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Hallmark knows the holidays are when many families meet for the first time. The Countdown To Christmas movie Christmas With The Singhs is just that. This stars Anuja Joshi and Virgin River star Benjamin Hollingsworth.

“Newly engaged Asha Singh and Jake O’Brien are excited to spend Christmas together, but their relationship is tested when their families’ cultural and holiday traditions clash.”

How crazy will things get? Here is more about this new holiday movie.

Photo: Michele Scarabelli, Greg Rogers, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Anuja Joshi, Manoj Sood, Nimet Kanji, Adiv Sharma Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Syd Wong What Is Hallmark’s Christmas With The Singhs About?

Hallmark’s Christmas With The Singhs promises a fun family clash. Starring Anuja Joshi and Ben Hollingsworth, this is part of the Countdown To Christmas programming. What is this about? Here is what TV Insider says about this Christmas movie.

It is Christmastime. However, this holiday...

Asha Magrati as Pooja. Deepak Rauniyar: 'We decided we would be inside the crowd, inside our character’s head, and go through how they're feeling, but they're also conscious of how they’re being perceived' Crime thriller Pooja, Sir is the latest collaboration between Nepalese husband and wife team Deepak Rauniyar and Asha Magrati. The film follows the story of Pooja (Magrati), a gender queer police officer, who is sent from Kathmandu to a border town to investigate the kidnapping of two young boys amid an uprising of constitutional protests from the Madhesi community. The pair, writing alongside David Barker, drew on the real-life protests from 2015 and aspects of discrimination they’ve encountered in their own lives for the film, which lays bare the gender, caste and social class divisions within Nepalese society. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Rauniyar says: “Asha is from the light-skinned Pahadi ethnic group,...

We’re deep into 2024 territory as of the time of writing, but our good friends and Deadline have decided to go back to last year and reveal the biggest box office bombs of 2023. It was a short trip down memory lane, but it was done properly because all the numbers were finally in, and there was enough time to objectively interpret the facts and numbers before us. This is why we decided to report on this list.

The list contains five titles and we are going to reveal them to you, as well as all the relevant numbers. Long story short, out of the five titles on this list, four belong to Disney/MCU and one to Warner, so it seems that Disney is undoubtedly the biggest loser of 2023, especially since some of the titles in question are major ones. Now, let us start!

5. Haunted Mansion: -$117M

Synopsis:...

Don’t miss the drama unfolding on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield in “Coronation Street,” airing this Wednesday at 8:00 Pm on ITV. In the latest episode, tensions rise as Toyah shares a devastating secret from her past with Nick, adding layers of complexity to their relationship.

Meanwhile, Todd’s curiosity gets the better of him as he takes a clandestine look at George’s new will, stirring up suspicions and intrigue among the residents. And in a moment of forgetfulness, Aadi inadvertently puts Asha’s mercy mission on hold when he agrees to help Amy with a task.

As the lives of the characters intertwine and secrets threaten to unravel, viewers can expect a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists in this week’s episode of “Coronation Street.”

Tune in to ITV at 8:00 Pm this Wednesday, April 24th, to catch all the drama and excitement of “Coronation Street.

Disney Animation Studios celebrated its 100th anniversary last year with the premiere of Wish — and the animated musical is available to watch at home.

Now streaming on Disney+, the film stars Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose as the voice of Asha, a 17-year-old girl who lives in the fictional kingdom of Rosas. The land is ruled by the sorcerer Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine), who has the power to grant his subjects’ wishes — but as Asha discovers, he has no intention of fulfilling their dreams. When she makes a wish upon a star, she finds she has the power to save her community.

The film also features the voices of Alan Tudyk (as Asha’s talking goat sidekick, Valentino), Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Kumiyama, Evan Peters, Harvey Guillén and more.

At a Glance: How to Watch Wish Online

Stream Disney+ Buy or rent Prime Video, Apple TV Stream...

Disney revealed on Monday that its musical animated feature Wish, starring Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) and Chris Pine (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) garnered 13.2 million views globally in its first five days streaming on Disney+.

