Rachel Zegler to Star as Snow White in Disney’s Live-Action Adaptation of the Classic Animated Film

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rachel Zegler’s royal coronation is around the corner…

The 20-year-old half-Colombian American actress and singer will star as Snow White in Disney’s live-action adaptation of the classic film that started it all for the studio’s legendary slate of animated features.

Marc Webb will direct the film, with Marc Platt producing. Production is expected to begin in 2022.

“Rachel’s extraordinary vocal abilities are just the beginning of her gifts,” said Webb of the actress who will star as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s new retelling of West Side Story. “Her strength, intelligence and optimism will become an integral part of rediscovering the joy in this classic Disney fairytale.”

The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cartoon, based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale, was released in 1938.

It was Disney’s inaugural animated feature and became a massive success for the studio.

Insiders say the live-action film will expand upon the story and music from the original. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar– and Tony Award-winning duo behind La La Land, The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen, will write new songs for the film.

The studio had been taking its time on the live-action adaptation because they wanted to get the music right, and insiders says higher-ups are excited with what Pasek and Paul have come up with so far.

As for the casting process, Webb and studio execs had been meeting with talent for several months for the role of Snow White. Zegler’s auditions impressed everyone, insiders say, but another factor was footage from West Side Story that blew away the Disney studio brass who’ve seen it, and helped push the decision across the finish line.

The casting also marks a step in the right direction of Disney diversifying its Disney Princess characters, after tapping Halle Bailey to play Ariel in the upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid film.

Zegler was just 17 when she beat out more than 30,000 actresses for the lead role of Maria in West Side Story. The new adaptation will debut on December 10 and also stars Ansel Elgort and Rita Moreno.

She’ll also star in her first big comic-book film, joining Zachary Levi in D.C.’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Auliʻi Cravalho to Star in Amazon’s Thriller Series “The Power”

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auliʻi Cravalho’s got the power…

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/actress, who recently starred as Ariel on The Little Mermaid Live!, will co-star opposite Leslie Mann in The Power, Amazon‘s 10-episode global thriller drama series based on Naomi Alderman’s feminist sci-fi book.

Hailing from Jane Featherstone’s Sister Pictures, the project was adapted for screen by Alderman, who’s working alongside an all-female writers’ room.

In The Power, all teenage girls in the world develop the power to electrocute people at will. It’s hereditary, it’s inbuilt, and it can’t be taken away from them. Coming alive to the thrill of pure power: the ability to hurt or even kill by releasing electrical jolts from their fingertips, they rapidly learn they can awaken the Power in older women. Soon enough nearly every woman in the world can do it. And then everything is different.

The subversive, multi-stranded narrative follows a series of characters including Allie, a vulnerable American foster kid who reinvents herself as a faith leader; Roxy, the daughter of a London crime boss, who revels in her new abilities; Tunde, a Nigerian journalist reporting on seismic global change; and Margot Cleary – Lopez (Mann), Mayor of Seattle; loving wife and doting mother to three kids. At least that’s what her official campaign website would tell you.

Cravalho is playing Margot’s (Mann) daughter, Jos. As Margot’s career takes flight, it’s her husband Rob and daughter Jos who privately feel the effects of her success most keenly; for one of them, where previously there was conflict now comes a greater understanding, and for the other where there was love, comes hurt and betrayal.

The Power was created by Alderman, who is executive producing alongside Reed Morano, who is directing.

Cravalho most recently starred as the title character in ABC’s highly-rated The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! special.

She’s currently in production as the lead of the Brett Haley’s Netflix film Sorta Like a Rock Star. The actress, who burst onto the scene as the title character in the Disneyanimated hit Moana, has also appeared on NBC’s drama series Rise.

Auli’i Cravalho Delivers Sea-Sational Performance of “Part of Your World” during ABC’s “The Little Mermaid Live!”

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho has delivered a memorable under the sea adventures

ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live! premiered on Wednesday with the 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer in the title role as Ariel.

During the broadcast, the Moana star donned the Disney princess’s famous purple seashells and mermaid tail to deliver a technologically wonderous performance of “Part of Your World.”

“What would I give if I could live out of these waters?/ What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?/ Betcha on land, they understand/ Bet they don’t reprimand their daughters/ Bright young women/ Sick of swimmin’/ Ready to stand,” Cravalho sang as she soared across the sea — with the help of an intricate, on-stage fly system.

