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If given the opportunity to live out my wildest dreams before the stroke of midnight, they’d likely involve Billy Porter as a Fairy Godmother. Luckily, no glass slippers are required for this news: A live-action Cinderella reboot from Sony is heading to theaters this year, and Porter has confirmed his involvement. However, viewers will have to wait a bit longer than expected for the movie. Variety is reporting that the movie’s release has been delayed from February 5 to July 16 due to COVID-19 concerns and widespread theater closures. Here’s what we know about the latest re-imagining of the classic fairytale, slated for release in just a few short months.
Who’s in it?
News of the forthcoming project first broke in April 2019 when The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Cinderella as Camila Cabello’s debut acting role. The report indicated that she would play the lead role and “be integrally involved” in the film’s music.
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Last October, Deadline reported that Idina Menzel would assume the role of Evelyn, Cinderella’s evil stepmother. Menzel is a Tony- and Grammy-winning actress and a Broadway mainstay from shows including Rent and Wicked. She also voiced Elsa, the princess behind Frozen‘s “Let It Go.”
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Deadline reported on December 4 that British actor Nicholas Galitzine would play Prince Robert opposite Cabello’s Cinderella. The report stated that after a lengthy search, Galitzine “wowed the filmmakers in many chemistry readings.” He previously appeared in the Netflix series Chambers and will play a role in the upcoming reboot of The Craft.
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THR confirmed on December 11 that Pierce Brosnan would join the film as the King, father to Prince Charming.
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As for the Fairy Godmother, Porter confirmed his casting during a panel at the 20th New Yorker Festival. His theatrical work onscreen (and on the red carpet) more than qualifies him for the role. Last September, he became the first openly gay black man to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama for his work on Pose. Previously, he collected a Tony and Grammy for his role in Broadway’s Kinky Boots.
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Porter told CBS News that he would be playing his role as genderless. “It hit me when I was on the set last week, how profound it is that I am playing the Fairy Godmother—they call it the Fab G,” Porter recalled. “Magic has no gender.” He went on to say that playing the part without gender was “powerful.” Porter continued, “This is a classic, this is a classic fairytale for a new generation. I think that the new generation is really ready. The kids are ready. It’s the grownups that are slowing stuff down.”
In early February 2020, Deadline confirmed that casting of four additional roles, including Missy Elliott as the Town Crier and Minnie Driver as Queen Beatrice. Cinderella’s three mice friends/footmen will be played by James Corden, John Mulaney, and Romesh Ranganathan.
Who’s behind the camera?
Those excited for a new take on the Cinderella story have Corden to thank. The idea for the film originated with the late night host and he’ll produce the project, making a Cabello/Porter/Menzel Carpool Karaoke session inevitable. Cinderella will be directed by Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers director Kay Cannon.
Has production begun?
On March 16, THR reported that filming on Cinderella in the U.K. had been suspended for two weeks. The decision followed growing caution surrounding COVID-19, as well as the recent inclusion of the U.K. in Donald Trump’s European travel ban.
Deadline reported that filming on the project would continue five months after the pause. Shooting resumed in mid-August outside of London and continued through the end of September. Cabello, Driver, Galitzine, Menzel, and Brosnan were among those reportedly back to work. Deadline noted that “robust safety protocols including widespread and extensive testing” were in place.
Cabello commemorated the final day of shooting on October 2 in a series of tweets. She wrote, “last day of being a freakin badass rebellious dreamer princess! Today was our last day wrapping Cinderella. I’m so grateful to have had this experience & to our crew for making it possible (& completely Covid safe!) during a pandemic. I can’t wait for all of you to see this movie”
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Filming on the project first began on February 13, documented by Cannon on Instagram. “Day 1 of shooting down. A gazillion more days to goooooooo!” she captioned a photo of herself next to the director’s chair.
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On February 4, Cabello confirmed that she was in London for work on Cinderella.
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