Starlight Express live action-animated film

Starlight Express is a live action-animated film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name.

Plot
A set of toy trains come to life, ruled by a being simply known as "Control". When Control announces a race between the freight trains to see who is "the fastest in the world", young steam engine Rusty joins the race, in the hopes of impressing his crush, a first-class carriage named Pearl. As he faces great odds competing against modern engines, including current champion Greaseball, Rusty learns that the legend of the mythical Starlight Express may hold the strength he needs to win the championship.

Synopsis
A nine year old boy playing with his model train set is sent to bed by his mother. As he sleeps, his imagination takes over and the adventure begins... (OVERTURE).

The favourite is a diesel train named Greaseball from the USA: he is the hot, flashy power of the Union Pacific. A classi rocker in the vein of Elvis Presley (ROLLING STOCK), Greaseball is attached to the carriage Dinah, but he treats her badly whenever he thinks he has found someone new and better.

One train with the odds against him is Rusty, a small, shy and naíve, but optimistic, steam engine who works in the freight yard (CRAZY). He is convinced that he can compete in the world championship, much to the amusement of his friends, the carriages. Each engine must be teamed with a carriage for the race (A WHOLE LOTTA LOCOMOTION). Some of the finely onstructed carriages include Ashley, the sassy smoking car who huffs and puffs around the traks, enjoys hanging out with her girlfriends and offering advice; Buffy, a sweet and simple Buffet car who offers something for everyone; Duvay, a Sleeping car who tries her best to stay awake during the show; Tashita the Bar Car who offers Drinks for everyone; Carrie the Luggage Van who lifts the mood, she won't allow any engine to think that without mutual respect they can just carry her across the finish line.; Dinah, a Dining Car whose blue plate special is love on the rocks, and Pearl, an Observation Car, who is the object of Rusty's affection but can't decide whether to commit to him. Rusty has convinced her to ride with him but the other carriages try to get her to change her mind, as he has no chance of winning. Pearl sings to the other girls of her dream of love (HE'LL WHISTLE AT ME). Greaseball arrives and celebrates his strength and power in (PUMPING IRON). Spoiling the moment, Rusty arrives with his buddies: Hip Hoppers I, II and III and Flat-Top, who know that (FREIGHT IS GREAT)

A Race is announced and the contenders include entries from all around the globe (ENTRY OF THE NATIONAL TRAINS). Representing France is Bobo And Coco, the power of the Sudest - he has arrogance but some flair. Turnov And Vladimir hails from Mother Russia and Italy has sent Espresso And Pendelino, who is dark and passionate and powers the Rome-to-Milan Express. Weltschaft And Ruhrgold is the bold and stoic German engine, power of the Inter-Continental Express, while the ingenious and aggressive Hashimoto And Nintendo, who powers the Shinkansen Bullet Train, represents the Japanese. Often late by still beloved, Brexit And The Prince of Wales powers the Royal train and represents Great Britain.

Rusty's chances of winning the race look even slimmer after the appearance of Electra, a brand new state-of-the-art electric engine. Looking like an androgynous rock star, Electra is truly an (AC/DC) character accompanied by his wild entourage. They include Krupp the Armaments Truck, Killerwatt the Security Truck, Wrench the Repair Truck, Joule the Dynamite Truck, Volta the Refrigerator Car and Purse the Money Truck.

The race will consist of two heats, and the top two finishers in each one will on to the final. Rusty asks Pearl to race with him, but she is tempted away by Electra (MAKE UP MY HEART). Rusty doesn't have a partner, and therefore cannot race in the first heat. Greaseball, racing with Dinah, and Electra with Pearl, make it through to the final.

Rusty visits his parents figure, Poppa and Momma, for advice (THE BLUES). Poppa and Momma tells him to use one of the freight trucks and Belle the Sleeping Car (BELLE THE SLEEPING CAR) as a partner, but Rusty only wants to race with Pearl. Poppa and Momma tries to convince him that the power of the Starlight Express will help him but Rusty is adamant. Frustrated and angry, Poppa enters the second heat in his place, with Dustin, a very heavy freight truck, and wins! The race wears him out though, so he asks Rusty to take his place in the final (LAUGHING STOCK). Rusty still refuses, until his humiliation by Greaseball, Electra and Pearl combine to make Rusty lose his temper. He challenges them both to race him in the final. They mock him with derisive laughter. Rusty is left wonderng whether he is good enough to take part, searching for guidance from the mysical (STARLIGHT EXPRESS).

