The cast of the classic 1997 rendition of Cinderella will reunite to celebrate its 25th anniversary during an ABC special. Countless adaptions of Rodger and Hammerstein’s 1957 musical have hit the big and small screen, but this Cinderella made history with the first Black woman playing the titular rags-to-riches princess. Brandy stars as Cinderella alongside a diverse cast that includes the first-ever Filipino Prince, played by Paolo Montalban, Jason Alexander as his valet Lionel, Whoopi Goldberg as the queen, Victor Garber as the king, Bernadette Peters as the wicked stepmother, and Veanne Cox and the late Natalie Desselle as the wicked stepsisters. The late and beloved Whitney Houston stars as The Fairy Godmother, known as one of Houston’s most iconic performances.
Now, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary since it aired on television, the surviving stars will reunite for a 20/20 ABC special event, as reported by Variety. Brandy, Montalban, Alexander, Goldberg, Garber, Peters, and Cox are all set to attend. It will feature behind-the-scenes footage of Houston, interviews with filmmakers Debra Martin Chase and Neil Meron, and costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. The special will highlight the film’s groundbreaking diverse casting and trailblazing impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Cinderella was a hit when it aired, earning over 60 million viewers during its first broadcast. Although initial critical reaction wasn’t as favorable, over time it has been lauded as a cult classic, and in 2021, Brandy successfully campaigned for Cinderella to be added to Disney+. With a new generation of Cinderella lovers on the horizon, it will be exciting to see all of the stars together again to commemorate one of Hollywood’s biggest achievements.
