Heading to see Wish this weekend with your children? Brace yourself: there’s a good chance they’re going to harbor some seriously negative feelings towards Chris Pine. Not the actor himself, but King Magnifico, the character Pine brings to life in Disney’s animated feature that pays homage to the studio’s 100-year history with various cameos and references sprinkled throughout the film.
King Magnifico is a peculiar combination of classic Disney evil queens, such as the Evil Queen in Snow White and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty, all rolled into one villain. It’s not sitting well with young viewers, as they’re not fans of the way he quashes wishes and treats Asha, the film’s animated heroine, voiced by Ariana DeBose. But it’s this visceral response from young audiences that indicates Pine has succeeded in portraying a truly excellent villain.
Upon being informed of my own daughter’s negative reaction to him, Pine commented, “I did my job.” DeBose chimed in, questioning, “But isn’t he delicious? You don’t like him in such a deliciously villainous way…Chris Pine is an excellent villain.” She even went the extra mile by texting Pine and crowning him as “one of the greatest Disney villains of all time” after listening to his musical number, “This Is the Thanks I Get.”
Pine received my question, pondering, “That’s an intense question. No, actually. Thank god I’m animated. But if I can be catapulted because of their skills into the pantheon of great villains, I’d be very happy,” he adds, credited co-writer (and Disney Animation chief) Jennifer Lee and co-directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.
Portraying Magnifico isn’t Pine’s first foray into villainous roles. He recently portrayed a villainous figure in Olivia Wilde’s enigmatic film Don’t Worry Darling, as well as in Horrible Bosses 2.
Wish is now playing.
