For those concerned, this story is a faux blueprint for what a live-action/CGI film series based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic would look like. You can blame me, but you can also blame my friends, who listed their suggestions for their fancasting choices in my PM box. Some were inspired, others were odd.
Plot: "Based on the popular Hasbro animated series of the same name, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Chapter 1 centers on protagonist Twilight Sparkle (Hailee Steinfeld), an academically exceeding but socially awkward Unicorn who is instructed by her mentor Princess Celestia (Nicole Kidman) to travel to the small town of Ponyville and learn more about friendship, which she severely lacks in, by assisting with the preparations of the Summer Sun Celebration alongside her baby dragon assistant Spike (Jackson Robert Scott). However, when two dangerous enemies from the past in the form of Nightmare Moon (Jennifer Connelly) and Discord (Russell Crowe) reemerge, Twilight and Spike must team up with five other ponies to stop them. These five ponies are Applejack (Erin Moriarty), a country Earth Pony who works on her family's apple farm; Rarity (Chloe Bennet), a glamorous Unicorn who designs fashion; Fluttershy (Emma Fuhrmann), a shy Pegasus who can communicates with animals; Pinkie Pie (Zendaya), a hyperactive Earth Pony who loves throwing parties; and Rainbow Dash (Florence Pugh), a tomboyish Pegasus who helps control the weather, all of whom represent a different facet of friendship..."
Cast:
1) Hailee Steinfeld as Twilight Sparkle: "A personal apprentice of Princess Celestia and the central protagonist of the film series. A very intelligent, very levelheaded, and very organized Unicorn, Twilight is also a modest, wise-beyond-their-years scholar in addition to a natural-born leader. Although less than thrilled at the prospect of making friends, she gives the idea a shot and eventually warms up to her new group. She is the bearer of The Element Of Magic, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Star Swirl The Bearded."
2) Erin Moriarty as Applejack: "An optimistic and hard-working Earth Pony from the huge Apple Family. The most sensible, forthright, and down-to-earth of the Mane Six, Applejack is revered for her courage, her integrity, and (above all else) her honesty, which makes her a trustworthy friend with good judgment. However, she can harbor a stubborn "too-eager-to-please" streak on occasion. She is the bearer of The Element Of Honesty, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Rockhoof."
3) Chloe Bennet as Rarity: "A beautiful and glamorous Unicorn with a passion for fashion. While on the surface she seems to be a typically arrogant and melodramatic fashion-focused character, Rarity is actually a generous fashionista and businessperson who aspires others to capture one's inner beauty, an idea she desires to pass down to her younger sister Sweetie Belle. She is the bearer of The Element Of Generosity, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Mistmane."
4) Emma Fuhrmann as Fluttershy: "A shy and timid Pegasus much like her namesake, Fluttershy is known for her gentle sweetness and nuturing nature, especially towards animals and other forest creatures. Despite her tender and mild-mannered nature, however, she can be incredibly dangerous whenever her friends (animal or otherwise) are threatened. She is the bearer of The Element Of Kindness, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Mage Meadowbrook."
5) Florence Pugh as Rainbow Dash: "A fast-paced and adventure-obsessed Pegasus who is the polar opposite of her best friend Fluttershy. While arrogant, prideful, and self-absored on occasion, Rainbow Dash nonetheless places the needs of her friends and others above her own, solidifying her status as a loyal friend and the unofficial second-in-command to the Mane Six. She is the bearer of The Element Of Loyalty, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Flash Magnus."
6) Zendaya as Pinkie Pie: "A hyperactive and fun-loving Earth Pony whose over-the-top antics can put a smile on even the grumpiest pony. Dedicated to spreading joy and hope throughout Equestria, Pinkie Pie nonetheless struggles with her fear of rejection or messing up. However, she works hard to make sure the ponies close to her are alleviated of their own stress by her way of eccentric, overwhelming fun. She is the bearer of The Element Of Laughter, while her Pillar of Old Equestria is Somnambula."
7) Jackson Robert Scott as Spike: "A baby dragon whose relationship with Twilight often shifts among mother and son, older sister and younger brother, and boss and employee. In any case, the both of them care about and look out for each other as they help the other solve problems and learn lessons. Fulfilling the role of her "number one assistant", Spike tries to solve the mystery of his missing parents and tame his insatiable attraction towards Rarity and precious gemstones."
