Written in 1963, Madeleine L'Engle's science fantasy novel A Wrinkle In Time is about to receive its first big screen adaptation thanks to the Walt #Disney Pictures. With Selma director extraordinaire #AvaDuVernay at the helm, and Frozen's Jennifer Lee penning the script, it's safe to say #AWrinkleInTime is in extremely safe hands as it launches into filming this week.
A Wrinkle in Time tells the story of Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace as they travel through space and time in search of their father, a government scientist who went missing while working on a project called a tesseract. The children are joined by their friend Calvin, as well as three supernatural beings named Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which.
We're making a movie! WRINKLE IN TIME production meeting. Countdown has officially begun! Loving our beautiful crew pic.twitter.com/TUqbR4zBvO
Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) October 26, 2016
The book is an American classic, and won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award when it was first published. It's also notable for being a science fantasy novel with a female protagonist - somewhat of a rarity of the time, and something L'Engle believes contributed to the novel being rejected by 26 publishers before eventually being picked up.
But not only will DuVernay's adaption star a female protagonist, but also a racially diverse cast a refreshing move after a year which has been particularly plagued with instances of whitewashing in films. Scroll down and meet the wonderfully talented cast for Walt Disney's 2018 film, A Wrinkle in Time:
Gugu Mbatha-Raw Dr. Kate Murry
What you've seen her in: Vital Signs, MI-5, Bad Girls, Closure, Doctor Who, Bonekickers, Lost in Austen, Act of God, Larry Crowne, Undercovers, Touch, Belle, Beyond the Lights, Jupiter Ascending, Free State of Jones, Easy, Black Mirror, Miss Sloane.
English actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw has landed the role as Dr. Kate Murry. Dr. Murry is the microbiologist wife of the missing Dr. Alex Murry, and mother to the four Murry children, including Meg and Charles Wallace.
Chris Pine Dr. Alex Murry
What you've seen him in: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Confession, Just My Luck, Blind Dating, Smokin' Aces, Bottle Shock, Star Trek, Carriers, Small Town Saturday Night, Unstoppable, This Means War, People Like Us, Star Trek Into Darkness, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Horrible Bosses 2, Into the Woods, Z for Zachariah, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, The Finest Hours, Star Trek Beyond.
Star Trek actor Chris Pine has signed onto another adventure through space and time with the part of Dr. Alex Murry. In the book, in addition to being the husband of Dr. Kate Murry and father to the Murry children, Dr Alex Murry is a physicist researching the space/time continuum who has been missing for some years.
See Also:
Battle Of The Brains: How 'A Wrinkle In Time' Gives Us A Blueprint On How To Tackle Racism With Intellect
Un-Bury Your Gays! Black Mirror Finally Gives Us A Lesbian Happily Ever After
Chris Pine Says 'Star Trek' Can't Be Cerebral In 2016 - Is He Right?
Reese Witherspoon Mrs. Whatsit
Because it's important!!! #VoteYall @DraperJames
A photo posted by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on
Jul 24, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT
What you've seen her in: Pleasantville, Cruel Intentions, Election, American Psycho, Little Nicky, Legally Blonde 1 & 2, The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweet Home Alabama, Vanity Fair, Walk the Line, Just Like Heaven, Penelope, Rendition, Monsters vs. Aliens, Water for Elephants, Wild, Inherent Vice, Hot Pursuit, Sing.
Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon joins the cast as Mrs Whatsit, one of the three immortal, angelic beings. Mrs Whatsit the youngest of the three appears as an elderly woman wrapped in layers of clothing, and is the best of the trio at talking with the children.
Mindy Kaling Mrs. Who
I'm allllll about that @openingceremony life
A photo posted by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) on
Oct 10, 2016 at 11:17am PDT
What you've seen her in: The 40-Year-Old Virgin, License to Wed, The Office, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Despicable Me, No Strings Attached, Wreck-It Ralph, This Is the End, Inside Out, The Night Before, The Mindy Project.
Mindy Kaling has been cast as the second immortal being, playing Mrs. Who. In the novel, Mrs. Who was described as a plump woman wearing spectacles who is a polyglot, and enjoys quoting various significant writers, poets and philosophers.
Oprah Winfrey Mrs. Which
First table read. Look who's running the show! #neemabarnette @directher @QueenSugarOWN !
A photo posted by Oprah (@oprah) on
Feb 14, 2016 at 3:43pm PST
What you've seen her in: The Oprah Winfrey Network, The Oprah Winfrey Show (and all other variants!), The Color Purple, Native Son, Brewster Place, Beloved, Charlotte's Web, Bee Movie, The Princess and the Frog, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Selma, Greenleaf.
The queen of talkshows, Oprah Winfrey will play the last of the three supernatural beings, Mrs Which. Unlike the other two, in the novel Mrs Which does not have a set psychical appearance, appearing mostly as a shimmering light. Mrs Which is the leader of the three women, and clearly the wisest, and often provides the children with clues to solve problems encountered. along their journey.
Zach Galifianakis The Happy Medium
"A happy medium is something I wonder if you'll ever learn." Thrilled to welcome Zach Galifianakis to #WRINKLEINTIME as The Happy Medium! pic.twitter.com/9nSZ5rDShi
Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) November 1, 2016
What you've seen him in: Bubble Boy, Out Cold, Below, Tru Calling, Dog Bites Man, Reno 911!, Into the Wild, What Happens in Vegas, Gigantic, The Hangover 1, 2 & 3, G-Force, Up in the Air, Dinner for Schmucks, Due Date, Puss in Boots, The Muppets, The Campaign, Are You Here, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Baskets, Bob's Burgers, Masterminds, Keeping Up with the Joneses.
