ABC will air a special episode of 20/20 as a 25-year celebration of 1997’s Cinderella. Deadline reports that the special will be titled Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20, and it will feature a news special cast reunion before a presentation of the film to celebrate Disney Princess Week. The cast from the original film that will appear in the special includes Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, and Veanne Cox. Audiences will also see rare behind-the-scenes footage featuring the late Whitney Houston (who will be the subject of a biopic to be released in December of this year).
ABC Celebrates 25 Years of ‘Cinderella’
ABC has every reason to celebrate Cinderella, a film that is still beloved 25 years later. We’ve seen many versions of Cinderella, including the classic animated version, the 2015 live-action remake, and most recently, an Amazon original film starring Camilla Cabello in 2021. However, ABC’s 1997 adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Cinderella remains special and groundbreaking in its own right. The film featured the first black portrayals of both the title character and her Fairy Godmother, played by Brandy and Houston, respectively. The film is celebrated for positively impacting Hollywood representation and for giving us the first black Disney princess. Notable figures inspired by the film will also be interviewed, including Billy Porter, Jade Jones, and Todrick Hall.
Entertainment Weekly reports that this 25-year celebration of Cinderella will be the first time the movie has aired on broadcast television in over two decades. Those who are fans of the film can look forward to watching the film and ABC’s 20/20 special on August 23rd at 8 PM ET/PT. The movie is also available to view on Disney+.
Are you a fan of ABC’s Cinderella? Will you watch the 25-year 20/20 special? Share your thoughts in the comments.