There are many things to look forward to in Walt Disney Animation Studio's Ralph Breaks The Internet, but a big part of the hype surrounding the film has been the inclusion of the Disney Princesses. The movie will be the first to feature all of the classic characters together, and since that fact was revealed last year there has been conversation about their potential future. Could the ensemble regroup to carry their own feature? Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston believe that it's a concept that's definitely on the table:
Phil Johnston: Someone could do it, yeah.Rich Moore: Definitely. It's, again, it depends on how the audience reacts to it...Phil Johnston: And what's the story? It's always that for me. If there's a good story to be told...
With Ralph Breaks The Internet set to arrive in theaters in just a few weeks, Disney held their domestic press day in Los Angeles this weekend, and I had the pleasure of sitting down with the new movie's directors. It was at the end of our on-camera interview that I asked for their thoughts about a Disney Princesses movie, and while they had a few caveats -- including the audience reaction to the portrayals and a good narrative foundation -- they totally backed the idea.
We meet the Disney Princesses together in Wreck-It Ralph during a sequence in which fellow princess Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) is visiting OhMyDisney.com. The diminutive, spunky racer sneaks into the dressing room of their stage show, and while security is on high at first, ultimately their shared experiences create an amazing bond. Before long they are all hanging out in pajamas, and the princesses are helping Vanellope with an existential crisis.
The sequence allows for a lot of wonderful meta jokes that add a lovable self-awareness to characters who previously didn't have that benefit. The portrayals add new dimensions, while also doing an interesting job of changing how we look at some long-established pop-culture icons. This was something that Rich Moore pointed out as he continued his argument in defense of the idea:
They're fun characters, and it seems like the scene in the movie instantly makes them more contemporary and human. It's good to kind of see their foibles and flaws, and immediately just makes them much richer characters.
Of course, a lot of what's great about the Ralph Breaks The Internet is how we get the opportunity to see how the Disney Princesses interact together -- and Rich Moore noted that you can quickly see some interesting dynamics and relationships established. Said the co-director,
You can see where in their friendships, where there could be good electricity between a bunch of characters. So never say never, man!
You can watch Rich Moore and Phil Johnston discuss the possibilities of a Disney Princesses movie by clicking play on the video below!
Right now the future for a Disney Princesses movie is unclear, but the hype should just get you all the more excited for Ralph Breaks The Internet -- starring John C. Reilly, Taraji P. Henson, Gal Gadot, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch. Look for it in theaters starting November 21st, and be sure to be on the lookout for more from not only my interviews with Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, but also the movie's stars.
