Disney's Nutcracker And The Four Realms Teaser Is Not What You Expect

Think you know The Nutcracker? After checking out this trailer, you might have to reassess that stance.

Disney has unveiled the first trailer for its surreal, Narnia-esque live-action adaptation of the 200-year-old story, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms—and it's leaning into the fantastical like no adaptation before.

Based on the story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King", written by E. T. A. Hoffmann in 1816, Disney's Nutcracker follows a young girl named Clara (Mackenzie Foy), who follows a golden thread presented to her by her godfather at a holiday party into a magical parallel world. In her quest to find a key that unlocks a priceless family heirloom, she'll travel through three magical Realms: the Land of Snowflakes, the Land of Flowers, and the Land of Sweets.

In her journeys, she'll meet a gingerbread soldier named Phillip, who will help her travel to the dangerous Fourth Realm, on a mission to take Clara's key back from the tyrannical Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren).

In addition to Foy and Mirren, the movie is set to star Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Misty Copeland, Matthew MacFadyen, Jack Whitehall, and Miranda Hart. It is being directed by Lasse Hallström (A Dog's Purpose, What's Eating Gilbert Grape) with reshoots by Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger, The Rocketeer). 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnston came on to the project for reshoots instead of Hallstrom due to a scheduling conflict.

While the teaser is arriving in time for this holiday season, the movie won't premiere until next year. Regardless, this weird and visually vivid trailer really makes an impression, and shows the movie drawing plenty of inspiration from the classic Nutcracker ballet by Peter Tchaikovsky. Frankly, it looks a lot trippier than one would expect from this story; Disney, you have our attention.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms will be out in theaters on November 2, 2018.