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Disney's 'Wish' premieres in Nov. 2023.
Disney

Watch The Magical First Trailer For Disney's New Animated Movie Wish — & Meet A Chatty Goat!

The new film will dive into how Disney’s iconic Wishing Star came to be!

by Alexia McKay and Kaitlin Kimont
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Have you wondered how Disney’s iconic Wishing Star came about? Soon, there will be a new movie all about it! Wish is an upcoming animated musical movie that will answer the question Disney fans have long wondered about with a whole new cast of characters. And after months of waiting, the first trailer for Wish just dropped and here’s everything else we know about the movie so far.

Wish is an animated musical with a new original story.

Afro-Latina actress Ariana DeBose lends her voice to the lead character in Wish, 17-year-old Asha. Disney’s movie synopsis describes Asha as a “sharp-witted idealist” who “makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star.”

Set in a fantastical place called Rosas, located off the Iberian Peninsula, Asha and Star work together to confront King Magnifico “to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.” And don’t worry, Asha has a talking animal sidekick — a pet goat named Valentino. This is Disney, after all.

Asha learns her pet goat Valentino can talk (and has a pretty deep voice!) after eating a Wishing Star. Walt Disney Animation Studios/ YouTube

Wish will debut Disney’s first Afro-Latina heroine.

Asha is slated to be Disney’s first Afro-Latina heroine. Disney’s first Black princess is, of course, Princess Tiana of The Princess and the Frog, played by Anika Noni Rose. In September, DeBose spoke to Deadline about how her character reminds her of herself. “She’s got many parts to her,” she said. “She’s so smart, she’s got a great sense of humor, she’s trying to take care of the people she loves most in the world. And she’s a leader and doesn’t realize it, she’s just living and doing and learning along the way. She doesn’t ways get it right, which is the definition of being human.”

“But I think audiences can be excited about original songs, an original story, it’s all the Disney magic you know and love but it looks like us,” she added, referring to the minority representation. “And that’s exciting. I’m really excited that little girls can identify with this character.”

Back in March 2022, DeBose made history as the first Afro-Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award for her role in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. “I promise you there is a place for us,” she said during her acceptance speech.

Watch the first magical trailer for Wish.

Disney released the first trailer for Wish in April 2023. “Imagine a place where wishes come true, where your heart’s desire can become a reality,” a cryptic voice says. We then see Asha making a wish, looking towards the sky as a cute yellow star flies around her, leaving little starry dust in its path. Valentino then gobbles up some of that dust and can now magically talk.

Wish will feature new original songs.

Wish will feature original songs, including titles by Grammy nominee Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice. In fact, the trailer shares a little taste of a new song from the movie titled “The Wish” performed by DeBose.

When will Wish premiere?

Directed by Frozen’s Chris Buck and Raya and the Last Dragon’s Fawn Veerasunthorn, Disney’s Wish will premiere in theaters on November 22, 2023.

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