Student Blog: What We Know About 'Spirited': The Soon-to-Be Holiday Favorite

I recently learned about the production of a new AppleTV+ movie - "Spirited", starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds - and had to know more. A musical retelling of Dickens' classic tale A Christmas Carol, the movie sees Reynolds as a reimagined "Scrooge", and Ferrell as his "Ghost of Christmas Present".

John Morris and Sean Anders (after having previously directed "Daddy's Home" - which also stars Ferrell) are leading the production team as writers and producers. Production itself lasts until October, with the film set to release in December of next year.

I am very excited to see this movie. Ferrell is gliding into another holiday film (his first was the 2001 "Elf"), and this time is bringing his musical chops with him. Let's not forget the geniuses behind that "musical" aspect - the legendary Pasek & Paul. If for some reason those names are unfamiliar to you, perhaps you've seen some of their projects; Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, The Greatest Showman.

Shooting began mid-July in Boston, and since then set photos have been released on various internet news outlets of the two stars in costumes fitting to the theme. Octavia Spencer and Sunita Mani also star, the former as a Bob Cratchit-type character, and the latter as the "Ghost of Christmas past".

As we begin to reemerge from the shadow of a pandemic, the first thing many of us want to do is go to the movie theater. Before the world shut down, it was my favorite thing to go out and do; so when "Spirited" is released Christmas of 2022, you'll find me cozied up in a seat with a bucket of popcorn.