Alison Fernandez has discovered the Magic…
The 14-year-old Latina actress has joined the ensemble cast of Upside-Down Magic, a new Disney Channel original movie based on The New York Times bestselling fantasy fiction children’s books of the same name.
The movie centers around 13-year-old Nory Boxwood Horace (Izabella Rose) who discovers that she can flux into animals, and her best friend, and Reina Carvajal (Siena Agudong) who can manipulate flames, as they enter Sage Academy for magical studies. Reina’s ability to expertly harness the power of fire lands her at the top of her class of “Flares,” but Nory’s wonky magic and proclivity for turning into a “Dritten” – a half kitten, half dragon – lands her in a class for those with defective, Upside-Down Magic, otherwise known as UDM. While Headmaster Knightslinger (Vicki Lewis) believes the UDM’s defective powers leave them vulnerable to the dangerous and evil “shadow magic,” Nory and her group of misfits set out to prove that Upside-Down Magic beats right side up.
In addition to Fernandez, Rose, Agudong and Lewis, the movie will also star Kyle Howard, Elie Samouhi and Max Torina
Production is underway, with the movie slated to premiere next summer.
With a teleplay by Nick Pustay and Josh Cagan, Upside-Down Magic is based on the Scholastic book series from bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. Disney Channel optioned the series for development in 2015.
“We cannot wait for Disney Channel viewers to meet Nory, a funny, charismatic and optimistic heroine whose unwavering belief that her unusual talents, along with those of her wonky friends, are just as valuable as those of her peers,” said Lauren Kisilevsky, vice president, Original Movies, Disney Channels Worldwide. “At the heart of our story is Nory and Reina’s friendship, in which they help each other learn that what makes them different makes them special.”
Joe Nussbaumserves as director.
Fernandez’s previous credits include television appearances on Once Upon a Time, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Orange is the New Black.
