Logo via Netflix

Here’s a little movie update news for everyone who remembers when Deadline exclusively reported last October that Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) would be starring in David E. Talbert‘s new holiday film for Netflix.

The musical movie, “Jingle Jangle” follows Jeronicus Jangle (Whitaker), a once-great inventor and toy maker who has lost his belief in himself and his inventions, but stumbles upon a second chance and a magical invention, when his granddaughter comes to town for the holidays. If he can get the thing to work in time for the holidays, it will change their lives forever.

It’s been the plan for months to begin filming this year with a Netflix 2020 premiere date in mind, but now the Talbert written-and-directed film has added a slew of talented actors to the cast list!

Yesterday afternoon Netflix’s Strong Black Lead Twitter account announced that Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show, Creed, This Is Us), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, Toy Story 4, The Lion King), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, Dreamgirls), and Madalen Mills (Broadway’s School of Rock: The Musical), who will star as Whitaker’s granddaughter, have joined the film.

Update 07/11/19: As of now, Hugh Bonneville has also signed onto the film!

“Jingle Jangle” will be produced by Mike Jackson, John Legend, David E. Talbert, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, and David McIlvain with Ty Stiklorius stepped in as executive producer.

Stay merry!