Musical movie savant Kenny Ortega (Hocus Pocus, Descendants) is back with his newest extravaganza for Netflix: Julie and the Phantoms. At first glance, it’s another harmless teen show about a young woman learning to find her voice again after a family tragedy. But no. Oh no no no no.
Netflix has released the first trailer for Julie and the Phantoms, a new teen musical series coming out next month. It stars Madison Reyes as Julie, a talented singer who’s feeling uninspired after her mother died. But then three musicians come into Julie’s life and convince her to join their band, giving her a chance to rediscover her voice…and maybe fall in love along the way.
Oh I’m sorry…did I mention they’re ghosts?
That’s right, they’re ghosts. From the ‘90s. With unfinished business. And one of the ghost boys falls in love with Julie — because they both know what it’s like to have a dead mum. What am I watching and how did I get to this point in my career.
Let me tell you: I watched this trailer on a lark. It’s Wednesday and we’re in the middle of a pandemic, I’m allowed some funsies. Teen musicals aren’t Gizmodo’s purview (even if I have a frankly unhealthy obsession with Descendants that my editor probably won’t let me write about, for good reason). I thought I was going to have a heartwarming chuckle over Ortega’s latest song-and-dance venture. I did not expect ghosts. Netflix tricked and treated me, and now I have to write about it. Because ghosts.
Ghost band. What is happening to my life?
Julie and the Phantoms comes out on September 10.