Acclaimed animation director Vicky Jenson tackles robust themes of divorce and damaged houses in Spellbound, a CGI journey a few teenage princess, Ellian (Rachel Zegler), whose bickering royal mother and father (Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman) have been reworked into unruly monsters. The brand new Netflix movie cleverly makes use of fairy story components to handle how kids’s emotions are sometimes ignored when grownup relationships are irrevocably damaged. Regardless of backlash from extra conservative audiences, the film was a worldwide chat-topper and its themes (and music) are distinctive.
Jenson graciously spoke with MovieWeb in regards to the new movie and opened as much as us about its Golden Globe-winning star, Rachel Zegler, who’s proudly and boldly outspoken concerning the end result of the US presidential election, whatever the publicity penalties. She needed to publicly apologize after saying on social media, “There’s a deep, deep illness on this nation that’s proven within the sheer quantity of people that confirmed up for this man who threatens our democracy.” Zegler then doubled down with, “Could Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself by no means know peace,” earlier than signing off her assertion with “F**okay Trump.”
These feedback are clearly not what Hollywood studios need to hear concerning a good proportion of their potential viewing viewers. Zegler, a luminous younger expertise who gained fame for her YouTube singing movies, additionally stars in Disney’s upcoming live-action Snow White. She additionally needed to stroll again calling Snow White “extraordinarily dated” and a “love story with a man who actually stalks her.” Jenson wasn’t apprehensive about Zegler’s vocal politics dissuading audiences from watching Spellbound.
“She’s younger. She has sturdy opinions. I respect that. I used to be an opinionated individual in my 20s as properly. At that age, you already know every little thing, proper? The adults round you, the 40-plus, simply nod and smile as a result of they’ve already been via that. I at all times thought they only nodded and smiled at me as a result of I used to be so sensible,” defined Jenson, who did have considerate recommendation for her lead actress:
“Understanding the right way to voice your opinion with out alienating individuals is one thing that comes with time and expertise. It doesn’t suggest that we aren’t allowed to have our opinions, however once we’re in a public area, it is good to steer by instance and proceed to indicate respect to 1 one other. That is what all of us must do on this world now. Discover a strategy to work collectively. In a bizarre method, it’s totally apropos to the message of the film. [She] has some rising as much as do in the case of public relations.”
Reuniting with John Lithgow After ‘Shrek’
Jenson, greatest recognized for guiding Shrek and Shark Story, additionally mentioned the enjoyment of working with John Lithgow once more in Spellbound. He almost steals the present as Bolinar, an conceited and uptight minister who hilariously switches his physique with a purple rodent. Jenson was “so glad to get an opportunity to work with him once more. On the primary Shrek, he was simply certainly one of my favourite individuals. He is the one one which got here as much as the studio to return and meet the animators. He is a only a very open and engaged individual, and really, very beneficiant together with his dedication to a movie. His position turned key to serving to the household rework, actually, and discover their method again to one another.”
Associated
‘Spellbound’ Evaluate: A Intelligent Parable Tackles Damaged Properties
Princess Ellian (Rachel Zegler) of Lumbria ventures right into a darkish forest to interrupt her mother and father’ (Javier Bardem, Nicole Kingdom) monstrous curse.
Jenson has fond reminiscences of engaged on Shrek and her time at DreamWorks. She appears ahead to seeing Shrek 5 regardless of not being approached for recommendation or having any enter on the upcoming sequel:
“That is okay. I really feel on the primary
Shrek,
we explored a lot in regards to the story. I really feel like I did my half and my contribution is there. I am on to different experiences and different challenges, however I would be open to it in the event that they ever needed slightly recommendation or something.
I do know the parents which can be making it. Walt [Dohrn], the director, is such a candy individual, and he is so humorous. It is in actually good palms
.”
So was Spellbound, which is at present streaming solely on Netflix. You may watch via the hyperlink under.
Watch Spellbound
Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious younger daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who should go on a daring quest to avoid wasting her household and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her mother and father into monsters. Spellbound is directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) with unique rating from EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken (Magnificence and the Beast) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled). A Netflix Movie from Skydance Animation, Spellbound boasts an all-star voice solid led by Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, With Javier Bardem, And Nicole Kidman. Spellbound is written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda and produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Anderson for Skydance Animation.
- Launch Date
- November 22, 2024
- Director
- Vicky Jenson
- Forged
- Rachel Zegler , Miguel Bernardeau , Giovanna Bush , Dennis Stowe , Jenifer Lewis , Dee Bradley Baker , Susan Fitzer , Nicole Kidman , Javier Bardem , John Lithgow , Olga Merediz , Wealthy Moore , Nathan Lane , Tituss Burgess , John Ratzenberger , Vicky Jenson , Angela Grovey , Jessica Molaskey , Isabelle McCalla
- Runtime
- 109 Minutes
- Writers
- Vicky Jenson , Lauren Hynek , Elizabeth Martin
- Studio(s)
- Skydance Animation