Comedian Zach Galifianakis has been announced as the supporting alien character, the Happy Medium. In the novel, the Happy Medium is a jolly female character, who lives in a cavern on a planet in Orion's Belt and uses a crystal ball to look at faraway places and people.
Andr Holland Principal Jenkins
What you've seen him in: Sugar, Last Call, Bride Wars, Small Beautifully Moving Parts, Friends with Benefits, 1600 Penn, 42, Black or White, Selma, The Knick, Moonlight, American Horror Story.
Selma actor Andr Holland is again set to team up with Ava DuVernay as Principal Jenkins in A Wrinkle in Time. Principal Jenkins is Meg's disagreeable school principal, who believes her to be a stubborn student.
Bellamy Young
Happy to reunite with my SCANDAL screen siren @BellamyYoung as she joins the cast family of #WRINKLEINTIME. Welcome, Bellamy! pic.twitter.com/1Na5MINE5Z
Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) November 1, 2016
What you've seen her in: Mission, Swatters, Peacemakers, Larceny, Eve of Understand, Mission: Impossible III, CSI: Miami, Simple Things, Trust Me, This IS Not a Test, Dirty Sexy Money, Scrubs, The Freebie, Pound of Flesh, Last Day on Earth, Criminal Minds, Scandal, The Night Stalker.
Bellamy Young has also joined the cast, playing a yet-to-be-announced character.
Storm Reid Meg Murry
Costume fitting for "A Wrinkle in Time". OMG I am Meg Murray. (SCREAM) #Thankful. When prayers go up blessing rain down
A photo posted by Storm Reid (@stormreid) on
Oct 6, 2016 at 10:49am PDT
What you've seen her in: 12 Years a Slave, The Thundermans, Adam Devine's House Party, White Water, The Summoning, Sleight, Lea to the Rescue, Santa's Boot Camp.
Young actor Storm Reid will play the main protagonist of A Wrinkle in Time, Meg Murry. Math genius Meg is the outcast of her family, unpopular at school, and generally unconfident in her looks. However, along with her brother and friend Calvin the trio embark on a massive adventure through space and time to recover her missing father, Dr. Alex Murry.
Rowan Blanchard
Super thrilled to be joining the exceptional @directher's A Wrinkle in Time (getting to being a part of things that are changing the world- )
A photo posted by Rowan Blanchard (@rowanblanchard) on
Nov 1, 2016 at 3:21pm PDT
What you've seen her in: Dance-A-Lot Robot, The Back-up Plan, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D, Invisible Sister, Girl Meets World.
Rowan Blanchard has been announced as a cast member in the film, though her role is yet to be revealed.
Levi Miller Calvin O'Keefe
So excited to be a part of Ava DuVernay's A Wrinkle in Time! I can't wait to help bring this book to life @disneystudios #WRINKLE
A photo posted by Levi Miller (@levizmiller) on
Nov 1, 2016 at 7:47pm PDT
What you've seen him in: A Heartbeat Away, Pan, Supergirl, Safe Neighborhood.
Newcomer Levi Miller landed the part of Calvin O'Keefe, a 14-year-old student who is part of a large family. Though popular, Calvin also thinks of himself as a bit of an misfit, and is good friends with Meg Murry (whom he also has a crush on). Calvin joins the Murry siblings on their journey to find their father.
Deric McCabe Charles Wallace Murry
After a nationwide search where casting saw thousands of kids worldwide (literally) in over 7 months, @dericmccabe booked a leading role in Disney's upcoming film, "A Wrinkle in Time" as Charles Wallace. Directed by @directher - he'll be working alongside @oprah @reesewitherspoon @mindykaling @stormreid @levizmiller (to name a few) SCOOP: @directher is the FIRST African American female director to direct a film with over a $100 million dollar budget. Ava Duvernay is absolutely amazing! Her talent, strong work ethic, genius, and grace puts her where she deserves to be. I'm in awe every time I'm in her presence. #selma #13th MORE SCOOP: Amongst the many headlines surrounding this film, Deric will be the youngest Asian lead actor (Filipinos, stand up!) in a major feature American film of this capacity. He's 8!!! Deric worked hard for this: hours of auditions, callbacks, meeting, interviews... 17 page, 5 page, 3 page, 21 page scripts to learn overnight...while continuing to spend time with family, do his regular chores, and excel in school. He prayed, remained patient, and was persistent. Thankful and Blessed. #GODisgood #dreamsdocometrue #americandream #familybusiness #business #diversity #love #peace #filipino #thankful #blessed #boss #humbled #wrinkle #AWIT #disney #disneyfam #allthewayup
A video posted by Deric Payton McCabe (@dericmccabe) on
Nov 1, 2016 at 5:01pm PDT
What you've seen him in: Deric is an upcoming young actor, and currently has three projects in post-production: Stephanie, XXIII Boss and Hold On.
Deric McCabe has been cast as Charles Wallace Murry, the youngest of the Murry children. In the novel Charles Wallace is only 5-years-old but is extremely smart and generally unfazed by the bizarre events he encounters over his journey. Though he only speaks to his family, he also has the strange ability to telepathically read certain people's thoughts and feelings.