‘West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler snags lead role in the upcoming animated musical about a princess on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom.
Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, Snow White) will voice lead character Princess Ellian in Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation's new animated musical feature, Spellbound. In the film, Ellian is the tenacious princess who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters and threatens to cover Lumbria in darkness forever.
Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton. The original score for the film is by Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan serves as executive music producer. John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and David Lipman are producing for Skydance Animation.
Zegler was chosen out of 30,000 auditioners for her role in Steven Spielberg's new adaptation of West Side Story. The film earned her an NBR Award for Best Actress along with a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
She is currently in production on Disney's live-action remake of Snow White, and will next be seen alongside Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren, and Lucy Liu in D.C. Comics’ Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Spellbound joins an expanding lineup of the Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation projects, alongside upcoming titles Luck, which premieres on Apple TV+ on August 5, and the animated series Wondla.
Source: Apple TV+
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
