EXCLUSIVE: ‘Encanto’ Clip Featuring Maribel Voiced by Stephanie Beatriz
We’re all excitedly anticipating the release of Disney’s Encanto set in Colombia and centered on the magical Madrigal family
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We’re all excitedly anticipating the release of Disney’s Encanto set in Colombia and centered on the magical Madrigal family. The all-star Latinx cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, and Diane Guererro who all play characters with different powers except for Beatriz who voices Mirabel. Each member receives their power when they turn five: Isabela, the favorite child, makes flowers bloom wherever she goes and Luisa has strength like The Hulk, for example. But 15-year-old Mirabel is the only one in her family who isn’t bestowed with a superpower. The songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda add another layer of magic to the film that also incorporates magic realism and the natural beauty of Colombia to tell a story rooted in reality with a little extra magia.
“I’m Colombian on my father’s side, and playing this role fills me with immense pride,” Beatriz captioned an Instagram post sharing the trailer for the film.
In this EXCLUSIVE clip. we see Mirabel trying to explain to her mother (voiced by Angie Cepeda) the dangers her family is facing and that she’s trying to look out for them. While using her magical gift to heal through food, Julieta comforts Mirabel with arepas con queso and reminds her that she’s just as special as the rest of her family.
Arepas, a traditional Colombian food, is one authentic element included in the film along with bougainvillea flowers which are native to South America and the hummingbird species native to Colombia. Having a Latinx cast is also indicative of progress being made for better representation in Hollywood especially when telling stories about our culture.
“I love Mirabel because she is so perfect in her imperfections. She embraces it. She is this child in this family that didn’t get a gift. Once Antonio gets his gift, it’s very clear that she’s the one that’s left out, but she pushes on and pushes forward, and really is trying to find her place and how she can contribute to the family,” Encanto producer Yvett Merino told Collider. “She loves her family. I just love her spirit, of always trying to push through. When Stephanie came in and we cast her as Mirabel, it was magic.”
Encanto can be experienced in theaters nationwide in both Spanish and English. Over 250 theaters will feature Encanto with Spanish print. Encanto is out Nov. 24.
