Is it possible to orchestrate your own future when everything comes down to luck? An upcoming children’s comedy sets out to answer questions about value, power, and self-confidence. The exciting progress on Luck may mean a release as early as February 2022.
In a recent announcement by The Hollywood Reporter, Skydance Animation and John Lasseter have confirmed Whoopi Goldberg will be joining the cast for Luck. The new animation is centered around the unluckiest girl in the world in a land where luck reigns supreme. It is the first film to be released as part of a multi-year film deal between Apple TV+ and Skydance Animation. The film is currently scheduled to be released in February of 2022 after some delays in 2020.
In the film, the main character is an unlucky girl who has to find a deeper force more powerful than luck itself. Jane Fonda has been cast as “The Dragon,” the luckiest person alive, CEO of the land, and oldest being there. Her character is stylish, smooth, and persuasive as she rules the land to keep things in order.
Whoopi Goldberg has taken the role of “The Captain.” Her character is tough as nails and ready for anything as she heads up security for the land. Bringing this multi-hyphenate on board was an exciting move for John Lasseter and the rest of the Skydance Animation and Apple TV+ team.
The magical world of Luck includes land that is governed by the value and power of luck above all else. The Dragon believes the only thing better than good luck is more good luck. Her leadership is rocked when one very unlucky girl is introduced into the story and bypasses security. A group of magical creatures joins the heroine on her inspiring journey that peels back the curtain on the millennia-old battle between good luck and bad luck.
In the story, children are invited into a world of wonder and creativity. The project comes from an exciting partnership between animation studios and Apple TV+. With big names on board for the voice actors, the billing of Luck is just getting started. The recent announcement of Whoopi Goldberg joining the cast is an exciting development for the teams involved.
Whoopi Goldberg offers extensive career experience and unquestionable talent
When it comes to film and TV, Whoopi Goldberg is one of the most well-known and talented in the business. Her incredible skill for singing, acting, and vocals have made a lasting mark on the American film industry.
Whoopi’s recent work includes a role in The Stand on CBS All Access in 2020. The Stand is an adaptation of an original Stephen King bestseller that was about a moral battle during a worldwide pandemic, ironically set to release in what ended up a worldwide pandemic. Whoopi played Mother Abagail Freemantle—a 107-year-old woman who is immune to the weaponized flu that wipes out nearly the entire Earth’s population. Her character in the horror film leads survivors to establish a new social system.
Like many things in her career, The Stand was a place where she could explore the depths of her abilities. She loves horror but says she can’t handle the really scary stuff, like slasher films. She said The Stand let her see “How far to the edge can I go?” and “How much can I take before I have to close my eyes and tippy-toe out of the room?”
She is one of just sixteen entertainers that was able to win a Grammy Award, Emmy Award, Tony Award, and Academy Award. She has also won two Golden Globe awards, Black Entertainer of the Year Award from the NAACP, and many other honors.
Her first big film break came from her starring role in The Color Purple, released in 1985. Her next huge hit was Ghost in 1990, where she won Best Supporting Actress. She went on to make regular appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Perhaps her best-known film role is in Sister Act (1992) where she played a runaway murder witness (and mobster’s girlfriend) who has to hide out with nuns in a California convent. For her role as singer-turned-quasi-nun, Whoopi won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture and went on to make Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit just one year later with Lauryn Hill.
She has taken a prominent role in politics and hot topics, first with her TV show (The Whoopi Goldberg Show) and later with the radio show, Wake Up With Whoopi. In 2007 she joined the cast of the daytime talk show, The View.
Goldberg has been in more than 150 productions, including animations.
Her voice is powerful, earthy, and seasoned—making her the perfect voice actor for many animated characters.
She voiced the hyena Shenzi in Disney’s animated Lion King. She can smash comedy roles just as easily as she evokes emotion in her serious roles. No matter her role or character, she has a rich, warm and scratchy voice that is unquestionably Whoopi. She was the voice of The Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (1997).
She did voice acting for lesser-known movies as well, including the cow Ermintrude in Droogal and the goat Franny in Racing Stripes. In 2017, she voiced Dorothy from Animals, she was Stretch in Toy Story 3 (2010) and Ranger Margaret in The Rugrats Movie (1998).
