Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella featuring Brandy, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg drops

Fans have been waiting for the 1997 television movie Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella to premiere on Disney+ since the streaming service launch in fall 2019.

And on Thursday, Brandy, who played Cinderella, revealed during a virtual interview with The View’s co-host Whoopi Goldberg (who played Queen Constantina in the film) that the film will finally debut on Disney+.

The exciting news comes 24 years after the debut of the groundbreaking film, which has been praised over the years because of the diverse cast.

Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will drop on Disney+ on Friday, February 12.

The incredible news came from Cinderella herself – singer/actress Brandy, 41 – who revealed the news virtually during her appearance on The View Thursday.

The artist was chatting with Whoopi about the project that has touched so many lives since its debut.

‘Now it’s pretty remarkable that people have been begging for Cinderella to be re-released after almost years. I mean what do you think?’ Whoopi asked Brandy.

Whoopi playfully added ‘Is it possible?’ a play on one of the most famous songs from the film called Impossible.

Brandy answers: ‘It is definitely possible. I appreciate the fans because Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella… I can say it now?’ to which Whoopi says ‘yes!’

‘OK good!’ Brandy says with a laugh. ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is premiering on Disney+ on Friday, February 12 in the US.’

The View co-hosts applauded the news as Brandy added: ‘I’m so excited! I’m so excited that Cinderella has a home now on Disney+ and we can celebrate and share and inspire a whole new generation to see this wonderful piece.’ 

The film was originally released on November 2, 1997 on ABC network, produced by Walt Disney Television.

The made for TV movie was directed by Robert Iscove, written by Robert L. Freedman and based on the Charles Perrault’s French fairy tale. 

The diverse cast included Brandy, Whoopi, Whitney Houston, Jason Alexander, Veanne Cox, Natalie Desselle Reid, Paolo Montalban, Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber. 

The movie is the second Rodgers and Hammerstein’s remake- with the original airing in 1957 on TV with Julie Andrews as the star; The original animated Disney film arrived in 1950.

The late Whitney Houston played Fairy Godmother in the film and also served as a co-producer.

Whitney had originally approached the producers of TV musical adaptation Gypsy (which aired in 1993 ) about making a remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella but the development was delayed for several years.

By the time it was greenlit by Disney, Whitney felt like she had outgrown the role and asked Brandy to play Cinderella.

Brandy became the first black actress to portray Cinderella on screen; the diverse casting was a choice made by the producers to reflect how society evolved in the nineties.

The film, originally met with lukewarm reviews, became ABC’s most-watch TV musical in decades with the network’s highest Sunday ratings in 10 years. 

More than 60 million people tuned in to watch the iconic film as well as their original music, which included Impossible, In My Own Little Corner, Ten Minutes Ago, A Lovely Night and Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?’ 

The film garnered seven Emmy Nominations the following year and won Best Art Direction for a variety or music program.

Fans of the iconic movie have been waiting for the film’s release on Disney+, since the inception of the streaming service in November 2019.