Disney Releases First Look Photo of Rachel Zegler in Live-Action “Snow White” Film

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Rachel Zegler is the fairest of them all…

Disney has released a first look photo of its live-action Snow White film, starring the 22-year-old half-Colombian American Golden Globe-winning actress and singer.

The film’s release date has been pushed back a year to March 21, 2025, amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Zegler portrays the title character in the new take on Disney’s 1937 animated classic, a work foundational to the studio’s empire that was itself based on a 19th century fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm.

The story follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother.

The new still from Disney’s Snow White features Zegler’s princess opposite dwarves Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy.

Marc Webb directed from a script by Barbie‘s Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson, with Marc Platt producing.

Gal Gadot plays the Evil Queen, with Tony Award winner Andrew Burnap portraying a new male lead character.

Original songs for the film were penned by the Oscar-winning La La Land duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Sofia Carson to Perform Oscar-Nominated Track “Applause” at This Year’s Academy Awards

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson has a date with Oscar…

The 29-year-old Colombian American actress/singer and Diane Warren will perform “Applause,” the Oscar-nominated Best Song track, at the 95th annual Academy Awards next month.

Warren wrote the music and lyrics for the track from the film Tell It Like a Woman, earning her 14th Best Song Oscar nod since 1988 and sixth in as many years.

She has yet to claim the hardware but did receive a Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November and snagged an Emmy for The Hunting Ground song “Til It Happens to You,” sung by Lady Gaga.

Carson played the Evil Queen’s daughter Evie in Disney’s Descendants and its sequels, and the first film’s soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart in 2015.

She released her self-titled debut album in 2022.

She also starred in last year’s Netflix film Purple Hearts and next appears in Jaume Collet-Serra’s Carry On.

“Applause” is competing for the Best Song Oscar against “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — which Super Bowl halftime star Rihanna will perform at the ceremony — “Naatu Naatu” from RRR and “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The 95th Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Disney Offers First Look at Rachel Zegler’s Highly Anticipated “Snow White” Film

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rachel Zegler is bracing for a snow storm of attention…

Disney has released a first look at its live-action Snow White remake, starring the 21-year-old half-Colombian American actress/singer and West Side Story star and Gal Gadot.

Directed by Marc Webb, Snow White is based on Walt Disney’s 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was itself based on the 19th century fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm.

It was Disney’s inaugural animated feature and foundational to the Disney empire.

Zegler said it was “an honor” to bring the classic back to life “for modern age.” She said that, for her character, the film is about “Finding a sense of agency so she can be a just ruler and wonderful queen.”

Gadot observed that playing the evil queen was “very different than what I had done before. I am used to playing the other end of where the heart should be.”

The Wonder Woman actress called the Queen an “iconic villain” and said “getting under her skin was so delightful.”

She called the character “so not me” but stretching herself to find her was delightful.

The story follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother.

The new Snow White film will feature original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson handled the screenplay adaptation.

Zegler is portraying Snow White, with Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Tony winner Andrew Burnap set as the new male lead character, Jonathan.

Production kicked off in the UK this spring.

Disney’s Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, releasing 2024. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/UkAVXQq5Kb

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 9, 2022

Disney Channel Orders “Descendants: The Royal Wedding” Animated Special Starring Sofia Carson

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson is getting animated…

Disney Channel has ordered Descendants: The Royal Wedding, an animated special starring the 27-year-old Colombian American actress/singer as Evie, the daughter of the Evil Queen.

In addition to Carson, the Descendants special, set to premiere this summer, will feature a number of stars including Dove Cameron and Booboo Stewart.

The special will also pay memory to late cast member Cameron Boyce. The actor, who appeared as Carlos, died in July 2019 of epilepsy. He was 20. The absence of Boyce’s character will also be acknowledged.

Descendants: The Royal Wedding will follow Auradon’s epic social event, the marriage between Cameron’s Mal and Mitchell Hope’s Ben. Also reprising their roles for the special are Sarah Jeffery, Melanie Paxson, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Bobby Moynihan and Cheyenne Jackson.

“Descendants introduced a fantasy world of stories and characters anchored in Disney mythology. For the past six years, it captivated young viewers and grew to become among Disney Channel’s biggest entertainment franchises ever. It had the benefit of immensely talented stars, who we now welcome back for this animated ‘Royal Wedding’ special that will bridge the audience to what we hope will be a new chapter of compelling ‘Descendants’ stories and characters yet to come,” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television.

Descendants: The Royal Wedding, by Sara Parriott & Josann McGibbon and Ricky Roxburgh, is based on the Descendants movies by Parriott and McGibbon. The special is produced by Le Cube with Salvador Simó is set to direct.

Sofia Carson to Star in Netflix’s Dance Film “Feel the Beat”

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson is feelin’ the beat…

The 26-year-old Colombian American actress and singer and Descendants star is set to star in Feel the Beat, a Netflix dance film being directed by Elissa Down.

The plot follows April (Carson), who, after failing to find success on Broadway, returns to her small hometown and reluctantly is recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers for a big competition.

In addition to Carson, the ensemble family film will also star Wolfgang Novogratz, Donna Lynne Champlin, Enrico Colantoni, Lidya Jewett, Eva Hauge, Johanna Colón, Sadie Lapidus, Shiloh Nelson, Shaylee Mansfield, Justin Allan, Kai Zen, Carina Battrick, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Ken Pak, Dennis Andresand Amy Stewart.

Emmy-winning choreographer and former So You Think You Can Dance judge Mia Michaels is choreographing the film, which was written by Michael Armbruster and Shawn Ku.

