Spirited,a comedic musical retelling of Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carolproduced by Apple Original Films, is set to be released onApple TV Plusin time before Thanksgiving.The new project is set to feature Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, and it hits theaters on November 11 before being available on Apple TV Plus on November 18.
The upcomingApple TV Plusproject is loosely based onA Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, a tale that follows the misadventures of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who detests Christmas and the Spirit behind it. Over the course of one Christmas Eve, he is visited by three apparitions that show him visions of the past, present, and future and teach him the importance of the holiday and the virtues and values it embodies. This plays out the next day as he shows the world a new and improved self full of Christmas spirit. The story is well-loved and has been adapted and parodied several times, even in video game-based parody music videos.
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For those who have read the heartwarming original story, the upcoming movie promises to offer a fresh, contemporary take on Dickens' classic, with a more comedic lean than usually seen in a typical retelling. The upcoming retelling is being directed by Sean Anders, featuring award-winning actors like Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Loren Woods, Marlow Barkley, Patrick Page, and Ferrell, one of thestars of Margot Robbie’s upcomingBarbiemovie. The soundtrack in the musical features songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the talented duo known for their work inDear Evan Hansen(2016),La La Land(2016), andThe Greatest Showman(2017), ensuring that the musical component will also be a compelling reason to tune in.
The team working behind the scenes onSpiritedmakes the likelihood of the project containing some sarcastic comedy in the vein ofShe-Hulkand other shows with similar stylingsreasonably high, as the movie is directed by veteran comedy directors Anders and John Morris, who previously worked with Will Ferrell on theDaddy’s Homemovies and other comedies. With comedy geniuses Anders and Morris behind the camera, this version of the Scrooge story is sure to rework the usually sombre classic tale entirely. The movie is expected to have a PG-13 rating, but mild language and suggestive humor are expected in this type of film.
Though Apple Original Films has announced its release plans for the high-profile movie, it’s unclear how many cinemasSpiritedwill play in since many exhibitors aren’t keen to carry a film that’s hitting the on-demand streaming market so quickly, as the box office is recovering andbeing dominated by films likeThe Woman King. Just like its rivals, Apple Original Films' aim is to make compelling content for its streaming service versus waging a full-fledged theatrical run that requires major marketing spending.
Spiritedwill premiere in theaters on November 11 and onApple TV Pluson July 19, 2025.
