by Paramount Pictures without Paramount Animation[10] until Apple TV+ acquired the distribution rights in December 2020 as part of a larger pact with Skydance Animation.[11] Apple Studios would replace Paramount as a production company. However, in October 2023, Skydance Animation ended its deal with Apple, and later signed a multi-year deal with Netflix, which would take over distribution of the studio's future films in production, including Spellbound.[12] In February 2024, Julia Miranda was revealed to have joined the writing staff. In June 2024, Woolverton was confirmed to be a producer on the film.[13]

Casting

In April 2022, Rachel Zegler was cast as the lead character.[14] In June, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis, André De Shields, and Jordan Fisher were added to the cast.[15] In June 2023, Tituss Burgess joined the cast, replacing De Shields.[16] [17] And Fisher's role has been removed.

Animation

Animation has been provided by Skydance Animation Madrid with portions of production done remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Marketing

In March 2022, it was reported that Skydance Animation made a multi-year deal with Spin Master Entertainment to make toys based on the film.[19]

Release

In March 2017, it was reported that the original release was intended to be in 2019. On July 20, 2020, Paramount Pictures dated the film for November 11, 2022.[10] On December 16, 2020, Apple TV+ entered talks to take over the distribution rights to the film, retaining its November 11 date. However, the film ended up missing its release date for unknown reasons.[20] [21]

