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A Wrinkle in Time is an American live-action science fiction presented by Walt Disney Pictures, produced by Whitaker Entertainment and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film is directed by Ava DuVernay. The film is based on the science fantasy novel of the same name. It stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, Storm Reid, Levi Miller, Deric McCabe, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Pine.

The film was originally pitched following the success of Alice in Wonderland in 2010. Disney wanted to move forward with the project, but would only lend the film's production company Bedrock Studios $30 million for a budget. Due to the film's special effect heavy source material, and such a low budget, the film never materialized until the idea was re-pitched by Jennifer Lee. The film was green-lit for the strong female narrative and unique approach to science fiction.

Plot[]

Thirteen-year-old Meg Murry struggles to adjust to school and home life ever since her father Alex, a well-renowned scientist, mysteriously disappeared while he was studying astrophysics. Both Meg and her mother Kate believe he solved the question of humanity's existence and theorize he was teleported to another world.

During the night, Meg's younger brother Charles Wallace welcomes a stranger in a large white dress named Mrs. Whatsit into the Murry family house. She mentions the tesseract, a type of space-travel Alex was working on, is real, and leaves soon after. The next day, one of Meg's classmates, Calvin O'Keefe, joins them to go to the house of Mrs. Who, another strange woman who only speaks in quotes and seems to know Charles Wallace.

When Calvin joins Meg and Charles Wallace in their backyard, Mrs. Whatsit appears with Mrs. Who and another woman, Mrs. Which, who is the oldest and appears as a giant. The three reveal themselves as astral travelers, and lead Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace through a tesseract taking them to a distant planet named Uriel.

Mrs. Whatsit transforms into a beautiful green creature, and takes the children up into the atmosphere, where they see a dark shadow known as The IT. Mrs. Which tells Meg her father's experiments resulted in his being captured by The IT, a malevolent entity plotting to take over the universe. Gaining the women's trust, Meg and the others tesser to another planet where a seer known as the Happy Medium resides.

The Happy Medium shows them Meg's father is trapped on a planet called Camazotz, The IT's homeworld. Mrs. Which also explains The IT represents all of the greed, anger, pride, selfishness, and low self-esteem in the world. Showing them examples of these characteristics, Meg learns that while Calvin is popular at school, he is neglected and bullied by his father and her school enemy Veronica Kiley is extremely self-conscious. The three Mrs. propose they travel back to Earth to regroup, but Meg's refusal messes with the tesseract, and they travel to Camazotz instead.

Upon arriving on Camazotz, Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who are unable to stay because Camazotz's evil is stronger than their light. Before they depart, they bestow gifts upon Meg; these include Mrs. Who's glasses, the knowledge of Meg's faults, and the command to never separate.

The trio treks through Camazotz's hazardous traps before reaching a crowded beach where they meet the IT's bodyguard, Red. He offers the starving children food and tells them Alex is safe and happy. He reveals to them there is nothing to worry about here, but Calvin and Meg realize something is wrong when Charles Wallace proclaims all of the food tastes like sand. When Red starts repeating the times tables, Charles Wallace is hypnotized by the rhythm, allowing the IT to take full control of his mind.

When Meg and Calvin pursue Charles Wallace, they find themselves in a seemingly empty room. Using Mrs. Who's glasses, Meg finds an invisible staircase leading to the room where her father is being kept prisoner. After bringing him out of captivity, the IT's power allows Charles Wallace to forcefully drag them to finally meet his master. As Calvin and Meg fall under the IT's power, Alex opens another tesser and prepares to leave with the children, abandoning Charles Wallace. Meg refuses and projects out of the tesser herself, leaving her alone. When she confronts Charles Wallace in corruption, she realizes the IT uses deception and hatred for power. Using her love for her brother and the knowledge she is imperfect, Meg frees Charles Wallace from the control of the IT and releases the control of Camazotz from the evil entity. The three Mrs. return and tell Meg her time is here to tesser for herself.

Returning home, Meg thanks the women for their help and for rescuing her father and they part ways, while Veronica became nice to her. The film ends with the Murry family celebrating a joyful reunion and Calvin going home to confront his father.

Cast[]

Production[]

Ava DuVernay 2015

DuVernay, the first black woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of over $100 million.

In October 2010, it was announced that Walt Disney Pictures had retained film rights to remake the live-action adaptation of the 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Following the success of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Disney announced that they had hired Jeff Stockwell to write the screenplay for Cary Granat and his new Bedrock Studios. Cary Granat had previously worked with Disney on the Chronicles of Narnia and Bridge to Terabithia films.[1] The project's budget was supposed to be $35 million, which the company compared to District 9 and Bridge to Terabithia, both of which were made for less than $30 million.[2] On August 5, 2014, Jennifer Lee was announced as the screenwriter taking over from Stockwell, who wrote the first draft.[3][4] On February 8, 2016, it was reported that Ava DuVernay had been offered the job of directing the film, and she was confirmed to direct later that same month.[5][6] Directing this film, DuVernay would be the "first woman of color" to direct a live-action with a production budget over $100 million.[7]