For the rest of the number, she swam around the stage to audience cheers below before settling back onto the rock for the song’s hopeful closing moments.

The Little Mermaid Live! also starred Queen Latifah as Ursula, Graham Phillips as Prince Eric, Shaggy as Sebastian and John Stamos as Chef Louis.

Auli’i Cravalho to Star in ABC’s Live “The Little Mermaid” Special

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho is heading under the sea…

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer is set to star as Ariel in ABC’s The Little Mermaid live special.

In addition to Cravalho, who rose to acclaim as the voice of the title character in Disney’s Moana, the special will also star Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian.

The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!, featuring a mix of live action, animation and puppetry, will air on November 5 to mark the classic Disney animated feature’s 30th anniversary.

ABC originally announced in May 2017that it would stage a live production of the beloved underwater tale under the long-dormant Wonderful World of Disneybanner, which was slated for October 3, 2017. In August of that year, the network announced that the live event had been put on hold.

Since joining ABC last December as President of Entertainment, Karey Burke has expressed strong support for live specials. Her commitment was likely reaffirmed in May after the success of Jimmy Kimmel’s live staging of two classic Norman Lear sitcoms on the network, which spawned two more installments.

Burke today said that if The Little Mermaid is a success, it too can lead to do more live musicals based on Disneyfilm titles on ABC. “If it works, I expect we will do more of them and we will work closely with the feature department about timing,” she said.

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances by its star-studded cast interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film.

The hybrid format will combine intricate sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winningBroadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken.

Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.

Cravalho is already in the extended Disney Princessesfamily having voiced Moana in the hit animated movie.

Following her breakout role in Moana, Cravalho performed the film’s anthem, How Far I’ll Go, at the Oscarsand starred in the NBCmusical drama series Rise. It was just announced that she is the lead of the Brett Haley Netflixfilm Sorta Like a Rock Star.

The announcement of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! going forward comes as Disney is gearing up for production of a live-action feature adaptation of The Little Mermaid for director Rob Marshall, Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Menken. Halle Bailey has been set as Ariel in the movie, Awkwafina as Ariel’s seagull friend Scuttle, and Jacob Tremblay as Ariel’s friendly fish pal Flounder, while Melissa McCarthy has been rumored for the role of UIrsula and Harry Stylesfor Prince Eric.

Burke is not worried about ABC’s live Little Mermaid special and the upcoming movie cannibalizing each other. “Ours is distinctly different from the feature film,” she said.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Star in Netflix’s Series “Sweet Magnolias”

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a sweetday for JoAnna Garcia Swisher.

The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress is set to lead the cast Netflix’s upcoming series Sweet Magnolias. She replaces Monica Potter who had been originally tapped for the series.

Sweet Magnolias, based on Sherryl Woods’ popular series of novels published by Harlequin imprint MIRA books, is set in the charming small town of Serenity, South Carolina. It centers on three women, played by Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley, best friends since childhood.

Swisher will play Maddie Townsend, a low-key but resolute, warm and loving woman with a vocabulary like Southern poetry. She finds herself at a crossroads in her life and her best friends are trying desperately to convince her that now is the time for reinvention.

Woods executive produce with Sheryl J. Anderson, who also serves as showrunner.

Norman Buckley serves as co-executive producer and will direct six episodes of the series, which is currently filming.

Swisher is known for her starring roles in Kevin (Probably) Save the World and The Astronaut Wives Club, and recurring as Ariel on ABC’s Once Upon A Time.

Javier Bardem In Talks to Star in Disney’s Live-Action “The Little Mermaid” Remake

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem could be heading under the sea…

The 50-year-old Spanish Academy Award-winning actor is in talks to star in Disney‘s live-action remake of its animated classic, The Little Mermaid.

He’s circling the role of King Triton, father of Ariel, who is being portrayed by Halle Bailey.

Rob Marshal lis directing the live-action/CGI feature from a script by David Magee.

One Direction’s Harry Styles is reportedly being considered for the role of Prince Eric. Previously announced cast members include Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder.

Marc Platt, Marshall, Lin-Manuel Miranda and John DeLuca are producing the film for Disney.

The original film’s composer Alan Menkenis back to write new music and will craft the lyrics with Miranda.

