One of the stars of NBC’s “This Is Us” is about to be featured in a new fantasy sci-fi film on Disney+ — and make history in the process.
According to a message on Niles Fitch’s social media pages, the actor is going to become the first live-action black prince in the Disney canon when he stars in the upcoming film, “Secret Society of Second-Born Royals.”
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“Welcome Disney’s first live action Black prince! Coming to your home screens as Prince Tuma, streaming on Disney+ in Summer 2020!!” the Atlanta native’s Facebook post reads.
Fitch's role won't be the only first the film will showcase, either. According to Entertainment Weekly, the flick will focus on a princess unlike those usually seen in Disney movies.
Second-born Sam lives in the shadows of her older sister, Princess Eleanor, who is next in line to take the throne. But being younger means Sam gets superpowers and she gets drafted into a top-secret group of other gifted young recruits responsible for the world’s safety.
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“Sam is going to be a unique addition to the Disney princess family because she doesn’t want to be a princess, she doesn’t want to be royalty,” actress Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who plays Sam, told EW. “Because of that, it takes her on this journey of figuring out how to make it work for herself that’s going to break that delicate princess mold. When she finds this secret society that feels the same way, they figure out how to create their own legacy and have an impact on their country and the world.”
Fitch’s character is one of the secret society members, all of whom are second-born royals. The 18-year-old plays the self-centered and charismatic Prince Tuma.
Fans will have to wait until the summer to see Fitch’s history-making character onscreen. But they’re already piling on the praise for his new role — including his “This Is Us” co-star Sterling K. Brown, who plays the adult Randall Pearson.
“When did you squeeze this in, Slim?! #Werk,” Brown commented on Instagram.
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