Netflix is trying to capture that Disney magic in ‘Spellbound’ trailer

Skydance and Netflix are coming after Disney and Pixar. On Tuesday, the studios released a new trailer for “Spellbound,” Skydance Animation’s first original film for Netflix since the upstart studio exited its Apple TV+ deal last year.

“Spellbound” tells the story of Ellian (Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler), princess of Lumbria, who goes on a quest to free her parents, Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman) and King Solon (Javier Bardem), from a curse that has turned them into monsters and split the kingdom in two (they’re not scary monsters, though — they’re a little bit Where the Wild Things Are). The voice cast also includes John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Tituss Burgess. 

The film is directed by Academy Award winner Vicky Jenson (co-director of “Shrek”) with a script by Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin and Julia Miranda. It features original music by eight-time Academy Award winner and EGOT achiever Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater (“Tangled”). Producers include Academy Award-winning Skydance Animation head John Lasseter, the former Pixar chief creative officer who left the studio after being accused of workplace sexual misconduct, along with Skydance CEO David Ellison, Skydance chief creative officer Dana Goldberg, and Skydance Animation head of production Bruce Anderson. 

“Spellbound” is widely expected to be a contender in the Best Animated Feature or Best Original Song categories, but with talent like this behind it, don’t count it out yet. It will be released on Netflix on Nov. 22.