Watch the new trailer for Rachel Zegler animation, ‘Spellbound’
Rachel Zegler will make her voice acting debut in the upcoming Netflix animated musical movie Spellbound. Produced by Skydance Animation, the new movie tells the story of Princess Ellian, voiced by Zegler, who embarks on a daring journey to rescue her kingdom from a dire situation.
Her situation is made all the more desperate since she is challenged to save her parents, portrayed by Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. The A-lister couple have sadly been turned into monsters by an evil curse. Will the princess be able to reverse the spell in time? Fans will need to tune in to find out their fate.
In the film’s brand-new trailer, viewers see Ellian struggling to deal with her monstrous parents. Since the pair pose a threat to the kingdom, royal guards have captured them, and it’s up to Ellian to find a way to free them from captivity safely. As the movie progresses, the princess begins to meet suspicious resistance from her own army.
The official synopsis reads: “Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious princess who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents, the King and Queen of Lumbria, into monsters.”
To match the star-studded cast, Spellbound is managed by an esteemed productional and directional team. The movie is directed by Vicky Jenson, best known for co-directing classic Dreamworks animation Shrek. Meanwhile, the musical score is composed by Alan Menken, known for his work on numerous Disney classics, with lyrics written by Glenn Slater.
Joining Zegler, Bardem and Kidman in the cast is John Lithgow, famed for roles in Shrek and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Jenifer Lewis of Sister Act and The Princess and the Frog, Nathan Lane of Modern Family and The Birdcage, and the actor and singer Tituss Burgess.
When it first surfaced in 2017, the project was initially titled Split. It was one of the first animations planned under the Skydance Animations company, with Paramount scheduling distribution for 2019. However, a series of setbacks, including Covid-19 lockdowns, slowed the project significantly. Much of the production was conducted remotely during periods of lockdown.
Furthermore, following its acquisition in December 2022, Spellbound was initially scheduled for distribution via Apple TV+. However, following a back-and-forth, Netflix took over the rights in October 2023. Spellbound will arrive on Netflix on November 22nd.