Watch excerpts from Montalban’s interview above, and stream “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” on Disney+ now.EXCLUSIVE: announces on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s #Cinderella will premiere on Fe… - The View View) Who doesn’t just end up with any girl he ends up with the girl … I’m glad that my first foray into the public eye was as a romantic lead who was not punching and kicking his way into everybody’s hearts.” There’s a masculinizing effect of having a leading man who looks like you on screen. He added, “What I am proud of is the effect it has had on young men, who are now older men, in the Asian community. “And why is that when you do lean into the diversity and inclusion in your movies, or your plays or TV shows, why is it that those shows do the best? Why is it that those shows make you the most money - the ‘Hamiltons,’ the ‘Bridgertons,’ even the ‘Cobra Kais’ of the world… I finally think the powers that be are paying attention.” ![]() In many places around the world, diversity reflects what their societies look like as well,” he said. “What it’s about is that diversity reflects what America looks like today. Montalban reflected on being part of such a groundbreaking diverse production and how more shows are using non-traditional and colorblind casting, especially following last year’s racial reckoning in the U.S.Īlso Read: How 'Hair Love' Studio Lion Forge Is Proving Diversity in Animation Isn't Just a 'Flash in the Pan' Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella 1997īrandy and Paolo Montalban have a happy ending in “Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Photo: Walt Disney Television) But before his agent returned his call, a costume shop rang up asking for his measurements. He was called back that Monday to do a reading with Brandy and the director, and the following Friday, he got a message that his agent wanted to reach him. Montalban remembered being late for his Friday audition and being the last actor the casting directors saw out of 800 hopefuls. But I have the perfect person for you: Brandy.’ And so when I got the call, I went in like it was any other musical theater audition.” But five years later, she said, ‘I’m in a different place in my life, I’m a mother. Of course, knew this because they had originally developed it for her to play Cinderella five years prior and to be released on CBS. There was no mention of her playing the fairy godmother. “There was no mention of Whitney’s Houston involvement as a producer. “I thought it was going to be some rinky-dink cable station in New York,” he recalled with a laugh. Montalban, who was an understudy on Broadway at the time, admitted he didn’t know how big the production was or who was involved. Whitney Houston’s vision was wanting everyone to be included in this production, especially kids of color, and how meaningful it was to us back then and how meaningful it will be to them now and in the future.”Īlso Read: 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' Starring Brandy Is Finally Coming to Disney+ “There’s always one or two posts that just hit to the core of what we as a cast and crew wanted. ![]() “Ever since the announcement, I’ve been reading comments on Instagram and Twitter and I’ve been crying tears of grace every single day,” he told TheWrap’s Lawrence Yee just ahead of the film’s Disney+ premiere. What made the film especially notable was the diversity of its leads - something the Filipino American actor is still proud of today. The 1997 TV musical, which starred Brandy Norwood as the titular princess and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother, was Montalban’s first major movie role, and it was a bonafide hit, with 60 million people watching it on ABC nearly 25 years ago. ![]() Paolo Montalban can’t wait for fans old and new to watch “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” when it makes its long-awaited debut on Disney+ on Friday.
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