Disney+ is developing a rap musical comedy called World’s Best, which is co-written by, produced by and set to co-star Utkarsh Ambudkar, according to Deadline.
- World’s Best is a feature film following “a young math kid who vows to become the world’s best MC.”
- World’s Best follows 12-year-old Prem as he navigates life as that junior high kid in the high school math class. After his best friend Jerome abandons him for the popular group, Prem never feels more alone, despite the support of his mother Priya. But when Prem discovers that his late father Suresh (Ambudkar) was a great rapper, his new destiny is sealed. With renewed purpose (and some helpful, albeit imaginary, appearances from Suresh), Prem vows to break out of the mold of “math kid” and become the world’s best MC.
- The film co-stars Punam Patel and Manny Magnus who portray Priya and Prem respectively.
- Roshan Sethi has been tapped to direct the film.
- Ambudkar wrote the feature with Jessica Jones writer Jamie King and initially pitched the idea back in February, 2020.
- He will also be collaborating with Thomas Kail, who scored a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Film with 2020’s Freestyle Love Supreme.
- Ambudkar is also writing and co-producing the music with longtime collaborator Charlie B. Wilder.
- Academy Award nominee Savan Kotecha will be the music director.
- Ambudkar is known for his roles in 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy as well as Hulu’s The Dropout.
- Principal photography is set to begin in May.
What they're saying:
- Utkarsh Ambudkar: “Collaborating with Disney on a feature about a nuclear South Asian family with music at its heart means a lot to me personally. I can’t wait to bring World’s Best to life with friends and colleagues I’ve known a long time, as well as people whose work is relatively new to me. After seeing his first feature, I knew Roshan Sethi could capture the intricacies, humor and energy of World’s Best. Manny Magnus is a special find. He’s been dancing and performing his own music since he was 6 years old. And I know firsthand that Punam Patel will bring laughs and warmth to the role of Priya, the matriarch. I hope World’s Best will be super fun, both to make and watch.”