8) McKenna Grace as Apple Bloom: "The sassy younger sister of Applejack and Big MacIntosh and the leader of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Searching for her special talent due to her classmates mocking her for her lack of a cutie mark, Apple Bloom soon met and befriended two other classmates who had the same dilemma, leading them to form a club of sorts that focused on finding their special talents and earning their cutie marks. Her special talent is building/repairing objects and potion brewing."
9) Abby Ryder Fortson as Sweetie Belle: "The kindhearted and innocent younger sister of Rarity who serves as the heart and glue that hold the Cutie Mark Crusaders together. Idolizing her older sister and seeking to follow in her hoofsteps as a fashion designer while garnering her approval, Sweetie Belle joins the Cutie Mark Crusaders in order to achieve her goal, which proves easier said than done due to her sister's ludicrously high expectations. Her special talent is music and singing."
10) Ariana Greenblatt as Scootaloo: "The tomboyish and fast-paced younger sister figure of Rainbow Dash who serves as the muscle of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Because she is an only child and her parents are away on business, Scootaloo more often than not looks up to Rainbow Dash, who in turn supplies her "most awesome kid sister ever" with advice on how to be 20% cooler. Her special talent is physical athleticism and engineering."
11) Sebastian Stan as Big MacIntosh: "The strong and dependable older brother of Applejack and Apple Bloom. Although he is soft-spoken and prefers to keep to himself most of the time, Big Mac's actions speak more volumes than his words. While envious that his second youngest sister is the superhero of the family, he prefers to keep encouraging her on and place the needs of the rest of his family above his own. On that note, he can be fast and furious when dealing with those who threaten his loved ones."
12) Lupita Nyong'o as Zecora: "A mysterious Zebra shaman and herbalist who resides in the Everfree Forest. While the townsfolk initially distrust her because of her ominious appearance and even categorize her as an "evil enchantress" , Zecora becomes an helpful and important ally of the Mane Six and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who often seek her advice on magic, potions, and traditional wisdom. Her advice (and sentences in general) are delivered in rhyme."
13) Leslie Grace as Gilda: "A female Griffon and the childhood best friend of Rainbow Dash. Gilda is essentially the tomboyish pegasus without most of her redeeming qualities, her arrogance and brashness dialed up to eleven. Harboring a resentment towards ponies with the exception of the one whom she has known since childhood, her jealousy over being supposedly replaced from her position leads her to team up with Nightmare Moon and Discord to regain her position."
14) Russell Crowe as Discord: "A mischievious and sneaky draconequus and the spirit of chaos and disharmony. With his facetiousness and free-spirited personality serving as a distraction of sorts, Discord is actually one of the most intelligent and powerful creatures in all of Equestria, his powers and abilities rivaling that of Princesses Celestia and Luna. On that note, his past with the two princesses also makes him one of the dangerous as well. Tom Hiddleston plays a younger Discord in flashbacks."
15) Jennifer Connelly as Princess Luna: "The younger sister of Princess Celestia and the Governess Of Night. Once beloved alongside her older sister as they co-ruled Equestria, frightened jealousy of being considered the lesser of the two soon paved way for vengeful wrath as Luna attempted to create a neverending night as a creature born out of bitterness, wickedness, and dark magic known as...Nightmare Moon. Sealed away for one thousand years, she eventually returns to finish what she started. Elizabeth Olsen plays a younger Luna in flashbacks."
16) Nicole Kidman as Princess Celestia: "The older sister of Princess Luna and the Governess Of Day. A stalwart advocate for international peace, kindness, and cooperation, Celestia does her best to live up to those ideals and pass her lessons to the younger generation, namely her personal apprentice Twilight Sparkle. While she can be a gentle, kindhearted, and benevolent ruler on her better days, she shows absolutely no tolerance towards the irredeemably evil on her worst days. Natalie Portman plays a younger Celestia in flashbacks."
Directed By: Anthony & Joe Russo
Written By: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (Adapted From The Episodes "Friendship Is Magic: Part 1 & 2" and "The Return Of Harmony Part 1 & 2")
Music By: Alan Silvestri & Tina Guo
Songs By: Alan Menken, Tim Rice, & Glenn Slater
Stunt Coordinators: Sam Hargrave & Monique Ganderton
Production Companies: MGM, Paramount Animation, Skydance Animation, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Allspark Pictures
Distributed By: Paramount Pictures