10 Things About The Cast of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time
Ava DuVernay is someone who I truly admire. She started in the film world as a publicist and has worked incredibly hard to have the career that she has today. DuVernay isn’t just a talented and passionate filmmaker but a strong and powerful woman that isn’t afraid to fight and stand up for equality and causes that she believes in. When I was presented with the opportunity to attend the press conference for A Wrinkle in Time, I was incredibly excited that I would be in the same room with Ava DuVernay, not to mention the one and only Oprah Winfrey.
Other participants in the press conference included Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Storm Reid, Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Zach Galifianakis, Rowan Blanchard, Deric McCabe, Levi Miller, and screenwriter Jennifer Lee. This is the second time that Madeleine L’Engle‘s A Wrinkle in Time has been turned into a film. The first film was a made for television movie that was released by Disney back in 2003. A Wrinkle in Time is based on the beloved novel that was published in 1962. This book is so popular and well known that it was not only adapted into a film twice but was also adapted into a stage play as well as opera. A Wrinkle in Time is the first book centered on the Murry family. There are four other books, also written by L’Engle, that focus on various members of the Murry family.
Now without further delay here are ten things I learned about the cast of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time at the film’s press conference.
10. Ava DuVernany states that this is a film for young people as well as people who are young at heart.
9. Ava talked to Oprah about A Wrinkle in Time over the phone. Ava didn’t ask her to star in the film right away. In fact, Oprah agreed to do the film after Ava traveled to New Zealand and posted photos of her trip online. It was seeing the photos of Ava in New Zealand that prompted Oprah to ask Ava for a role in the film since the film would be shot in New Zealand and Oprah wanted to visit the South Island in New Zealand.
8. Mindy Kaling met Ava at a party for Malala Yousafzai. Ava, Mindy, and Malala were the only three women of color at that party. Mindy also noted that she wanted to work with Ava but figured that they would never “cross paths” because she views herself as a “sitcom actress.” She was shocked and delighted that Ava approached her for the role of Mrs. Who in the film.
7. Zach Galifianakis went to lunch with Ava and was offered the part of Happy Medium. Galifianakis stated several times during the press conference that he felt “really proud” to be part of the film and being part of a film of this size.
6. Ava searched all over the world before she found Deric McCabe who plays Charles Wallace in the film. Deric is actually from Burbank, CA which is where Walt Disney Studios is located.
5. When Oprah and Ava were asked about what made working on A Wrinkle in Time different from their other collaborations, Oprah responded with “First of all, you have Disney money. What’s different is Selma, we’re at the end, like we’re gonna have enough money, how much do I have, let me try to help you out here. You got the Disney machine and that’s one of the reasons why this is so exciting, that Ava DuVernay is at the helm of that. And I’ve said this before. It makes me well inside. Fills my heart, every time I think about Ava and her dreads and her sneakers and these big cranes and all of these men running around, taking direction from her. And to see her be the master of that, to orchestrate all of that was, was powerful and inspiring. And it touches I think the part of us that recognizes, oh yeah, we can do that, we’ve always been able to do that, and I was just so proud to be associated with her and her ability to make this film possible. So that’s what was different. I was with her on a film where literally we had one day to shoot everybody becoming across the bridge in Selma. You got to get it before it rains, and if it rains, you’re not gonna get it. And you don’t have enough money to try it again. So, big difference. Big difference.”
4. Chris Pine loves working with young actors because “their BS meter is so sharp.” Pine added, “I remember working with a kid, and the moment I said something he didn’t believe, he just walked off camera.”
3. Mindy Kaling was a big fan of science fiction growing up but felt like the genre didn’t love her back. She explains “I never saw any representation of like a dark-skinned Indian woman, an Indian girl, anybody, in anything that I saw. And it’s a really peculiar thing when you grow up loving something that shows you no love back. It’s such a pure love because you’re not getting anything from it. And to be part of this movie and I broke out on TV which is so welcoming to me, and comedy which is so welcoming to me, but to be part of this, and to be on a green screen stage in harnesses because you’re doing a science fiction fantasy movie, it’s so fun because I finally feel welcomed with open arms to something that has ignored me completely. And so, that is so profound and I think if that can be something that the miniature version of me could watch and be excited by, I think that’s such a huge thing.”
2. Oprah never read A Wrinkle in Time prior to accepting the role of Mrs. Which.
- Reese Witherspoon had nothing but great things to say when asked about Ava and being part of the film. Reese stated “It’s very flattering to be chosen to be part of Ava’s movie because she doesn’t just make a movie, she makes an experience for everyone. She cares about what happens in front of the camera and she cares about what happens behind the camera. And everybody feels like they are important. Special, honored and valued for their contributions. And I feel like this was a masterclass in how to be a very thoughtful filmmaker. And a real visionary. “