Filming is underway in Toronto.

Carson soon will be seen reprising her role as Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen from Snow White, in Descendants 3, which will premiere in August.

Her other credits include appearances on Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars spinoff PLL: The Perfectionists, Famous in Love, and Adventures in Babysitting.

Ortega to Direct the Disney Channel’s Live-Action Original Movie “Descendants”

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Kenny Ortega will be bringing some evil descendants to life…

The 63-year-old Latino producer, director and choreographer, best known for directing the High School Musical trilogy, will be returning to the Disney Channel to helm the network’s Descendants.

The network’s first live-action original movie tapping into Disney’s vault of classic fairytale characters, the contemporary adventure-comedy centers on the offspring of some of Disney’s most evil villains, introducing a modern generation of teenagers who question the evil that’s always been in their hearts.

“We mined Disney’s treasure trove of stories and developed a new, comedic approach to the fabled characters everyone knows and loves,” said Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Channels Worldwide. “The result is a modern and unexpected re-interpretation of classic heritage characters utilizing contemporary, relatable settings and themes.”

Written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott, Descendants is set in a present-dayidyllic kingdom, where the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and Jafar who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the other villains, sidekicks, evil step-mothers and step-sisters. These villainous descendants (Carlos, Mal, Evvie and Jay, respectively) are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes including Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan. However, the evil teens face a dilemma: Should they follow in their nefarious parents’ footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?

Casting is currently underway, overseen by High School Musical casting directors Natalie Hart and Jason La Padura, with production slated to begin in the spring for a 2015 premiere on Disney Channel.

Parrilla’s Evil Queen Named Favorite Villain on Television

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lana Parrilla’s reign of terror on ABC’s instahit fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time could be called a rein of pleasure for millions of television viewers…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican American actress’ character—the Evil Queen/Regina—was named Favorite Villain in TV Guide Magazine‘s Fan Favorites Awards.

“As Regina, I come from a place of love, really, and fear of losing a son, and the threat posed by Emma Swan coming into this town. Sometimes, when you’re faced with that kind of threat, it doesn’t bring out the best in someone,” previously explained Parrilla about her character’s wicked ways.

Meanwhile, Once Upon a Time—which received a full season pickup after the show’s first two episodes performed well beyond expectations—won Favorite New Show after all the thousands of vote on TV Guide’s Facebook page were tallied.

“This was a passion project for me and Adam [Horowitz],” says executive producer Eddie Kitsis. “We have a finale planned that is going to be so unexpected that the audience will be left wondering what happened.”

Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera’s The Voice bested Jennifer Lopez’s American Idol for the title of Favorite Singing Competition.

Click here for the complete list of winners.

Happily Ever After for Parrilla’s Evil Queen

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

ABC has only aired two episodes of Once Upon a Time… But the network has given the insta-hit show—starring Puerto Rican-American actress Lana Parrilla—a full-season pickup…

Once—a fairy tale drama about a group of fairy-tale characters trapped in a New England town—is the highest-rated new drama of the fall, averaging 12.3 million viewers and a strong 4.0 rating in the crucial Adults 18-49 demographic. And the show seems to be holding up well, despite stiff competition from NFL football and more.

So what’s the key to the show’s success? Experts credit the series’ originality and family-friendly feel. By tapping into a family audience with its fanciful tale of a prince, a lonely adopted boy and Parrilla’s oh-so-evil queen, Once seems to be filling a void in primetime television. It’s a tale of good and evil, involving more than poisoned apples and sleeping curses. The fairy tale characters have been banished to live in the “real world” by the Evil Queen with no idea of their true identities.

Along with scene-stealer Parrilla as the Evil Queen and conniving town mayor Regina Mills, Once stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold.

Parrilla doesn’t see her character as being that cruel or evil…

“As Regina, I come from a place of love, really, and fear of losing a son, and the threat posed by Emma Swan coming into this town. Sometimes, when you’re faced with that kind of threat, it doesn’t bring out the best in someone,” explains Parrilla. “She feels this kind of possession over Henry, and she really wants him to love her. But he hates her. He just hates her. And we’ll get into why, further down the road.”

And now that Once has been picked up for a full season, it looks like we’ll get the full story as the show progresses. And that’s a happily ever after the show’s growing fan base can really appreciate!

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays on ABC at 8:00 pm ET.

Images courtesy of ABC.

Parrilla Isn’t Afraid to Show Her “Evil” Side…

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Once upon a time, Lana Parrilla couldn’t help but be completely fascinated by the Evil Queen in the animated Disney classic, “Snow White”… Now it’s her turn to fascinate audiences as the oh-so-wicked woman.

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress is starring as the Evil Queen in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” which premieres tonight. The new fairy tale drama series—based on Grimm’s fables and other tales—is a bold imagining of the world where fairy tales and the modern-day world collide.

“‘Once Upon a Time’ is about these two parallel worlds – one is the fairytale world and one is a contemporary world,” says Parrilla, who plays the Evil Queen, the person who cast the curse that sent them all to the real world, as well as Regina, the town’s sinister mayor.

“The Evil Queen is just so much fun to play. I think it’s just really interesting how the writers have created these parallel counterparts,” professes Parrilla, who has previously appeared on the television shows “24,” “Boomtown,” and “Miami Medical.”

Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison also star in the highly anticipated show, which Parilla highly recommends you tune in to watch… or else!

“’cause if you don’t, I’m gonna cast a spell on you,” she adds!

“Once Upon a Time” premieres tonight at 8 pm ET/PT.

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