Disney fans celebrating New Year’s tonight have something new to be excited about.
The Mouse teased fans today with a surprise announcement via YouTube that it would reveal an all-new preview of its upcoming Cinderella at—when else?—midnight.
“See a brand new sneak peek at Cinderella just before the clock strikes 12 tonight,” Disney promised on its movie trailers channel.
The teaser is only 15 seconds long, but presumably it’s just a taste of a longer and more detailed look at the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale.
In the highly unlikely event that you’re totally unfamiliar with the plot of one of the most common and popular stories in human history, Disney helpfully included a detailed synopsis. At least it’s longer than the trailer.
The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and — armed with a pumpkin and a few mice — changes Cinderella’s life forever.
Look for the teaser tonight around 11:59pm on Disney’s YouTube channel, website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Or just listen for the screams of ecstatic fans around the world.
Screengrab via Disney Movie Trailers/YouTube