Who do you think of when you think of Scrooge? Ryan Reynolds? Me neither. But the casting directors over at Apple TV+ are clearly working on a different wavelength from all of us because this holiday season they’re promising just such an unlikely pairing with “Spirited,” their musical adaptation of Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol.” And the brilliant chaos continues, with none other than Will Ferrell set to play The Ghost of Christmas Present.
This “modern musical rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story is directed by Sean Anders and John Morris, who both co-wrote “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “We’re the Millers,” and the “Dumb and Dumber” series. Ferrell and Reynolds also share production credit on the film. Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Patrick Page, Aimee Carrero and Joe Tippett round out the cast.
Apple TV+’s PR is really leaning into the offbeatness of this one, and their synopsis of the movie essentially asks everyone to hear them out: “Imagine Charles Dickens’ heart-warming tale of a scrooge visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve—but funnier. And with Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. Also, huge musical numbers. Okay, we’re asking a lot. Maybe just wait for the trailer?”
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It’s probably not worth speculating on just what type of madness we’re in for here, but I think it’s safe to assume that it’ll be unlike any adaptation of the novella we’ve seen before. And who knows? It may end up being the biggest hit of the holiday season. “Spirited” hits theaters on November 11 before arriving on Apple TV+ on November 18.