A work-in-progress presentation of the film was shown at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June by Jenson and head of story Brian Pimental.[22] Shortly after, the film was announced for a 2024 release. That October, Netflix took over the film's distribution rights from Apple, as part of a new multi-year deal with Skydance Animation, while retaining its 2024 release. In June 2024, Netflix announced that the film will premiere on November 22, 2024.[23] [24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: August 21, 2024. Spellbound (PG) . August 21, 2024 . British Board of Film Classification.
  2. Web site: John Lasseter's Second Act . The Hollywood Reporter. Rebecca. Keegan. Carolyn. Giardina. 27 July 2022. 27 July 2022. 27 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220727193927/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/john-lasseter-skydance-animation-luck-1235186710/. live.
  3. Web site: Skydance Animation's 'Luck,' 'Spellbound' Scheduled for 2022 Release . Variety. . Dave . McNary . July 20, 2020 . July 20, 2020. July 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200720193927/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/skydance-animation-luck-spellbound-2022-release-1234711656/. live.
  4. News: McNary . Dave . David Ellison's Skydance Launching Animation Division With Spain's Ilion . October 21, 2022 . . March 16, 2017. March 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316193927/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/david-ellison-skydance-animation-division-spain-ilion-1202009938/. live.
  5. Web site: Mike Jr.. Fleming. Skydance Launches Animation Studio With Spain-Based Ilion. March 16, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. July 20, 2021. March 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316193927/https://deadline.com/2017/03/skydance-animation-studio-launch-ilion-animation-studios-1202044553/. live.
  6. News: Busch . Anita . Skydance's Steps Big Into Animation: 'Split' And 'Luck' Coming From Top Notch Ani Filmmakers . October 21, 2022 . . July 31, 2017. July 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170731193927/https://deadline.com/2017/07/skydance-animation-first-films-split-luck-1202138546/. live.
  7. Web site: Giardina . Carolyn . 2019-01-14 . Paramount Animation Chief Says Her Team Won't Be Working With John Lasseter at Skydance . 2022-05-13 . The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. July 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210731193927/=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paramount-animation-chief-says-her-team-wont-be-working-john-lasseter-at-skydance-1176111/. live.
  8. Talk Back with Alan Menken . Young Artists of America . April 2, 2020 . July 21, 2020 . YouTube.
  9. Web site: Giranda . Carolyn . Alan Menken to Compose Original Songs and Score for Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound' . . May 20, 2020 . May 21, 2020.
  10. News: Skydance Animation's 'Luck,' 'Spellbound' Scheduled for 2022 Release. McNary. Dave . July 20, 2020. Variety. July 13, 2022. en-US. July 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200720193927/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/skydance-animation-luck-spellbound-2022-release-1234711656/. live.
  11. Web site: 2021-02-17. Apple Makes Big Animation Commitment with New Skydance Animation Deal. 2022-07-13. Collider. en-US. 2021-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210217193927/https://collider.com/apple-skydance-animation-deal-john-lasseter-search-for-wondla/. live.
  12. Web site: Netflix Sets Skydance Animation In Multi-Year Deal, First Up Is Alan Menken Musical 'Spellbound;' Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem Star. Deadline. Fleming. Mike Jr.. October 18, 2023. October 18, 2023. October 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231018193927/https://deadline.com/2023/10/netflix-pacts-skydance-animation-in-multi-year-deal-alan-menken-musical-spellbound-rachel-zegler-nicole-kidman-javier-bardem-star-1235577207/. live.
  13. Web site: Next on Netflix Animation Presentation Sneak-Peeks 'K-Pop: Demon Hunters', 'Plankton' Movie, 'Motel Transylvania' and Much, Much More!. Mercedes. Milligan. Animation Magazine. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606193927/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/06/next-on-netflix-animation-presentation-sneak-peeks-k-pop-demon-hunters-plankton-movie-motel-transylvania-and-much-much-more-updating/. live.
  14. Web site: Rachel Zegler to Voice Lead of Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound' . . Penske Media Corporation. Justin. Kroll. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220401193927/https://deadline.com/2022/04/rachel-zegler-apple-original-films-skydance-animations-spellbound-1234992553/. live.
  15. Web site: Grobar . Matt . Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis & More Board Animated Pic Spellbound From Apple & Skydance Animation . . 21 June 2022 . June 21, 2022. June 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220621193927/https://deadline.com/2022/06/nicole-kidman-javier-bardem-john-lithgow-nathan-lane-more-join-spellbound-1235049176/. live.
  16. Web site: Giardina . Carolyn . 2023-06-12 . Tituss Burgess Joins Voice Cast of Apple and Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound'; New Image Revealed (Exclusive) . 2023-06-12 . . en-US. 2023-06-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230612193927/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tituss-burgess-apple-skydance-animation-spellbound-1235510904/. live.
  17. Web site: 2023-06-12 . Tituss Burgess Joins Voice Cast of Apple and Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound'; New Image Released (Exclusive) . 2023-06-13 . GVS-Entertainment . en-US. 2023-06-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230612193927/https://www.globalvillagespace.com/GVS-Entertainment/tituss-burgess-joins-voice-cast-of-apple-and-skydance-animations-spellbound-new-image-released-exclusive/ . live.
  18. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. May 8, 2020. How Animated Pics Like 'Tom & Jerry', 'SpongeBob Movie', 'Sing 2', Skydance's 'Luck' & More Are Working Through The COVID-19 Crisis. June 25, 2020. Deadline. May 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200508193927/https://deadline.com/2020/05/animated-movies-coronavirus-production-tom-and-jerry-spongebob-scoob-skydance-illumination-1202928961/. live.
  19. Web site: Skydance Animation Sets Licensing Pact with 'PAW Patrol' Creator Spin Master, Kicking off with Apple Original Film 'Spellbound'. 22 March 2022. Deadline. Dade. Hayes. 22 March 2022. 22 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220322193927/https://deadline.com/2022/03/skydance-animation-licensing-spin-master-apple-film-spellbound-1234983895/. live.
  20. Web site: Skydance Animation in Talks to Move 'Luck,' 'Spellbound' to Apple (EXCLUSIVE) . . Matt . Donnelly . Brent . Lang . December 16, 2020 . December 16, 2020. December 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201216193927/=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/skydance-animation-john-lasseter-spellbound-luck-apple-paramount-1234864372/. live.
  21. Web site: Donnelly. Matt. 2021-02-17. Apple and Skydance Animation Formally Announce Multi-Year Partnership. 2022-01-23. Variety. en-US. 2021-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210217193927/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/apple-and-skydance-animation-formally-announce-multi-year-partnership-1234909609/. live.
  22. Web site: Goodfellow. Melanie. Vicky Jenson Teases 'Spellbound' Songs Reuniting 'I See The Light' Duo Alan Menken & Glen Slater – Annecy. Deadline. June 13, 2023. June 19, 2023. June 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230613193927/https://deadline.com/2023/06/vicky-jenson-spellbound-original-songs-alan-menken-glen-slater-1235416796/. live.
  23. Web site: Next on Netflix Animation Presentation Sneak-Peeks 'K-Pop: Demon Hunters', 'Plankton' Movie, 'Motel Transylvania' and Much, Much More!. Mercedes. Milligan. Animation Magazine. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606193927/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/06/next-on-netflix-animation-presentation-sneak-peeks-k-pop-demon-hunters-plankton-movie-motel-transylvania-and-much-much-more-updating/. live.
  24. Web site: Carolyn. Giardina. Jordan. Moreau. Timothy Olyphant to Star in Netflix's 'Terminator Zero'; Plus 'Plankton' Movie and 'Motel Transylvania' Among Animation Slate. Variety. June 6, 2024. June 7, 2024. June 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606193927/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/timothy-olyphant-terminator-zero-netflix-1236027699/. live.

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