Los Angeles – Disney rolled out the world premiere of its latest animated adventure, Hexed, on Thursday night at a Hollywood venue. The event gathered a notable cast, including Hailee Steinfeld as the teenage heroine Billie Doe, Rashida Jones as Billie’s mother, Jodie Foster as the villainous Queen Celeste, and Yvette Nicole Brown in a supporting role.
Story and cast highlights
In Hexed, Billie discovers she possesses magical powers that thrust her into a parallel realm. Along the way she befriends a three‑eyed cat and uncovers deeper truths about her mother, voiced by Rashida Jones. Steinfeld praised the film’s emphasis on mother‑daughter bonds, saying, “She knows there’s this world out there that is so much greater and that’s where she belongs, and I love that she just stops at nothing to find her place in this world.” Jones echoed the sentiment, noting the importance of seeing strong familial relationships highlighted in animation.
Jodie Foster, who portrays the sinister Queen Celeste, described the role as a new challenge, adding, “I loved her diabolic quality and that she was kind of snooty and that she’s a big liar and hypocrite.” Co‑director Jason Hand said Foster brought “so much incredible evilness” to the character, and Foster confirmed she “really loved it.”
Creative innovations
Co‑director Jason Hand and writers Dana Ledoux Miller and Jared Bush explained that the film pushes Disney’s animation boundaries. Miller said, “There’s a lot of things we’re doing in this movie that we really haven’t done in a Disney animated film before, and I think we’re going to surprise people.” Bush highlighted a visual detail: “If you look at the reflections in her eyes, her eyes always have a crescent moon in the reflection. So if you watch the movie through, our lighters went through it and every single shot she has crescent highlights in her eyes.”
Yvette Nicole Brown, who voices the character Scared Tea Cup, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I don’t care if I got one line or 500, I’m going to do the press tour. I’m going to hit that press tour and talk about that film that I believe in.”
Release details
Hexed carries a PG rating and is slated for theatrical release the day before Thanksgiving, positioning it as a family‑friendly option for the holiday weekend. The premiere underscored Disney’s ongoing commitment to delivering fresh, values‑centered storytelling that resonates with both children and parents.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