On July 26, 2016, Variety reported that Oprah Winfrey began final negotiations to join the film to play Mrs. Which, one of the three Mrs. who helps guide the children along their journey.[8] Winfrey who accepted the role of Mrs. Which said that while they we're shooting the film, she felt that she's "making the new Wizard of Oz for another generation."[9] On September 7, 2016, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling were in talks to join the film, where Witherspoon would play Mrs. Whatsit, a former celestial being who looks like a grandmotherly hobo, while Kaling would play Mrs. Who, the literature-quoting supernatural being.[10] On September 13, 2016, Storm Reid was cast as lead role of Meg Murry, a young girl traumatized by the disappearance of her scientist father years before.[11] In October 2016, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Chris Pine were cast as the parents of Meg, Dr. Kate Murry and Mr. Murry , respectively.[12][13] On November 1, 2016, more cast was announced, which included Zach Galifianakis as the Happy Medium, André Holland as Principal Jenkins, Levi Miller as Calvin, and Deric McCabe as Charles Wallace, along with Bellamy Young, Rowan Blanchard, and Will McCormack.[14] The producers on the film would be James Whitaker and Catherine Hand.[14] Michael Peña also joined the cast to play the character Red.[15]

Filming[]

Principal photography on the film began on November 2, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.[16][14][17] After filming in Los Angeles, production moved to New Zealand for two weeks.[14] Tobias A. Schliessler was confirmed to be working on the film as cinematographer, along with other production team members including production designer Naomi Shohan, costume designer Paco Delgado, and visual effects supervisor Rich McBride.[18][14]

Soundtrack[]

Main article: A Wrinkle in Time (soundtrack)
1. "Flower of the Universe" (No I.D. remix) Sade 4:07
2. "I Believe" DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato 3:45
3. "Magic" Sia 3:30
4. "Let Me Live" Kehlani 3:17
5. "Warrior" Chloe x Halle 3:40
6. "Park Bench People" Freestyle Fellowship
7. "Flower of the Universe" Sade 3:49
8. "A Wrinkle in Time"
9. "Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which"
10. "Darkness Across the Universe"
11. "Touch the Stars"
12. "Happy Medium"
13. "Camazotz"
14. "Home"
15. "Uriel"
16. "Is This a Dream?"
17. "Forgive Me"
18. "Be a Warrior"
19. "Tap Into Your Mind"
20. "Tesseract"
21. "Sorry I'm Late"
22. "The Universe Is Within All of Us"

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

Sources[]

References[]

  1. Fernandez, Jay (October 14, 2010). "Bedrock taps Jeff Stockwell to adapt 'Wrinkle'", Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on October 21, 2014. 
  2. "Granat Launches Family-Oriented Bedrock Studios (Updated)", TheWrap (March 17, 2010). Retrieved on October 21, 2014. 
  3. McNary, Dave (August 5, 2014). "‘Frozen’ Director Jennifer Lee to Adapt ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ for Disney", Variety. Retrieved on October 21, 2014. 
  4. Han, Angie (August 5, 2014). "‘Frozen’ Director Jennifer Lee to Adapt ‘A Wrinkle in Time’", /Film. Retrieved on October 21, 2014. 
  5. "Lupita Nyong'o in Talks to Star in Sci-Fi Thriller With Ava DuVernay Eyed to Direct (Exclusive)", The Hollywood Reporter (February 8, 2016). Retrieved on February 9, 2016. 
  6. "Ava DuVernay Set To Direct Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle In Time’; Script By ‘Frozen’s Jennifer Lee", Deadline (February 23, 2016). Retrieved on February 24, 2016. 
  7. "With 'A Wrinkle In Time,' Ava DuVernay will pass a milestone", LA Times (August 3, 2016). Retrieved on November 3, 2016. 
  8. "Oprah Winfrey Joins Ava Duvernay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Adaptation", Variety (July 26, 2016). Retrieved on July 27, 2016. 
  9. YUNEOH.COM, "A Wrinkle in Time Movie", Retrieved (January 23, 2018)
  10. "Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling in Talks to Join Ava DuVernay's 'A Wrinkle in Time' (Exclusive)", The Hollywood Reporter (September 7, 2016). Retrieved on September 14, 2016. 
  11. "Rising Actress Storm Reid Nabs Starring Role in Ava DuVernay's 'A Wrinkle in Time' (Exclusive)", The Hollywood Reporter (September 13, 2016). Retrieved on September 14, 2016. 
  12. "Gugu Mbatha-Raw Signs On For Ava DuVernay’s ‘Wrinkle In Time’", Deadline (October 20, 2016). Retrieved on October 22, 2016. 
  13. "Chris Pine Joins Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle In Time’", Deadline (October 21, 2016). Retrieved on October 22, 2016. 
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Wrinkle in Time Cast Announced as Filming Begins", ComingSoon.net (November 1, 2016). Retrieved on November 2, 2016. 
  15. "Michael Pena Joins Disney's A Wrinkle in Time Movie", ComingSoon.net (November 2, 2016). Retrieved on November 3, 2016. 
  16. "Ava DuVernay on Facebook". Retrieved on November 2, 2016.
  17. "Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Finalizes Cast as Filming Begins This Week", Collider (November 1, 2016). Retrieved on November 2, 2016. 
  18. "Ava DuVernay on Twitter". Retrieved on November 2, 2016.


v - e - d
A Wrinkle in Time Logo
Media
A Wrinkle in Time (2003)A Wrinkle in Time (2018) (soundtrack/video)
Characters
Meg MurryCharles Wallace MurryCalvin O'KeefeItMr. MurryMrs. MurryMrs. WhichMrs. WhoMrs. WhatsitHappy MediumPrincipal JenkinsVeronica KileyFlowersAunt Beast
Locations
UrielOrionCamazotzIxchel
Songs
Flower of the UniverseWarriorI Believe
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