West Side Story star Rachel Zegler has signed on to voice the lead role in Apple and Skydance Animation’s new animated musical feature, Spellbound. Vicky Jenson (Shrek, Shark Tale) is directing the film with Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton penning the script.
Zegler will voice Princess Ellian, a 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.
The original score for the film hails from Oscar winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and Chris Montan serving as executive music producer. Considering Zegler’s critically acclaimed breakout performance in West Side Story and her obvious musical talent, getting her onboard as the lead in an animated musical makes complete sense.
Zegler is already working on Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, which is due out later this year, while she recently signed on to play the title role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White, which will be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson.
Spellbound is the latest push by Skydance and Apple to get the streamer involved in more animated projects, which can be key in appealing to a younger demographic. Apple TV+’s first animated feature film Luck will premiere this August, while their recent animated short Blush is currently streaming. They also have animated series Wondla on the horizon.
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