This amounts to the third biggest premiere on the service, behind those of Encanto and Frozen 2, with a view being defined as total stream time divided by runtime.

Earlier this year securing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature, Wish takes place in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars,...

“Wish” reached 13.2 million views in its first five days on Disney+, where it debuted on April 3 after a November 2023 theatrical release.

That makes the film the No. 3 most-viewed streaming premiere for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film, trailing “Encanto,” which debuted in theaters in November 2021 before streaming on Disney+ that December, and “Frozen 2,” which released theatrically November 2019 an arrived on streaming the following March. Exact viewership data for those titles is unavailable.

This ranking does not include animated films from other Disney studios, however. For example, Pixar’s “Elemental” debuted with 26.4 million views in five days, which was touted as Disney+’s biggest movie premiere of 2023 — live action or animated — and made the service’s top 10 of all time.

At the box office, “Wish” debuted with a weak $31.7 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend after originally being projected to earn $45-50 million. For comparison, “Encanto” opened with $40.3 million in five days,...

Mumbai, April 7 (Ians) Gangu Ramsay, the veteran cinematographer, filmmaker, and producer of the Ramsay Brothers, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83.

While, he has been a part of many iconic films like ‘Veerana’, ‘Purana Mandir’, ‘Bandh Darwaza’, ‘Tahkhana’, and ‘Purani Haveli’, his banner of the Ramsay Brothers shaped the contours of the horror genre in India.

The Ramsay Brothers banner was started by Fatehchand U. Ramsay, whose second-eldest son was Gangu Ramsay. The family landed in Mumbai after the partition of India. F.U. Ramsay came to India with his extended family, including his wife, seven sons, and two daughters. He, along with his elder sons, set up a tiny electronics shop on Lamington Road, an area famous for computer accessories and electronics.

Though the shop did reasonably well, the family was large, and generating money to take care of everyone in the family seemed difficult. That’s when F.

Disney's Wish takes inspiration from many cultures and places around the world, but the one thing viewers keep wondering about is the ethnicity of its main character Asha.

Asha is played by Oscar-winner (and future Wicked movie star) Ariana Debose. The 17-year-old at the heart of the film goes on a quest to free the hopes and dreams (or wishes) of the people around her from the clutches of a power-hungry king. 

The movie debuted in theaters in November 2023, but it is back in the conversation after coming to Disney+ in early April 2024. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Disney's Wish is now streaming on Disney+, with new viewers who may have missed the movies in theaters wondering what big criticisms attributed to the film's negative reviews. 

Debuting back in November 2023, the animated blockbuster was widely panned upon release, earning a dismal 49% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Serving as a celebration of 100 years of Disney, Wish follows a young girl named Asha (Ariana Debose) as she takes on the sorcerer king Magnifico (Chris Pine) who is secretly harboring peoples' wishes with no plan to grant most of them.

Read full article on The Direct.

Across continents, galaxies, and dimensions, Disney+ has plenty to watch this month! The House of Mouse streamer is adding to the April showers by making it rain all-new episodes of three of its biggest animated series: "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," now in its third and final season; the recent hit "X-Men '97"; and the beloved children's series "Bluey."

Disney’s latest animated film “Wish,” led by Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, and more, will also make its streaming debut, as will Disneynature documentaries, animated shorts, and more!

Find out everything coming to Disney+ this month, including The Streamable’s top five picks to watch!

Sign Up Now $7.99+ / month disneyplus.com

Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $14.99 a month ($12 savings).

What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Disney+ in April 2024? “Wish” | Wednesday, April 3

Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, “Wish” follows Asha, “a sharp-witted idealist,...

they say that a wish is a dream your heart makes, and never has that been more true than in Disney’s latest animated musical “Wish.” The film, which premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, April 3, celebrates the centennial birthday of the famed family entertainment company with a brand new story. Asha is a young girl who discovers that her home is not as perfect as she is being led to believe. With the help of some of her friends, she sets out to confront the dastardly King Magnifico and restore what has been stolen from the citizens of Rosas. You can watch with a subscription to Disney+.

