Watch out, Lin Manuel Miranda, there’s a new Hip Hop Musical in town, World’s Best! This new comedy-adventure musical is co-written by and stars Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts). Yes, that also means he helped write the film’s original songs.
So, the film follows 12-year-old math genius, Prem Patel (Magnus) who is in the middle of navigating adolescence. However, he recently discovers that his recently deceased father was a famous rapper! So, he immediately sets out to pursue the same career himself. Even though this dream may seem reckless, Prem is empowered by magical hip-hop music-filled fantasies where he performs with his late father (Ambudkar). Now, he needs to figure out if hip-hop is truly in his DNA. So, as his father always used to say, “The world’s best never rest!”
MORE ABOUT WORLD’S BEST
“We are all really excited to be bringing this film to Disney+. It’s got dope music and great comedy, and it brings up some important themes in a really accessible way. It’s emotional, it’s full of love and amazing energy and is a film the entire family can watch together. Plus, it presents for the first time a South Asian family at the core of a Disney movie–something I never had growing up–and was something I really wanted to give young people today.”
-Utkarsh Ambudkar
Directing World’s Best is radiation oncologist turned filmmaker Roshan Sethi (7 Days). Joining Ambudkar in the film are newcomer Manny Magnus, Punam Patel, Jake Choi, Max Malas, Piper Wallace, Kayla Njeri, Dorian Giordano, Kathryn Greenwood, Christopher Jackson, as well as rapper Doug E. Fresh.
World’s Best is written by Jamie King & Ambudkar, with original songs by Ambudkar and Charlie Wilder. Producing the film is Thomas Kail, who directed the Broadway smash “Hamilton” and produced and directed the 2020 film version, as well as Kate Sullivan. The film reunites Kail and Ambudkar who first collaborated as director and performer, respectively, of the improvisational hip-hop comedy musical group Freestyle Love Supreme. Terry Gould and Ambudkar serve as the film’s executive producers.
World’s Best will stream exclusively on Disney+ with a premiere date of June 23, 2023!