Hulu has officially released a new clip from the upcoming original film Darby and the Dead, which follows an everyday, ordinary teenager who possesses the ability to see and speak to ghosts and must help her rival move into the afterlife. The film will star Auli’i Cravalho, known as the voice of Disney’s Moana, as Capri, who has recently died and isn’t very happy about it.
First announced in October 2021, Darby and the Dead will feature Riele Downs as the titular Darby Harper, a teenage girl who gained the ability to see and speak to ghosts after she survived a near-death experience as a child. A social outcast who prefers the company of spirits, Darby’s life takes an unexpected turn after Capri (Auli’i Cravalho), the most popular girl at school, unexpectedly dies in a freak accident with a hair straightener and is forced to go to Darby for help; the resulting journey forces Darby to “emerge from her self-imposed exile and reinvent herself — which along the way allows her to find new joy back in the land of the living,” according to the official Hulu synopsis.
Auli’i Cravalho in the Newest Clip from ‘Darby and the Dead’
The newest clip from Darby and the Dead sees Darby being rudely awoken by a newly-dead Capri, who knows about Darby’s secret abilities from Gary, the school’s groundskeeper, and demands that Darby bring her back to life before her “Sweet 17” party. Darby, however, is adamant that bringing ghosts back isn’t possible, and all she can do is help Capri move on.
“Denial,” she says, seemingly to the camera. “It’s the hardest stage.”
Riele Downs, who stars as Darby, is likely most well-known for her role in the Nickelodeon series Henry Danger, in which she plays Charlotte, the best friend of the protagonist Henry. Additionally, Downs has also starred as Arielle in The Gabby Douglas Story (2014) and Faith in The Best Man Holiday (2013).
Auli’i Cravalho, who stars as Capri, is best known as the voice of Moana in Disney’s Moana (2016), where she starred opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui. In addition to providing Moana’s speaking voice for the film, Cravalho was also featured in the film’s award-winning soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
According to Collider, Darby and the Dead is set to premiere on December 2nd on Hulu. Michele Weisler and Mac Hendrickson serve as the film’s executive producers, alongside producers Adam Saunders and Eddie Rubin. Silas Howard will direct the film, which was written by Becca Greene.