How to Watch Disney Animated Movie 'Wish' When: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Where: Disney+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Disney+. Sign Up Now$7.99+ / month disneyplus.com

Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $14.99 a month ($12 savings).

About Disney Animated Movie 'Wish'

In the Kingdom of Rosas,...

Wish Movie Ott Release Date (Photo Credit – IMDb)

In November 2023, Disney’s animated musical fantasy film Wish was released in theatres. Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, the film received mixed reviews, but mostly negative. It was a Thanksgiving treat for the audience which was released alongside Napoleon and Saltburn. The voice cast includes big names like Chris Pine, Ariana DeBose and many others.

The development of the musical fantasy began in 2018. The film’s title was announced during the 2022 D23 Expo Presentation. There’s a big news for those who missed watching the movie on the big screen. The animated film is all set to release on Disney+. In this article, we have mentioned the main cast, the plot and other crucial details about the musical fantasy.

Wish Movie Cast & Crew

The voice actors include Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Harvey Guillen,...

Ariana DeBose has been cast in 'With Love'.The Oscar-winning actress will feature opposite Ke Huy Quan in the upcoming Universal Pictures movie that will be released in February 2025.Plot details are being kept under wraps on the film, which is being helmed by first-time director Jonathan Eusebio – an acclaimed veteran stunt coordinator.87 North's Kelly McCormick and David Leitch are producing while the flick has been written by Josh Stoddard, Luke Passmore and Matthew Murray.According to Deadline, film bosses were searching for the perfect female lead after casting Quan and met with a number of performers before settling on the 'West Side Story' star.Ariana starred in the Disney animated movie 'Wish' last year and revealed that she "cried like a baby" when she was cast in the film.She told MovieWeb.com: "They came to me shortly after ‘West Side Story’ had premiered, and I hadn't really won anything.

Finally, after months of speculation, Disney has given the Disney+ release date for “Wish.” The movie came out last November and many have been wondering when it would finally be released on Disney+.

The release date for “Wish” is April 3, 2024.

The magic of a wish can change everything.

Disney’s #Wish is coming to #DisneyPlus on April 3. pic.twitter.com/rBXbsNcE26

— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) March 18, 2024

“Wish” did not do all that well theatrically. In fact, it’s considered a flop, bringing in only $251.4 million globally on a budget of $175–$200 million. However, people searching for when the film would be on streaming has been a top trending search result for months.

The film synopsis reads:

“Young Asha makes a wish so powerful that it’s answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. With Star’s help, Asha must save her kingdom from King Magnifico and prove...

Disney announced on Monday that its Golden Globe-nominated animated feature Wish, starring Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, will begin streaming on Disney+ on April 3rd.

An original musical comedy co-written by Disney Animation chief Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, Wish takes us to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe — the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) — 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.

Lee’s co-director on the Academy Award-winning Frozen, Chris Buck, directed alongside Fawn Veerasunthorn, with the latter making her directorial debut. With Alan Tudyk playing Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino, the film also features the voices of Angelique Cabral,...

Walt Disney Animation Studios announced Monday that the musical feature “Wish,” which made more than $250 at the global box office, will premiere on the Disney+ streaming service in April.

The film takes place in the fictional town of Rosas wherein the charming King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine) is able to grant people’s wishes. But when local girl Asha (Ariana DeBose) discovers what Magnifico really does with the wishes, it’s up to her and a fallen star to stop him and save the town.

“Wish” is directed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, and produced by Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones. Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore wrote the script. Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice provided the film’s original song with a score by composer Dave Metzger.

During an interview with TheWrap back in January, co-director Buck said it was a challenge...

Disney+ subscribers’ wish has come true, as the Mouse House’s latest animated movie is now available to stream from home.

“Wish” takes place in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where everyone carries their own “wish” around with them. Ariana DeBose plays 17-year-old Asha, who applies to become the apprentice of King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine. However, Asha soon finds that Magnifico is stealing the wishes from his people, under the benevolent guise of freeing everyone from their chief desires.

