One of my earliest childhood memories was going to see Nutcracker on Ice. It was the 1990s and a rare high-culture moment for young latchkey me who considered the movie theater a once-a-year event. Live theater though? Folk ice skating? I couldn’t be more excited for what could come, what I might see. Shit, I might even learn to ice skate. Until I got there and passed out 30 minutes into what I thought would be the holiday treat of the decade. Suffice it to say, I was not amused. But this year it’s time for a mulligan ’cause Disney came through with Misty Copeland — wait lemme come correct, author, ballet prodigy, and the first Black woman Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland — and it’s about time I give the Nutcracker a second chance.

Oh and Helen Mirren? Academy Award- and Tony Award-winning Hellen Mirren who went out her way to join Fate of the Furious ’cause Queen Mirren ain’t too serious to have fun? Add the voice of God and a young cat named Lil’ Buck and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms gon’ hold the dying legacy of my MoviePass card before I set it in flames at the end of my contract year. Stay tuned for the trailer but first you gonna see my new mans, ballet trained, dancing through the streets of Tokyo where I once lived making me feel nostalgic and cheerful at the same time.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale, and if I end up bored to tears like the last time I placed my faith in the fairytale as a child, I’ll at least perk up for the single dance sequence led by Misty Copeland, and the scenes of Helen Mirren as the evil Mother Ginger. Disney’s trend of redeveloping live-action fairytales has been going well though — perhaps surprisingly so — with hits like 2016’s The Jungle Book remake and the upcoming The Lion King that’s sure to be an obvious hit. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms premieres in theaters November 2nd, 2018, taking the previous release date that was originally intended for the live-action remake of Mulan. We all have our concerns and worries about that one, but in the meantime I’ll let this one fill the slate without much pressure or concern. The stakes surely aren’t as high, so consider this Disney’s heat check. If this one works, expect Disney’s live-action films to start pulling from everywhere. Live-action Aristocats any day now.

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