Upside-Down Magic

**Upside-Down Magic** is a Disney Channel Original Movie that was released on July 31, 2020.

The film was written by Nick Pustay and Josh Cagan, and directed by Joe Nussbaum.

## Plot

Best friends Elinor "Nory" Boxwood-Horace and Reina Carvajal enroll at Sage Academy and show off their abilities to the teachers so they can be placed in a magic class. While Reina is placed in the Flare class, Nory is placed in the Upside-Down Magic program by Headmistress Knightslinger which is run by Budd Skriff.

In this program are students who have imperfect abilities as Headmistress Knightslinger considers them to be easy targets for the Shadow Magic, an evil force that uses a person’s magic against everyone else through possession. As Nory and her fellow students plan to perfect their abilities, Headmistress Knightslinger is unaware that the Shadow Magic has ways of targeting the most unlikely students. Reina discovers a book about Shadow Magic and, unbeknownst of the Shadow Magic legend that Nory and the other UDMs were taught, takes the book to the form and finds a page about strengthening magical abilities. Reina reads the page because she was being belittled by a fellow Flare student with powers greater that hers. The next day Reina prepares for Founders’ Day, where Reina competes against the fellow Flare who has stronger powers. Reina’s powers are unusually strong, and she gets to represent the Flares. Nory attempts to crash the competition by turning into a kitten, but instead becomes a bird-type hybrid. Reina uses Nory’s favourite Flare move but it almost burns Nory because Reina’s powers have been so unusually strengthened.

Reina meets Chara, a fellow Flare who trusts in Reina’s abilities. The Shadow Magic book starts appearing after where Reina goes, and Reina tells Chara to take the book with her. Chara takes it but it reappears in Reina’s room. Chara reveals to be an embodiment of Shadow Magic in human form the next day when the other Flares cannot see who Reina is talking to. Chara reprimands Reina and possesses her. At Founders’ Day, Reina goes up to represent the Flares and uses a complicated Flare trick and becomes a shadow-like being who threatens to destroy the entire school. Eventually it is the UDMs who are able to rescue Reina and return her to normal.

## Cast

* Izabela Rose as Elinor "Nory" Boxwood-Horace
* Siena Agudong as Reina Carvajal
* Kyle Howard as Budd Skriff
* Elie Samouhi as Elliot Cohen
* Alison Fernandez as Pepper Paloma
* Max Torina as Andres Padillo
* Vicki Lewis as Linda Knightslinger
* Yasmeen Fletcher as Chandra
* Callum Seagram Airlie as Phillip
* Cynthia Kaye McWilliams as Professor Argon
* Elaine Kao as Professor Han
* Amitai Marmorstein as Professor Lewis

## Production

### Development and Casting

Disney Channel optioned the book series in 2015. Production began in began in August 2019 with the cast announcement. Joe Nussbaum directed and executive produced the film, with Suzanne Farwell and Susan Cartsonis also executive producing; Nick Pustay and Josh Cagan worked on the teleplay.

### Filming

Principal photography took place on Vancouver Island. Shawnigan Lake School was used as the setting for Sage Academy, with students used as extras.

## Release

Upside-Down Magic premiered on Disney Channel on July 31, 2020.