Sream "Wish" On Disney+

One night, Asha makes a wish so big that it calls forth a glowing yellow star, a cute character aptly named Star. Asha and Star then face off against Magnifico, who, threatened by the prospect of losing his royal power, has turned to dark magic. Accompanied by her friends and family, Asha works to restore the wishes of the kingdom and save her people from Magnifico’s corruption.

Following Strange World, Disney’s new animated feature – Wish – will not be getting a 4K disc release in the UK: just DVD and Blu-ray.

Released in a blaze of publicity at the end of last year was Disney’s latest animated feature, Wish. This one carried the added responsibility of celebrating 100 years of Disney, and while the film’s solid enough, I’d argue it was weighed down by the extra centenary baggage.

Still, it’s entertaining, and looks and sounds superb, which makes it prime fodder for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray physical media release. However, its muted box office performance means that Disney has opted to limit its physical release to DVD and Blu-ray instead.

This was the same fate that befell Disney’s preceding animated feature, the terrific-looking Strange World. That didn’t ignite the box office, either, and had its home media release slightly restricted.

In...

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone; Cillian Murphy Photo: Apple I.S.S. review: Ariana DeBose’s sci-fi outing fails to achieve liftoffEver since Georges Méliès sent audiences out of orbit in 1902 with A Trip To The Moon, filmmakers have been busy crafting distinctly textured space-themed stories, ranging from tender to terrifying. It...

Ariana DeBose Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK Ariana DeBose, who turns 33 on January 25, has already attained the kind of success some actors only dream of, winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe for West Side Story, and being nominated for a Tony (Summer:...

If you wish upon a star, Disney’s latest animated film, Wish, will come to Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD platforms sooner than you think. A heartfelt celebration of the magic of Disney and a joyful new entry to the studio’s animated film legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios‘ Wish becomes available to view at home through digital retailers on January 23. Participating platforms include Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD versions landing on shelves on March 12.

Here’s the official synopsis for Wish:

In this animated musical-comedy, Asha (Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist in the kingdom of Rosas, makes a powerful wish that’s answered by Star, a ball of boundless energy. Soon, Asha and Star must face a formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas—to save her community and prove that when one brave human connects with the magic of the stars,...

As he begins the promotions for his upcoming movie ‘Swantraya Veer Savarkar’ actor Randeep Hooda recently embarked on a soul-nourishing journey to the meadows, immersing himself in the serene company of his cherished horses. This serene getaway not only served as a rejuvenating experience for the actor also witnessed the heartwarming naming ceremony of his infant foal.

The farm is located between Mumbai and Lonavala, while coming back from Pune where he had gone to flag off the Savarkar Release centenary Bike Rally, he stopped at the meadows where his horses are living. He met his Old Riding Horse Rommel, his mare ‘Dream Girl’ and whose two kids ‘hope’ named after Randeep’s mother Asha and the infant male horse which Randeep saw for the first time after his birth. Randeep tried playing with the shy foal, who began to familiarise itself with Randeep’s presence. Randeep seeing his sturdiness,...

As the producers of Disney‘s Wish, Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones say that every aspect of the film was inspired by each Disney animated film for the past 100 years. This included the animation style, the character of Star, and especially the villainous turn of Magnifico.

Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl who disagrees with how the kingdom’s ruler Magnifico (Chris Pine) treats the wishes of her fellow citizens. She wishes upon a star for change, but is surprised when that star comes down from the sky to answer her call. Even though Wish brings back the idea of the traditional villain, it was important for Magnifico to still stand out and have that turn from hero to villain.

‘Wish’, from left: Star, Asha (voice: Ariana DeBose), Valentino (voice: Akan Tudyk)

Deadline: Where did the story come from?

Peter Del Vecho: It actually came from Jennifer Lee.

Get ready for another evening of drama, humor, and everyday struggles as “Coronation Street” unfolds its latest episode, airing at 8:00 Pm on January 12, 2024, on ITV. This beloved British soap opera continues to captivate audiences with its portrayal of the working-class residents navigating the highs and lows of their lives on the iconic Coronation Street.

