Pixar is taking a hint from Black Panther (the sequel hits theaters in 2022) and will likely look to mimic its success with Soul, the studio’s first film with a black lead, starring Jamie Foxx.
Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
While onstage at Disney’s D23 Expo over the weekend, the Oscar award-winning actor announced the news. According to reports, “Foxx will voice the film’s main character, Joe Gardner, a middle school band director with a love of jazz. After numerous auditions, Gardner sees his wish come true of playing for New York’s prestigious jazz club, Half Note. Soon after he meets his untimely death. His soul then separates from his body and goes to the great beyond to a place called You Seminar. Here he meets another soul named 22 and together they are trained until they are ready to “graduate.”
The film will also star Phylicia Rashadas Joe’s mother, Hamilton’s Daveed Diggsplays Joe’s nemesis Paul, Questlove will sound off in the film as a drummer named Curly, and Tina Fey is set to voice 22.