The odds for who wil be the ultimate winner are discussed (THE RAP). Greaseball asks Pearl to be his partner for the final, leaving Dinah without an engine (U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.) She teams up with Electra instead, and Rusty takes another partner, Buffy And the Red Caboose. But Caboose is really has been secretly plotting with Greaseball to ruin Rusty's chances. The race is forfeited, however, when Electra, Greaseball and Caboose conspire to cause a crash. Greaseball insists it was Rusty's fault and tries to intimidate him into not racing in the re-match. Pearl is upset at the cruel treatment of Rusty, but Greaseball persuades her to stick with him. Dinah is disappointed with Greaseball And Electra and disconnects Electra, so Electra calls Buffy And the Red Caboose to race with him in her place. Rusty seeing tragic Dinah, he stays behind to comfort her (THAT'S US).

Rusty is again dispirited and finds inspiration by discovering that the Starlight Express really does exist, and vows to make it to the end (I AM THE STARLIGHT/STARLIGHT SEQUENCE). He will race with Dustin And Dinah. During the race Pearl is distracted by Rusty, which makes Greaseball so angry he disengages from her, and she nearly jumps the tracks. Rusty is able to save her. Greaseball, Electra and Red Caboose crash, and Rusty wins the race, but he is more concerned with finding Pearl. Greaseball, Electra, and the Red Caboose eventually reach the finish line, much the worse for wear (ONE ROCK'N'ROLL TOO MANY). Pearl has finally realised that she loves Rusty (I DO). It's a happy ending for them both, as well as for the reconciled Dinah and Greaseball.

Poppa and Momma convinces Electra and Greaseball that they can be converted to steam and calls the whole company to join him in a rousing gospel number (LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL).

Credits
Universal Pictures and Disney present

An Original Film and Bad Hat Harry production

In association with the Really Useful Group and Perfect World Pictures

A WingNut Films and PlayTone production

A film by Rob Marshall

"STARLIGHT EXPRESS"

Casting by Don Zimmerman

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alistair Lloyd Webber

Music producer Mike Higham

Costume designer Colleen Atwood And John Napier

Edited by Martin Walsh

Director of photography Russel Carpenter

Production designer Robert Stromberg

Executive producer Christian Rivers, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

Produced by Neal H Mortiz, Gary Goetzman, Peter Jackson and Bryan Singer

Written by Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Rob Marshall

Directed by Rob Marshall

Cast
[if you want to make changes to the cast, please do]
 * Freddie Highmore as Rusty McCoy the Steam Engine
 * Saoirse Ronan as Pearl the Observation Car
 * Ray Shell as Poppa McCoy the Old Steamer And the Starlight Express
 * Christine Baranski as Momma McCoy the Old Steamer
 * Michael Quinn as Greaseball the Diesel Engine
 * John Partridge as Electra the Electric Engine
 * Jennifer Lawrence as Dinah the Dining Car
 * Rebel Wilson as Ashley the Smoking Car
 * Mackenzie Foy as Buffy the Buffet Car
 * Kelsey Cobban as Duvay the Sleeping Car
 * Rochelle Sherona as Tassita the Bar Car
 * Veronika Hammer as Carrie the Luggage Van
 * Samantha Lane as Belle the Sleeping Car
 * Gavin Ashbarry as Dustin the Big Aggregate Hopper
 * Toby Kebbel as Caboose the Brake Truck
 * Tom Cruise as Prince of Wales the British Engine/Gang
 * Robert Sheehan as Brexit the British Engine/Gang
 * David Thewlis as Bobo the French Engine/Gang
 * Whitney Martins As Coco the French Engine/Gang
 * Matthew Broderick as Espresso the Italian Engine/Gang
 * Anthony Hughes as Pendelino the Italian Engine/Gang
 * Ben Mendelsohn as Ruhrgold the German Engine/Gang
 * Kristian Jacobs as Weltschaft the German Engine/Gang
 * Nick Bower as Vladimir the Russian Engine/Gang
 * Tyler Perry as Turnov the Russian Engine/Gang
 * Hiroshi Watari as Hashimoto the Japanese Engine/Gang
 * Brian Tee as Nintendo the Japanese Engine/Gang
 * Cyrus Brandon as Hip Hopper 1
 * Lex Milczarek as Hip Hopper 2
 * Lauren Hearnden Mayer as Hip Hopper 3
 * Andrew Garfield as Flat-Top the Brick Truck
 * Daniel Craig as Krupp the Armaments Truck
 * Huon Mackley as Killerwatt the Security Truck
 * Sylvester Stallone as Purse the Money Truck
 * Dawn Leigh Woods as Volta the Freezer Truck
 * Halimah Kyrgios as Wrench the Repair Truck
 * Amy Barker as Joule the Dynamite Truck
 * Tom Hardy And Martin Neely And Jared Lee as Greaseball's Gang
 * Matt King as Marshals
 * Joey Egan as Trax
 * Max Charles as Control

Taglines

 * From the director of Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns, and the producers of the Fast and the Furious, X-Men and Mortal Engines.
 * Based on the worldwide smash musical.
 * The second coming of steam power (Rusty poster)
 * The fastest thing you'll ever see (Greaseball poster)
 * The engine of the future (Electra poster)
 * The race begins this Christmas.