In this episode, Aadi and Nina find themselves in a difficult situation as they confess their kiss to Asha. The revelation of this secret may have significant consequences for their relationships and the dynamics within the group.

Cassie, another character, makes a bold move by offering to buy Hope’s silence. The reasons behind this offer and how it impacts the characters involved will likely add a layer of tension and intrigue to the episode.

Sarah takes the initiative and thrills Damon by inviting him for a drink. This gesture could lead to exciting developments...

Sandra Hüller in ‘The Zone of Interest’ (Photo Credit: A24)

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) voted The Zone of Interest starring Sandra Hüller and Christian Friede as Best Film of 2023, with Barbie‘s Greta Gerwig collecting Best Director honors. The critics group also recognized Killers of the Flower Moon, American Fiction, The Holdovers, and The Boy and the Heron as Eda Awards winners.

“2023 was an exceptional year with so many women playing major creative roles in high-profile projects,” said AWFJ President Jennifer Merin. “AWFJ always focuses on and supports women’s contributions in all aspects of film production, and we are delighted that this year’s AWFJ Eda Awards honor women creatives in six of our ten non-gendered Best Of categories, as well as in all of our Female Focus categories. We hope this female forward trend will continue in 2024.”

2023 Eda Awards Winners

Best Film

American Fiction

Anatomy Of A Fall...

Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is set to dominate the original song race. Oscar voters will likely pick all three contenders from the blockbuster for the original song shortlist: Billie Eilish’s tear-inducing ballad “What Was I Made For,” Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” and Ryan Gosling’s pitiful song of feeling inadequate “I’m Just Ken.”

Mark Ronson and songwriting partner Andrew Wyatt wrote the latter two, while Eilish partnered with brother Finneas on her tune. However, with only two nominations allowed in this category, it will be left to the music branch to decide which two they pick.

Lenny Kravitz eyes a spot on the list with “Road to Freedom,” a song he penned for George C. Wolfe’s “Rustin.” The soulful song’s horns and trombones are key to this composition, which accompanies the film’s end credits.

Disney seeks to snag nominations for the original songs...

Walt Disney Animation Studios released its latest original film during the Thanksgiving holiday in the form of "Wish." In the lead-up to the release, it was presumed that Disney's latest was going to top the box office ahead of "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and Ridley Scott's "Napoleon." That's not how things panned out. Instead, the animated musical had to settle for third place, coming in far below industry expectations. No two ways about it: in the early going, this is a rough start for a massive $200 million animated film. Be that as it may, it wouldn't be fair to count the movie out just yet.

"Wish" earned $19.5 million over the weekend and an estimated $31.7 million across the full, five-day holiday frame, per The Numbers. Disney opted to release the film mid-week on Wednesday to get in on the holiday bounty and, typically, that works out well.

The directors behind Disney’s Wish share their thoughts on how the movie ended for Chris Pine’s King Magnifico and if a Wish 2 could be in order.

Warning - This article contains spoilers for Wish.

By the third act of Wish, King Magnifico fully embraced forbidden magic in his quest to destroy Asha’s Wishing Star. Despite getting close to victory, Asha and the town of Rosas unite and drive the villain into defeat.

Read full article on The Direct.

‘The Holdovers’ reaches $12.9m; ‘Saltburn’ expands to $3.1m; ‘Priscilla’ nears $20m; ‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ on $3.4m.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes held on to number one over the Thanksgiving holiday period in North America on an estimated $28.8m three-day haul as Ridley Scott’s Napoleon opened its campaign in second place on $20.4m and Disney’s animation Wish disappointed in third on $19.5m.

Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games sequel stands at $98.4m after two sessions and will cross $100m within days. It grossed approximately $42m over the five-day Wednesday-Sunday period and is on the cusp...

Disney may need to find another star to wish upon.

“Wish,” the studio’s newest animated adventure, was projected to land on top of box office charts over the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead, ticket sales fell short of expectations with a weak $19.5 million over the traditional weekend and $31.7 million over the five days, and the film tumbled to third place behind Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon.”

