In celebration of the beloved 1957 musical’s 25th anniversary, where Julie Andrews initially starred in the title role, ABC is producing a special edition of the news program 20/20 that will reunite the cast of the television film of the same title. It is set to air on August 23. The movie’s entire surviving crew of actors—including R&B icon Brandy as the titular princess, Paolo Montalban as the charming prince, Jason Alexander as his valet Lionel, Whoopi Goldberg as the queen, Victor Garber as the king, Bernadette Peters as the evil stepmother and Veanne Cox as one of the jealous stepsisters—will return for the presentation, followed by the first broadcast airing of the original film in two decades. In addition to reuniting the original cast, the 20/20 special will also feature behind-the-scenes footage with none other than the princess’ glamorous Fairy Godmother, the late Whitney Houston, along with producer and costume designer interviews. It will also explore how the original film’s diverse casting influenced representation in Hollywood at the time. “I feel so blessed to be able to share with this new generation this wonderful piece of art,” Brandy told Variety in 2021 of the movie being added to Disney+’s streaming catalog. “I just had such a wonderful time working with such a diverse multi-cultural cast, and it just was like a dream come true,” she added. “We’re delighted that the 25th anniversary of this landmark incarnation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is being celebrated on its original network,” Imogen Lloyd Webber, SVP at Concord Theatricals, said in a statement on behalf of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s unforgettable score is truly timeless — still enchanting listeners 80 years after their partnership began and 65 years since their ‘Cinderella’ first charmed the largest audience in television history.” The third televised version of the theatrical duo’s classic Cinderella first premiered on ABC in November 1997. The film received mixed reviews at the time, but was a ratings success, as 60 million viewers tuned in for its original broadcast. Over time, the film has become regarded as a true masterpiece, further being praised for the groundbreaking diversity of its cast, including Brandy as a Black Cinderella and Montalban as a Filipino prince. More Entertainment: A League of Their Own’ Stars Abbi Jacobson and Chanté Adams On Why It’s Never Too Late to Try for the Big Leagues The Fascinating Stories Behind 15 Classic Elvis Songs Will Graham Honors Trailblazers from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in ‘A League of Their Own’
