JUST REVEALED: Surprise cameo coming to Lady and the Tramp

in Disney, Movies, Movies & TV

spaghetti scene lady and the tramp

Credit: Disney

Inside the Magic has been holding onto a secret since last year when I had the opportunity to visit the set of the upcoming movie Lady and the Tramp. But today with lifting of the embargo we have a whole series of content in advance of the movies streaming service release on November 12th and we can share that Ken Jeong will be among the talented, star-studded cast of the upcoming Lady and the Tramp, the story of a lovely little dog and the tramp she falls in love with.

For months now, fans of the Disney classics have been anxiously awaiting the Disney+ premiere of the live-action remake of Disney’s animated Lady and the Tramp which was released in 1955. Up to now, we’ve had lots of news about several of Hollywood’s best who have lent their talents to Disney’s latest live-action endeavor, and we’ve been privy to an adorable trailer or two. But the news about Jeong was kept hush-hush.

ken jeong
Ken Jeong Lady and the Tramp cameo revealed Photo Credit: The Wrap

Jeong plays the role of “Joe,” the doctor who delivers the new baby expected by Jim Dear and Darling in the new canine-themed movie, set to debut on Disney+ next Tuesday, November 12.

He is perhaps best known for his role as drug lord Leslie Chow in the popular The Hangover film series and as Professor Ben Change, the Spanish teacher, on the NBC hit sitcom Community, which aired from September 2009 to June 2015. Ken Jeong reunites with his Community co-star, Yvette Nicole Brown, who plays the part of Aunt Sarah in the new reimagining of Lady and the Tramp.

community
Credit: NBC

While on the set of Lady and the Tramp Ken Jeong filmed a scene with Thomas Mann who plays Jim Dear, Darling’s husband. In the scene, Ken Jeong who plays the doctor has delivered the couples, new baby. As we know from the original movie it’s the arrival of their new child that leads to Lady, our cocker spaniel star, being kicked out of the house and the romance between her and the terrier mix Tramp.

Watching Ken Jeong perform was one of the trip’s highlights and I can’t wait to see which version of his performance makes its way into the film. The accomplished comedian delivered both scripted and unscripted lines and in each version, we see the humor we’ve loved from his Ben Chang (Community) or Leslie Chow (The Hangover) performances. In some of the takes, he plays a tired doctor enduring the questions of a clueless father while in other takes he actively makes fun of Jim Dear, who fails to grasp the joke given his excitement as a new father.

kiersey clemons thomas mann lady and the tramp
Credit: Disney

And we can confirm that the iconic spaghetti scene was not scrapped. (No pun intended) Tony and Joe from Tony’s Restaurant are also on hand to serve up pasta and help make the “bella notte” even more “bella.”

We can’t seem to get a definitive answer on whether those evil Siamese cats will play a role in the reimagined story, so we’ll have to wait until next week to find out for ourselves. Unlike Disney’s remake of The Lion King, which only used CGI animals, Lady and the Tramp relied heavily on a troop of real dogs for the film’s canine contribution of characters–many with interesting real-life rescue-inspired backstories.

Jeong is a licensed physician–now embracing the role of a fictional doctor for Disney’s new live-action feature—but he hung up his stethoscope for a career in comedy, as it became apparent that he had quite a knack for making audiences’ sides split with his unique and often stone-faced humor.

Cocker Spaniel Lady and Terrier Mix Tramp sitting with Inside the Magic's Kurt Schmidt
From the set of Lady and the Tramp Cocker Spaniel Lady and Terrier Mix Tramp sitting with Inside the Magic’s Kurt Schmidt

Jeong and Brown join an uber-talented cast in the new film that will forgo a theatrical release in exchange for an exclusive debut only on Disney+ the same day the new streaming platform launches. The film features Tessa Thompson as the voice of Lady, an upper-class Cocker Spaniel, Justin Theroux as the voice of the ragamuffin Tramp, Sam Elliott as the voice of Trusty and Janelle Monae as the voice of Peg. Kiersey Clemons and Thomas Mann play Darling and Jim Dear, respectively, and Ashley Jensen lends her voice to Jock, the adorable Scotty dog in the film.

The human cast joins forces with an adorable—and talented—canine cast sure to tug on the heartstrings of unsuspecting Disney fans when the feature film drops onto the Disney+ platform November 12.

How do you think Ken Jeong will perform in his first Disney film and will you be streaming Lady and the Tramp as soon as Disney+ the new Disney streaming service launches? Let us hear from you in the comments section below.

This article is part of a larger collection of articles from my visit to the set of Lady and the Tramp last year. The day I was there Ken Jeong was filming his cameo in the movie and it was truly a special opportunity that I won’t forget. Learn more about what I learned on set in these articles from that set visit.

JUST REVEALED: Surprise cameo coming to Lady and the Tramp

‘Lady and the Tramp’ raises the bar for inclusiveness and diversity in remakes

Does the ‘Lady and the Tramp’ remake honor the iconic Disney classic?

Dog training secrets from Lady and the Tramp (use these to train your dog too!)

Yvette Nicole Brown says Aunt Sarah isn’t the villain in ‘Lady and the Tramp’

Need more Lady and the Tramp in your life? Here is some other excellent coverage from Inside the Magic for this new film debuting on Disney+ November 2nd. If you are here after the movie’s release be sure to let us know your thoughts of the movie in the comments.

Disney’s live-action “Lady and the Tramp” will be different from other remakes

Why didn’t Disney release ‘Lady and the Tramp’ at the box office?

First Look at live-action Lady and the Tramp canine cast

D23 Must-See: Adorable live-action “Lady and the Tramp” trailer drops

New “Lady and the Tramp” trailer: First look at the spaghetti scene!

Finally, check out our exclusive clip of the “Welcome to the Family” scene followed by the “Tony’s Special” and “The Dog Moves Out” Scenes.

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