Heading into the weekend, the musical fable “Wish” was projected to earn $35 million over the traditional weekend and $45 million to $50 million in its first five days of release. Ticket sales weren’t as catastrophic as the studio’s 2022 flop “Strange World” ($12 million over the traditional weekend and $18 million through the five days), but it didn’t come anywhere close to 2021’s “Encanto,” which opened to $40.3 over its first five days when...

With “Wish,” Disney Animation celebrates its 100th anniversary by merging the 2D legacy of watercolor background paintings (dating back to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”) with cutting-edge CG. The result was a revitalization of the retro aesthetic in every department to better display the hand of the artist. Like a gateway drug, it has already carried over into an as-yet-unannounced feature with a very different 2D look.

The musical fantasy (directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn) was the perfect storm for a convergence of the past and present, as it pays tribute to Walt’s beloved wishing star — symbolic of his ethos about the importance of hopes and dreams. Asha (Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old very much in the mold of the modern Disney heroine, desperately wishes upon a star to save her medieval kingdom of Rosas when Sorcerer King Magnifico (Chris Pine) imprisons their wishes. Asha’s plea...

Disney's latest movie Wish seems to have found itself swamped in controversy mere days after release. 

Disney Animation's new musical epic serves as a celebration of the renowned studio's 100th year of operation, telling the story of a young girl named Asha who makes an all-powerful wish upon a star to unexpected consequences. 

The film has not gotten off to the best start, receiving middling reviews from critics (sitting at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite being pitched as the culmination of a century of Disney stories. 

Read full article on The Direct.

A remix of themes, tropes and references to other – and better – Disney classics, Wish is a hollow pandering to die-hard fans for the studio’s 100th birthday. It’s so derivative and bland that one wouldn’t be surprised if Disney announced it was the first movie written and directed by artificial intelligence.

The latest animated offering from the Mouse House, the fairy tale is centered on Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl living in the magical land of Rosas, where King Magnifico (Chris Pine) has the power to grant anyone’s wish. Upon their eighteenth birthday, all citizens of Rosas give their deepest-felt wishes to the king, who may choose to make them come true.

But Asha learns, of course, that Magnifico deems himself the only person worthy of understanding whose wishes are deserving of being granted, and the truth is that most people are giving up the deepest...

Ever wondered where Disney’s iconic wishing star came from? You can find out in the newest animated feature film from the Mouse House!

When you wish upon a star, magic can happen. That’s a well-traveled theme in Disney’s movies, but it has never been more true than in “Wish,” the newest feature-length animated move from Disney which saw its official theatrical debut on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

“Wish” takes place in the kingdom of Rosas, where King Magnifico has the love of his people because of his magical ability to grant wishes. Asha wants to bring him a wish of her own, but when she realizes the king is deceiving his people, she makes a wish on a star — only to have that star descend to Earth and help her in her quest to make her family’s dreams come true!

“Wish” has a bit of an uneven Rotten Tomatoes score,...

Unfulfilled potential is a powerful theme for a story. Making Disney’s choice to explore what might happen if an entire kingdom of subjects surrendered their chance to fulfil their destinies by entrusting their deepest wish – and every memory of it – to their king an intriguing premise. Is it better to live with the hope that one day your wish may come true or to hold that dream close to your heart and let it guide your life’s path?

We’ll never know. Because, sadly, the House of Mouse’s hundredth-anniversary offering fails to interrogate its own themes, choosing to bimble about looking pretty (it is Very pretty), ticking off generic highs and lows in the place of real plot points and making knowing nods to animated features past instead. Leaving us to gloomily ponder what might have been.

