The streaming landscape continues to expand and evolve with each passing year, and Apple seems keen to join heavy-hitters like Hulu and Netflix by enlisting well-known talents and creatives to develop new projects capitalizing on their respective strengths. Apple is now taking it to the next level by reuniting Frozen co-stars Josh Gad and Kristen Bell for a brand-new musical-comedy series. But this won't be any Disney fairy tale, as the show is also being put together by Bob's Burgers creator Loren Bouchard, with a few Hamilton vets included.
This groovy new project will be called Central Park, and it'll be Apple's intriguing first effort in the animation realm. It seems the company has a reasonable amount of faith in the material and the project as a whole, since Central Park received an initial two-season order, with 26 total episodes on the way. Developed by Gad and Loren Bouchard, as well as Emmy winner Nora Smith, the series will focus on "a group of caretakers" who watch over Central Park and take care of it (obviously). But what isn't so obvious is that by extension of their normal jobs, they end up saving the world! With songs! And lots of other familiar faces!
The series has enlisted an all-star ensemble which includes the aforementioned Josh Gad and Kristen Bell, as well as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Titus Burgess, Bad Moms' Kathryn Hahn, and Feud's Stanley Tucci. Representing the Hamilton side of things will be Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom, Jr., according to THR. We're wary about getting into a musical TV show that doesn't have either Kristin Chenoweth or Rachel Bloom involved, but we'll let it go. Let it go-o-o-o!
As previously noted, the project will bring stars Josh Gad and Kristen Bell together for a rare non-Frozen collaboration, though we're betting all the kingdom's riches on there being a Frozen-esque reference the first time their respective characters are on the screen together. After their recent work on Olaf's Frozen Adventure, Gad and Bell also lent their voices to the upcoming Frozen 2. But will people even remember that Disney sequel after all the sing-alongs that Apple's Central Park will no doubt inspire? Probably so, probably so.
News of Apple's musical-comedy TV series comes on the heels of several other announcements from the tech giant about its upcoming forays into the world of small screen entertainment. In addition to Central Park, Apple is also investing in a psychological thriller series from Split director M. Night Shyamalan, a mystery series produced by La La Land director Damien Chazelle, and a sci-fi series from Battlestar Galactica icon Ronald D. Moore. And that only scratches the surface of what'll be coming from the streaming service in the future.
Additionally, Central Park represents the latest in a line of adult animation properties to receive a green light in recent days. Following the debut of BoJack Horseman on Netflix, animated series have become relatively hot commodities. Beyond Netflix's current stable of animated shows (which includes BoJack, as well as projects like Big Mouth), other studios have followed suit by announcing their first animated series, such as Amazon's recently-announced upcoming series, Undone.
Of course, when it comes to a project like Central Park, bringing Loren Bouchard into the equation seems like a logical idea when we consider the strength of the Bob's Burgers musical numbers over the years. CinemaBlend will bring you more information related to Central Park as new details are made available. Until then, check out our midseason premiere guide and listen to the latest offering from The Cord Cutter podcast to hear what else we have to say about the streaming world.
_Head to the next page to get a taste of where Loren Bouchard's musical abilities can go. _
As noted, Loren Bouchard is no stranger to the world of animated musical-comedy fun. Bob's Burgers has become a reliable source of quirky musical numbers over the years, including the endlessly catchy "Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom." Check it out, below.
We still don't know if Central Park will match Bob's Burgers tone and style when it finally debuts. But it's no matter, since Loren Bouchard's proven his ability to adapt to different styles and musical tastes (even if butts are usually involved). Now it's just a matter of waiting to learn more about Apple's outlandish first foray into the animated world.
