‘Peter Pan Live!’ Behind-The-Scenes Promo: Where’s Tinker Bell? [Video]
NBC’s Peter Pan Live! Is certainly an ambitious undertaking, which is evident from the latest behind-the-scenes video for the TV special.
The live-action musical features elaborate sets, detailed costumes, dazzling song and dance numbers, and fun flying scenes. However, fans might notice that someone is missing from the Peter Pan Live! promotional materials: Peter’s sassy pixie pal Tinker Bell.
You can check out Peter Pan actress Allison Williams using Tink’s pixie dust to fly in the video below, but the clip doesn’t give fans a glimpse of the fairy. This might be because the fairy will be created during the live event using a special lighting effect.
According to Yahoo! TV, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt talked about Tinker Bell at the Television Critics Association press tour back in January. He revealed that “lighting technology” will be used to “give Tinker Bell her spotlight.” This will be similar to what was done to create Tinker Bell in the early TV specials starring Mary Martin as Peter Pan — the fairy was represented by a small flashing spotlight and the sound of a tinkling bell. No actress is listed as the voice of Tinker Bell in Peter Pan Live!, so fans probably won’t get to hear her speak. She never talked in Disney’s Peter Pan, but Julia Roberts’ version of the fairy had plenty to say to an adult Peter in Hook.
In addition to featuring Allison Williams as the titular character, Peter Pan Live! stars Christopher Walken as Captain Hook, Christian Borle as Mr. Darling/Smee, Kelli O’Hara as Mrs. Darling, Taylor Louderman as young Wendy Darling, Minnie Driver as the narrator/adult Wendy Darling, Alanna Saunders as Tiger Lily, Jake Lucas as John Darling, and John Allyn as Michael Darling.
Girls actress Allison Williams describes herself as “the luckiest boy-girl in the world” in the Peter Pan Live! promo, and she told PEOPLE that getting to fly is one of the biggest perks of her very unique acting gig.
“It gets uncomfortable, but the moment you lift off the ground is utter bliss.”
Of course she’s also very excited to be working with the legendary Christopher Walken, whom she describes as “deeply cool.”
The entertainment industry has been a bit obsessed with Peter Pan projects lately, which could have something to do with a culture of big kids who don’t want to grow up. The last season of ABC’s Once Upon a Time featured an evil Peter Pan played by Robbie Kay, and Hook was re-imagined as a sexy swashbuckler who is now the main character’s love interest. Tinker Bell became a pixie matchmaker played by Rose McIver.
It was also recently announced that Mike and Molly star Melissa McCarthy will be playing Tinker Bell in a comedy-adventure movie. According to Deadline, Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) will direct the movie, and Nicholas Stoller (Sex Tape) will pen the script.
As the Inquisitr previously reported, Joe Wright is directing a film titled Pan that stars Garrett Hedlund as Hook, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily, and Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard. Obviously Pan is giving the classic fairy tale a fun new twist by adding the legendary pirate to the mix.
And According to Entertainment Weekly, FOX is developing a TV series titled League of Pan that will follow the grown-up Lost Boys after they left Never Land. Someone will start killing each of them off, and this will create a macabre mystery to solve.
Peter Pan Live! will air on December 4 at 8 pm ET on NBC, and The Making of Peter Pan Live! will air on November 29 at 9 pm ET. Are you looking forward to the live musical or any of the other Peter Pan projects listed above?
[Image credit: NBC]