Asha (Ariana DeBose) is a tour guide in her beloved Mediterranean home Rosas.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on November 22nd, 2023, reviewing “Wish,” the latest original film from Walt Disney Studios. In theaters on November 22nd, 2023.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The film involves the kingdom of Rosas, ruled by King Magnifico (voice of Chris Pine). Magnifico is also a sorcerer, and he figured out a way to grant all wishes to the citizens of Rosas. But to maintain his power, he hoards the wishes and grants only a couple each year. Enter 17-year-old Asha (Adriana DeBose) who is hoping to become the King’s apprentice and get a wish for her 100 year old grandfather (Victor Garber). When a suspicious King rejects her, Asha learns dark things about his lust for power … so she focuses her hope by wishing on a star … which is alive and comes down from the sky to help her.

”Wish,” is in theaters on November 22nd.

Spoiler Alert: This story discusses major plot points for “Wish,” currently playing in theaters.

Disney’s animated feature “Wish” features over 100 nods.

As the animation studio celebrates its centennial year, “Wish” pays homage to classic Disney films from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “Peter Pan,” “Sleeping Beauty” and more. Speaking with Variety, director Chris Buck explained they are “Disney nods” rather than easter eggs.

“We wanted to get the story to work first,” Buck says. “Once we had that, and we started going into production, we could start layering in all the nods.”

It wasn’t just fellow director Fawn Veerasunthorn and writer and Disney Animation chief creative officer Jennifer Lee helping to incorporate them. According to Buck, “every artist and every department was saying, ‘What if we tried this?'”

While some are more obvious than others, Buck teases, “There are so many that are truly hidden,...

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

It's been 100 years since Walt Disney created The Walt Disney Company, which first produced short silent films like "Alice's Funnies." That film starred Walt Disney himself, in live-action, showing a little girl how he created his cartoons. The strange and anthropomorphic creations came alive on the screen in front of her in that ambitious early short, and after a day of behind-the-scenes magic, she dreamed herself into the cartoon world.

The events of the next century are much too voluminous to write them all down here but needless to say, Walt Disney's company underwent many changes. Original characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy helped make the studio an industry titan, and feature films like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Cinderella" cemented its box office clout. Disney's theme parks literally changed landscapes. And by the time the 100th anniversary of those original cartoons came around,...

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

What does it mean to be a Disney Princess? This could be a question regarding corporate decisions, as the Walt Disney Company has a specific classification for their "Princess Line" media franchise and toy line, but it's also a bit existential. Does a character have to be canonically royal to be considered a Disney Princess, or are they something else entirely? As it turns out — there are rules to be considered an official Princess, with Disney currently recognizing 13 characters with the distinction. She must play a central role, cannot be introduced in a sequel, must be royal by birth or marriage (or perform a heroic deed), must be human/human-appearing, and the film can't be a flop or unbelievable hit.

Elsa and Anna are both so popular that they are not lumped in together with the Princesses, and heroine figures like Alice (of Wonderland...

The new Disney animated movie Wish is now in theaters and there are so many great actors in the cast, some who you probably didn’t even realize have lent their voices to the project.

Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose leads the cast as Asha, our hero, and she’s supported by a lot of actors who you definitely will recognize.

Wish is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, 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.

Make sure to read all about that touching end credits scene,...

Ariana DeBose voices Asha and Chris Pine voices Magnifico in ‘Wish’ (Photo © 2023 Disney)

Who could ever forget Disney’s classic animated film Pinocchio and the song that opened the fairy tale, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” sung by Cliff Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket? The 1940 animated film is true Disney cinematic magic. That is not the case, however, with Disney’s latest animated film Wish which pays tribute to classic Disney films, including Peter Pan, Bambi, and of course the aforementioned Pinocchio, but pales in comparison.

Wish is a fairy tale lacking engaging characters, memorable songs, and any sense of true magic.

The soulless film opens with a voice-over by Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose), a 17-year-old native who belts out the song “Welcome to Rosas” which serves to explain the legend of the island (called Rosas). After the loud, energetic number, Asha is off to interview for...

For fans and audiences looking to know more about Disney Animation’s 2023 release, Wish, here’s a comprehensive list of the cast of characters from the studio’s newest film.

The film is led by Asha, a young woman who accidentally summons a powerful shooting star to help her take back wishes stolen by Rosas’ King Magnifico.

