'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about Netflix's holiday musical
'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' is all set to bring some holiday season cheer to us all a little earlier this year. The Netflix Christmas musical film, written and directed by David E Talbert and starring Forest Whitaker and Madalen Mills, tells the tale of a toymaker and his granddaughter who have to rely on a life-changing invention to set things right and "reawaken the magic within".
Aided by a cast of stellar talent as well as musical icons like John Legend, Usher and more, this musical is gearing up to be a Christmas special that will be hard to forget. Here's everything you need to know about Netflix's holiday treat 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'.
Release date
'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' releases globally on Friday, November 13, 2020.
Plot
The plot of the movie reads, "A musical adventure and a visual spectacle for the ages, 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' is a wholly fresh and spirited family holiday event. Set in the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, the film follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker) whose fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) — and a long-forgotten invention — to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within. From the imagination of writer-director David E. Talbert and featuring original songs by John Legend, Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, and 'This Day' performed by Usher and Kiana Ledé, 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' reminds us of the strength of family and the power of possibility."
Cast
Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker stars as toymaker Jeronicus Jangle in 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'. An actor, producer and director, Whitaker is known for his intensive character study work, notably present in films like 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High', 'Bird', 'The Crying Game', 'Platoon', 'Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai', 'The Great Debaters', 'The Butler' and 'Arrival'.
He has also earned praise for his appearances in blockbusters like 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' as Saw Gerrera and 'Black Panther' as Zuri. His performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film 'The Last King of Scotland' earned Whitaker an Acadamy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a National Board of Review Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and various critics groups' awards. Outside of his acting work, Whitaker is also an advocate of Sustainable Development Goals, appointed by the secretary-general of the United Nations.
Madalen Mills
Newcomer Madalen Mills stars as Whitaker's grandaughter who must use their invention to save the day. Mills also plays Sistine Bailey in 'The Tiger Rising', an upcoming film adaptation of the children's novel of the same name that follows the story of Rob, a young boy, who meets the troublesome Sistine and together, they chance upon a tiger in the woods.
Mills joins a cast led by Katharine McPhee, Dennis Quaid, Queen Latifah and more. Prior to her roles in 'The Tiger Rising' and 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey', Mills was already making waves as the youngest child performer ever cast in a year-long run of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'School of Rock' on Broadway. She made her first professional theater debut at just eight years old in the Broadway National Tour of Dr. Seuss' 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Musical'.
Keegan-Michael Key
Actor, comedian, writer and producer Keegan-Michael Key is most widely known for co-creating and starring alongside Jordan Peele in Comedy Central's sketch series 'Key & Peele'. He has also appeared on USA Network's 'Playing House', spent six seasons as a cast member on 'Mad TV', and has guested on the US version of 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' on The CW. Key, along with Peele, also appeared in the first season of the FX series 'Fargo' in 2014, and he had a recurring role on 'Parks and Recreation' from 2013 to 2015.
Key has also appeared in several films, including 'Pitch Perfect 2' and 'Don't Think Twice', has done voice-work for 'The Lego Movie', 'Hotel Transylvania 2' and 'Hotel Transylvania 3', 'Storks', 'The Angry Birds Movie', 'The Star', 'The Lion King' remake and 'Toy Story 4'. Key reprised his 'Key & Peele' character Luther for the 2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner, eliciting laughs and praise for his role as former president Barack Obama's anger translator. Key made his Broadway debut in Steve Martin's 'Meteor Shower' in 2017. In 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey', Key's character will face-off with Mills as she attempts to use her grandfather's invention to stop him.
Supporting cast
Sharon Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Kieron Dyer, Justin Cornwell, Lisa Davina Phillip and Hugh Bonneville round out the stellar cast.
Director and producer
'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' is written and directed by David E Talbert. Lyn Sisson-Talbert, David E Talbert, Kristin Burr, John Legend, Mike Jackson and David McIlvain all serve as producers.
Trailer
Where to stream
'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey' will release globally on Netflix.
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