Bardem, who picked up a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the 2007 Coen Brothers film No Country for Old Me, will co-star in Dune, the Denis Villeneuve-directed film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s bestselling novel, which is set up at Legendary.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Star in ABC’s Comedy Pilot “Happy Accident”

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

JoAnna Garcia Swisher has found her Happy place…

The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress has landed a leading role opposite Matt Walshin Happy Accident, ABC’s single-camera family comedy pilot from Modern Family writers Abraham Higginbotham and Jon Pollack, 20th Century Fox Television.

Written and executive produced by Higginbotham and Pollack, Happy Accident revolves around two Pittsburgh families — a father, Bud (Walsh), with three adult daughters, and a hotel lounge singer with her med student son — who are forced together after a decades-old secret is revealed.

Swisher will play Eleanor Bennett, a professor at Pitt who is also Bud’s (Walsh) oldest daughter.

Swisher most recently starred as Amy Cabrera in Kevin (Probably) Saves the World)which aired for one season on ABC. She previously recurred as Arielon ABC’s Once Upon A Time and played a lead on the network’s limited series The Astronaut Wives Club.

On the film side, Swisher most recently appeared in Warner Brothers’ comedy Fist Fight.

Joanna Garcia Returning for Series Finale of ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Joanna Garcia is swimming back to ABC…

ABC has announced on the Once Upon a Time Facebook page that several actors are returning for the series’ penultimate episode 721 and the series finale, including the 38-year-old Cuban American actress.

Garcia will return to portray The Little Mermaid’s Ariel. She first appeared as the iconic Disney Princess in Season 3, and she last appeared in Season 6.

Other cast members scheduled to return include Tony Amendola (Marco), Lee Arenberg (Leroy), Robbie Kay (Peter Pan), Sean Maguire (Robin Hood), Victoria Smurfit (Cruella De Vil) and Keegan Tracy (Mother Superior).

It was already been announced that Bev Elliott (Granny Lucas) and Jared Gilmore (Henry Mills) are returning.

At a recent screening of their midseason premiere, co-creator Edward Kitsis promised that in the series finale “We’ll see many familiar faces to the end.”

At the time Kitsis and Adam Horowitz weren’t ready to confirm the rumor that’s been out there about Jennifer Morrison coming back one last time, or departing Once Upon a Time company players Gennifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, and Emilie de Ravin.

No hints on the series finale yet, though Kitsis said it’s “less about tying everything up in a bow, rather hearing the song one more time.”

Garcia Swisher to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “The Kicker”

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Joanna Garcia Swisher’s career is getting a big kick(er)…

The 36-year-old half-Cuban American actress will co-star opposite Geoff Stults and David Spade in CBS’ The Kicker, a multi-camera comedy pilot from the 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt trio of Tina Fey, Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock.

Written by Burditt, The Kicker centers on Daryl Thorkelsonan (Stults), an oddball athlete who drives family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team.

Swisher will play Bambi, Daryl’s (Stults) intelligent and patient wife and a physical therapist to pro athletes. Spade plays Russ Thorkelson, Daryl’s (Stults) brother and sports agent.

Swisher recently co-starred on ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club and recurs as Ariel on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

Garcia to Star as the Little Mermaid on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… JoAnna Garcia is heading under the sea for her latest role.

Following rumors of her Arieltastic role nearly two years ago, ABC has confirmed that the 34-year-old half-Cuban actress has been cast as the Little Mermaid for the upcoming third season of Once Upon a Time.

For now, Garcia is expected to appear in two episodes of the hit fairytale drama, according to TV Guide Magazine.

It was revealed at Comic-Con that the Little Mermaid would be making an appearance in the new season, which kicks off on September 29, with a teaser revealing Ariel/Little Mermaid.

As is ordinary practice on the ABC fairy tale drama, expect the Little Mermaid to have a slight twist from the 1989 animated feature classic.

Garcia’s casting comes weeks after Once Upon a Time cast Rose McIver in the role of Tinker Bell, with executive producer Adam Horowitz hinting that she will have a “surprising connection” to a main character.

Garcia recently starred in NBC‘s short-lived comedy Animal Practice and was a regular on The WB‘s Reba. She has also recently recurred on Royal Pains and starred in ABC’s Better with You.

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