Chris Pine, known for his roles in Into the Woods and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, has been confirmed by Disney to play the role of King Magnifico in the upcoming musical-comedy film Wish. The film is set to be released in theaters across the U.S. on November 22nd, 2023, from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Disney Animation Studios has announced that Chris Pine and Ariana DeBose are set to star in the upcoming musical-comedy film Wish. Pine will be lending his voice to the character of King Magnifico, ruler of the magical kingdom of Rosas where wishes come true. DeBose will voice the character of Asha, a young woman in the film.
According to Tony Chambers, Executive Vice President and Head of Theatrical Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios, Wish follows in the tradition of Disney Animation’s epic tales, designed for families to experience together during the Thanksgiving holiday and beyond. This film will be a part of Disney100, a yearlong celebration of Walt Disney’s legacy, while also pushing the boundaries of storytelling and innovation for the next 100 years. The casting announcement was made during CinemaCon 2023, causing excitement among Disney fans and movie enthusiasts alike.
Jennifer Lee, Wish executive producer and one of the writers for the film, said in a statement:
“As the most powerful person in the kingdom, King Magnifico needed to be played by someone who could give all the charm, cleverness and charisma to this magnanimous character, and Chris is beautifully bringing all of that and then some,”
In Disney Animation’s upcoming musical-comedy Wish, we meet Asha, a clever and optimistic young woman who makes a powerful wish that’s granted by a cosmic force named Star. Together, they embark on a journey to prove that when one courageous person’s will connects with the magic of the stars, incredible things can happen.
The film features the voices of Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as King Magnifico, and Alan Tudyk as Asha’s lovable goat, Valentino. It is directed by Chris Buck, who won an Oscar for his work on “Frozen” and Frozen 2, and co-directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn, who worked on “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Peter Del Vecho, who produced Frozen and Frozen 2, is the producer of “Wish,” with Juan Pablo Reyes serving as co-producer. Jennifer Lee, who directed Frozen and Frozen 2, executive produces Wish alongside Allison Moore, who has worked on projects such as Night Sky and Manhunt. The film features original songs by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, with a score by composer Dave Metzger.
Wish opens only in theatres on November 22, 2023.
Are you looking forward to seeing Wish? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.
Codie Allen is a passionate trans and queer film critic and entertainment writer based in Orlando, FL. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, Dorian Awards member, and CACF member, they also contribute to The Curb and InSession Film. When they’re not writing about films, you can find them sipping way too much tea and listening to Taylor Swift.
