Disney is getting into the holiday spirit early this year with the unveiling of the new trailer (below) for its upcoming short film, An Almost Christmas Story. The animated adventure is “inspired” by real-life events involving an owl named Rocky, who was discovered almost four years ago in The Big Apple at Christmas. David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, Peter Pan & Wendy) serves as the project’s director, and Academy Award-winner Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Gravity) is onboard as the producer. Check out the synopsis for An Almost Christmas Story, which is also co-written by Lowery, Cuarón and Jack Thorne, below (per a press release):
“An Almost Christmas Story is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl rescued from the New York City’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020. The short’s trailer reveals Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents.”
An Almost Christmas Story features the voice talents of Hollywood stalwarts John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Wreck-It Ralph) and Jim Gaffigan, who also collaborated on Peter Pan & Wendy (2023). However, the role of young Luna falls into the hands of newcomer Estella Madrigal, while the voice of Moon the Owl is performed by Cary Christopher, who is best-known for playing Thomas DiMera on the soap opera, Days of Our Lives.
An Almost Christmas Story Drops in Time for the Holidays
Long-awaited Disney titles are headed to theaters next summer, but the Mouse House is also busy making sure the holiday crowd is catered to during the most festive of all seasons this year. Alfonso Cuarón’s An Almost Christmas Story will mark the third and final of his holiday shorts (Le Pupille, The Shepherd) to appear on Disney+. And Cuarón’s new movie is coming off an incredible festival run, including appearances at New York’s Hamptons International Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival and the Santa Fe Film Festival.
In addition to John C. Reilly, who portrays The Folk Singer, and Jim Gaffigan lending his voice talents to Papa Owl, the cast of An Almost Christmas Story also features Natasha Lyonne as Pat, Mamoudou Athie (Pelly), Alex Ross Perry (Dave the Dog), Gianna Joseph (Peaky) and Phil Rosenthal as Punt. Reilly will also sing a total of four songs during the animated X-Mas tale, including a pair of brand-new originals.
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Holiday fans won’t have to wait long either for the cheery and heartwarming story of Moon the Owl (Cary Christopher) and the lost Luna (Estella Madrigal) to drop, even if Disney has seemingly strayed from its original vision all these years later. An Almost Christmas Story begins streaming Friday, November 15 on Disney+. But for those who just can’t wait to leapfrog Halloween and begin celebrating the holidays, Home Alone, The Santa Clause and Disney’s A Christmas Carol are all ready and waiting to be enjoyed, at the time of this writing.
