Disney’s Wish delves into the origins of the prominent star in the night sky, a recurring element in nearly every Disney movie, known for fulfilling the wishes and desires of characters who address it. However, the star’s lore extends beyond this. Here’s everything we need to know about the characters of the film.
Asha: Asha is a sharp-witted idealist who treasures her family and community. As one of the island’s greeters, Asha’s is among the first faces people see when arriving in Rosas filled with hopes and dreams. Asha’s discovery puts her at odds with the charismatic king. Ariana DeBose lends her voice to Asha. “We’re very fortunate to have Ariana playing our lead character,” says Del Vecho. “She’d just been nominated for an Oscar for ‘West Side Story’ at the time we were casting for Asha—she later won best supporting actress—so our timing was perfect. Ariana’s a huge fan of Disney and understood how we saw Asha as a contemporary heroine. Ariana’s strength and personality really helped shape the character.”
King Magnifico: He is the most powerful person in the kingdom of Rosas, where wishes really do come true. People come from everywhere to give their wishes to Magnifico, a charming and confident king who promises to grant their deepest desires—someday. Only he can decide which wishes will come true and when. According to screenwriter Allison Moore, the king’s motivation is not exactly honorable. According to producer Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones, casting the character called for a special combination. “Magnifico has that personality that makes people trust him, and the actor chosen to play him needed to deliver on the complexity of being both charming and ultimately a complex villain,” he says. “The moment Chris Pine came up as a possibility, the moment everyone heard his voice—it just matched that image and the complexity of the role.”
Star is a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy that inspires people to pursue their deepest wishes. The character promises to win many hearts. Production designer Michael Giaimo says the look of Star—by definition—impacts the looks of all the characters it interacts with. “Star is an emissive character and one of the most saturated characters we have in the show,” he says. “Star is typically the brightest element in a scene, but we couldn’t make it so bright that it’s a distraction from the other characters. We ran a series of tests to determine the brightness, glow and sparkle of the character.”
Valentino is a confident and opinionated goat who follows Asha wherever she goes. The adorable pajama-wearing little guy could teach humans a thing or two about perseverance—that is, once Star magically gives him the power of speech. “He carries a big theme in this movie,” says Veerasunthorn. “He loves to climb but he’s not very good at it—he keeps falling down. But he refuses to be discouraged, saying, ‘With each fall I learn. I just keep going.’” Disney Animation’s good-luck charm Alan Tudyk provides the voice of Valentino—a voice decidedly different than one might expect out of a pajama-clad baby animal. “He’s brilliant,” says director Chris Buck. “We’ll give him a line and maybe an alt or two and he’ll give us things we never thought of—Valentino’s low voice was unexpected to say the least.”
Queen Amaya is the wife and sounding board of King Magnifico. The kind and confident queen champions Asha in her pursuit of one of the most coveted roles in the kingdom: the king’s apprentice. She is loving and devoted to her husband, but she’s not afraid to share her opinion with the ruler of Rosas. Filmmakers saw Amaya and Magnifico as a power couple—both in personality and appearance. Angelique Cabral lends her voice to Queen Amaya.
Sabino is Asha’s 100-year-old grandfather. He is kind and loving, and Asha adores him. “Once a month, one lucky person in Rosas gets their wish granted,” says head of story Mark Kennedy. “At 100, Sabino is still waiting. Patiently. But Asha isn’t as patient. She really wants Magnifico to grant Sabino’s wish. That’s one thing about Disney heroines—they tend to care a lot about other people and Asha is no exception.”
Sakina is Asha’s loving and supportive mom. She recognizes and celebrates her daughter’s passion—but, like all mothers, she still worries about her only child, especially as Asha begins to question their king’s motives. Director Fawn Veerasunthorn says Sakina is a skilled and creative seamstress. “I think she knitted Valentino’s pajamas,” says Veerasunthorn. “Valentino used to be her goat. And I love this idea of a creative mom who’s funny. Asha and Sakina have this cute relationship, and Sakina has great energy about her.”
The Teens are Asha’s confidantes, protectors and forever friends. They’re also a nod to the Disney legacy, according to screenwriter Allison Moore. “They’re inspired by the seven dwarfs,” she says. “Each teen is costumed in the same color palette as their legacy character—they also share a fun personality trait or two. Their names even begin with the same letter.”
The film releases on November 24, 2023.