Wish co-director previously told The Direct the leading character, Asha, has “a passion and a drive and a strength to her” like many previous Disney heroes. But what really makes her “unique” is how they were able to “[bring] in Ariana DeBose.”

Read full article on The Direct.

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

"When You Wish Upon a Star" is considered by many to be the signature song of The Walt Disney Company. Written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for 1940's "Pinocchio," the song originally performed by Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket has accompanied the production logos before most Disney films since the 1980s. The roaring sound of "When Dreams Come True" sets the stage to help transition audiences out of the real world, and into the land of Disney magic.

It's a tune synonymous not just with its source movie, but Disney as a brand, company, and cultural touchstone. So much so that when Disney put out "Once Upon a Studio" to honor 100 years of Disney Animation, the short ends with a century's worth of characters joined together in a singalong led by Jiminy Cricket. There's almost a Pavlovian response at this point to hearing the tune,...

Disney is celebrating a huge milestone in its 100th birthday this year and, to really ring things in properly, the studio created a new film honoring all of its past work. “Wish” is finally here.

“Wish” stars Ariana DeBose as Asha, a young girl hoping to become the apprentice of King Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine). The king is adored by his subjects, as he both protects and grants their wishes. But, realizing Magnifico is maybe not looking out for everyone, Asha sets out to find an answer.

In the end, all she wants is for everyone to be able to pursue the wish in their hearts. So, here’s how you can get in touch with your Disney side and see the film.

When did “Wish” come out?

“Wish” hits theaters on November 22, 2023.

Is “Wish” in theaters or streaming?

For the time being, “Wish” can only be seen in theaters.

Disney is wishing upon a box office star this Thanksgiving, as its latest animated movie “Wish” takes on Apple and Sony’s historical drama “Napoleon.”

“Wish” is expected to come out on top this weekend, but “Napoleon” won the first box office battle in previews. “Napoleon” made $3 million in previews, which began on Tuesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and “Wish” made $2.3 million.

The family-friendly animated movie about Disney’s iconic wishing star is expected to make $35 million over the typical weekend. With the extra-long Thanksgiving holiday, it could add up to between $45 million and $50 million over the five days. “Napoleon,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the brutal French ruler, is projected to make $16 million over the weekend and around $22 million in the extended holiday frame. Apple backed the film but Sony is distributing it, much like how Apple and Paramount rolled out “Killers of the Flower Moon.

To celebrate the release of Disney’s Wish, their new animated feature that helps celebrate the studio’s 100th birthday, we had the pleasure of chatting with some of the creatives who helped make it all possible.

The film is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, 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. Featuring the voices of Academy Award®-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha and Chris Pine as Magnifico.

Related: Our red carpet interviews with Ariana DeBose & more at the Wish UK premiere

Chatting to...

This article contains spoilers for "Wish."

In honor of Walt Disney Animation's 100 year anniversary, the House of Mouse has released its 62nd animated feature -- "Wish." Starring Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and "Best Chris" Chris Pine, the story follows a young woman who makes a wish on a star with so much passion that the little Star comes down to help her save her kingdom from the evil, magical King Magnifico. Blending traditional hand-drawn animation styles and the new computer generated artistry into one film, "Wish" is also Disney's first original fairy tale. The film is the pièce de résistance of Disney's centennial celebration, and as such, features countless references to the films and characters that turned a scrappy animation studio into the most powerful name in entertainment.

If you're a person who loves hunting for cinematic Easter eggs ... you're gonna need a bigger basket.

Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn...

Wish Photo: Disney It was probably inevitable that Marvel’s world-building virus would infect its Disney host. But it’s still startling to see how urgently the new Disney animated fairy tale Wish attempts to retcon 86 years of disparate animated features into something like a shared universe—one where Peter Pan,...

WishPhoto: Disney

It was probably inevitable that Marvel’s world-building virus would infect its Disney host. But it’s still startling to see how urgently the new Disney animated fairy tale Wish attempts to retcon 86 years of disparate animated features into something like a shared universe—one where Peter Pan,...