Voice acting allows Whoopi to enter another part of the filmmaking industry. She enjoys being able to take on new characters with voice acting, and producers like John Lasseter love to bring on voices that are easily recognized. Her “Whoopi-ness” is unmistakable, which is a huge selling point that connects her fans to the project from the very start.
In a 2006 interview, she explained her motivation for voice acting: “I like it because kids like it. They hear your voice and suddenly they’re looking over at you, and you realize they’re realizing, ‘Wow, that was you.'”
Goldberg says material should engage young audiences on their terms.
Creating content for kids is a tricky and often controversial ordeal. Films have to have an interesting storyline without dipping into topics that are considered too raunchy, violent, or edgy. In a world of on-demand content, it can be very difficult to stand out from the crowd.
At the same time, the content has to be meaningful and attractive to adults, or it will be an unsuccessful flop. Animated films are continually looking to walk the line between being entertaining enough for adults while specifically geared towards their kids. Ultimately, the content has to engage young audiences on their terms, says Goldberg.
When it comes to creating content for kids, Whoopi Goldberg is an experienced pro. She has even produced TV shows, like Just for Kicks. She says that young people should not be approached as if they were consumers or as if they needed an on-screen lecture.
“I think we have to find a way to mix the educational with the fun,” she says. “We have to just try to start talking to children instead of at them, or making them mini-consumers before their time.”
The material should be captivating and have a meaningful purpose that helps children think deeply. Too forceful of a “lesson” and you don’t let the children come to conclusions on their own.
Luck is seeking to do just that. By exploring the feelings of uncontrollable fortune, the movie dives into what leads to true success and power. The film will explore concepts of exclusion and societal structure. What if your place in (or out of) society depended on an unseen force you can’t explain and can’t control?
Skydance Animation creates a captivating story with beautiful illustrations.
The story of Luck was written by Kiel Murray (Cars) and will be directed by Peggy Holmes (The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning. Peggy Holmes had directed under Lasseter in the past with the Tinkerbell animations, Secret of the Wings (2012) and The Pirate Fairy (2014).
Together, they are working on making Luck an unforgettable story for children of all ages.
Skydance is on a mission to use its animation department to tell creative and original stories that move audiences of all ages from all parts of the world. The animation studio states, “Together we’re pushing the envelope between art and technology, creating new looks that will blow audiences away.”
The studio doesn’t have a set artistic style but works with various artists and teams to create fresh and impactful productions. The highly engaged team comes up with very unique and vivid creations that tell the story in a meaningful way.
Experienced leader John Lasseter will head up the animation team.
As head of Skydance Animation, John Lasseter is ensuring the film looks incredible for every frame. Even if the voices are top-notch and the storyline is interesting, the animation has to be perfectly stylized, believable, and captivating.
John Lasseter was the second student to join the California Institute of Arts animation program. He worked for The Walt Disney Company before joining Lucasfilm and Co-Founding Pixar in 1986.
When Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, he was named Chief Creative Officer for both studio’s animation operations. He directed Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Cars (2006), and Cars 2 (2011). He oversaw all Walt Disney Animation Studio productions as Executive Producer from 2006-2018. He now runs Skydance Animation, brought on to produce animated films like Luck with Paramount Animation and Ilion Animation Studios.
Luck (2022 Film) is in Production
Luck was part of the multi-year deal between Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, and Ilion Animation Studios from 2017. The film was originally supposed to be released in the fall of 2021 but got pushed back in 2020. After being included in the Apple TV+ distribution partnership, the film was rescheduled for a release date of February 2022.
The American-Spanish comedy is being created with 3D computer animation. Some of the films were worked on remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges of the virus made it important for animators and voice actors to stay spread out. Through technological advances, work was able to go on virtually, though this caused several delays and challenges.
Despite the bumpy start, Luck is coming together quickly and the teams are getting excited about their progress. The magical world of Luck was displayed in a first look image in 2021. The fantastical illustration shown in the animation still is warm and vibrant, filled with the magic of that universe.
