Legendary chef Wolfgang Puck will lift the curtain for the first time and reveal his incredible and emotional true-life story in Wolfgang, premiering on Disney+ on Friday, June 25.
The documentary film chronicles the inspiring true story of Wolfgang Puck, a man who survived a troubled childhood filled with a series of challenging obstacles and whose perseverance led him to become one of the most prolific chefs of our time and household name.
Wolfgang Puck changed the perception of what it means to be a chef, and along the way, invented a radically new American cuisine. Wolfgang, a film that showcases the power and strength of the human spirit, will be available to stream on Disney+ following its world screening premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, June 12.
“I am not one to dwell on the past, but the way David Gelb told this story made me realize how far I have come from my humble beginnings,” said Wolfgang Puck. “In a single phrase, we call it the American dream.”
As a teenager in Austria, Wolfgang Puck harnessed his love of cooking to escape the harsh rule of his stepfather. A local apprenticeship forged his path to train at a revered French restaurant before landing in America at age 24. In ‘70s Hollywood, Puck began working at Ma Maison, crafting an original menu around fresh ingredients, making the once-tacky eatery a popular, acclaimed darling.
Still, the lack of acknowledgment from Ma Maison’s owner pushed Puck to take the biggest risk of his career and open his first restaurant, Spago, an instant hit where famous clientele dote equally on Puck’s new American cuisine and personality. Almost by accident, Puck created the concept of a “celebrity chef” with his decades-spanning television appearances, building a staggering global empire of restaurants, cafes and products for home cooks. But at home, frenetic professional demands disrupted his family life.
“Wolfgang stepped into the spotlight in a way no chef ever had before,” said David Gelb, director. “In doing so, he showed that a chef could be a storyteller, a teacher and a friend. This is the tradition of Wolfgang Puck, and it has been a profound honor to tell his story.”
The film is produced by the award-winning filmmaking team at Supper Club, also behind the critically-acclaimed projects Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Chef’s Table and Street Food. David Gelb serves as director and producer, Brian McGinn is producer and screenwriter, and Jason Sterman is producer.
Puck runs over 100 restaurants around the world, holds two Michelin stars, is the only two-time recipient of the James Beard Outstanding Chef Award and has been the official caterer for the Academy Awards for over 20 years. His name spans across cookbooks and kitchen and food merchandise.
His trademark recipes have been syndicated in newspapers and websites. He hosted the Emmy Award-winning show Wolfgang Puck on the Food Network, was the first regular guest chef on Good Morning America, has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame.
Disney+ has also announced that Billy Porter (Pose), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) and EJ Johnson (Rich Kids of Beverly Hills) have joined the cast of the upcoming animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Porter and Quinto, respectively, voice Randall and Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, mixed-race adoptive parents to 14-year-old activist Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, previously announced to be voiced by Keke Palmer.
Johnson will voice Michael Collins, Penny’s best guy friend who is a non-conforming trendsetter, serving up fierce looks at school and on the basketball court.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will pick up the story of its central character Penny Proud and also include her madcap family: parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and her grandmother Suga Mama (and Puff!). Of course, it would not be The Proud Family without Penny’s loyal crew Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez and Zoey Howzer, among others.
Cast members reprising their voice roles from the original series are: Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, JoMarie Payton as Suga Mama, Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby, Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer and Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez.
Currently in production at Disney Television Animation for a 2022 launch on Disney+, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is executive-produced by Bruce W. Smith (The Princess and the Frog) and Ralph Farquhar (Moesha), both of whom led the original series. Calvin Brown, Jr. (Moesha) is co-executive producer and story editor, Jan Hirota (Big Hero 6 The Series) is producer, and Eastwood Wong (Carmen Sandiego) is art director.
All previous seasons of “The Proud Family” are currently available on Disney+.