The Star (2017 film)

==Production==
The film's script was originally developed during the late 1990s by [[the Jim Henson Company]], partially inspired by the success of the 1995 film ''[[Babe (film)|Babe]]''.<ref name=StarLight>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/the-star-in-a-different-light/|title=The Star: In A Different Light|work=Animation Magazine|date=October 31, 2017|last1=McLean|first1=Tom|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329195220/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/the-star-in-a-different-light/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-director-timothy-reckart-talks-the-star/|title=Director Timothy Reckart talks "The Star"|publisher=Animation Scoop|last1=Murphy|first1=Jackson|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214014232/http://www.animationscoop.com/interview-director-timothy-reckart-talks-the-star/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2014, it was reported that [[DeVon Franklin]] would produce a faith-based film inspired by the [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity story]] under his production company, Franklin Entertainment, in collaboration with [[Sony Pictures Animation]].<ref name=WrapFaithBased /> In April 2015, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[Timothy Reckart]] would direct the film in his directing debut.<ref name=VarietyReckartDebut /> On August 5, 2015, it was announced that the film, then titled ''The Lamb'', was given an official release date of December 8, 2017.<ref name="VarietySonyDates16" /> On June 20, 2016, it was announced that [[Brian Henson]] and [[Lisa Henson]] from [[The Jim Henson Company]] would be executive producers for the film, now titled ''The Star'',<ref name=DeadlineSPADates /> making it the first Henson-produced film for Sony since ''[[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland]]'' in 1999.

In an interview with [[Animation Magazine]], Reckart expressed that he felt encouraged to direct the film, as he felt that there was a lack of Christmas films centering on the Nativity of Jesus: "It felt like an opportunity to be part of a movie that has not been done before, that's really going to fill a void."<ref name=StarLight/>

The animation was produced by [[Cinesite|Cinesite Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/804475-sony-pictures-animation-2017|title=Sony Pictures Animation Teases Upcoming Slate|date=January 18, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119061152/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/804475-sony-pictures-animation-2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Animation work began in January 2017.<ref name=StarLight />

===Casting===
On January 5, 2017, it was reported that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry would be in the film.<ref name="THR2017Forecast">{{cite news|last1=Masters|first1=Kim|title=Studios' 2017 Forecast: Big Bets, Franchise Fears and Executive Intrigue|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-movies-biggest-gambles-justice-league-mummy-960935/item/sony-what-watch-2017-960933|access-date=January 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 5, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106013951/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-movies-biggest-gambles-justice-league-mummy-960935/item/sony-what-watch-2017-960933|url-status=live}}</ref> The rest of the cast was announced on January 19, 2017.<ref name="AMSPASlate2018" />

===Soundtrack===
{{main|The Star (Mariah Carey song)}}
''The Star (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' was released on October 27, 2017, including contributions from [[Jessie James Decker]], [[Jake Owen]], [[Kelsea Ballerini]], [[Zara Larsson]], [[Casting Crowns]], [[Kirk Franklin]], [[Fifth Harmony]], [[Yolanda Adams]], [[Saving Forever]] and [[Mariah Carey]]. [[Pentatonix]] also contributes a bonus track to the digital release of the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/animated-christmas-movie-the-star-features-songs-from-kelsea-ballerini-jake-owen-jessie-james-decker/|title='The Star' Soundtrack Features Kelsea Ballerini, Jake Owen, More|first=Wendy|last=Hermanson|website=Taste of Country|access-date=December 22, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212172338/http://tasteofcountry.com/animated-christmas-movie-the-star-features-songs-from-kelsea-ballerini-jake-owen-jessie-james-decker/|url-status=live}}</ref> The main single ''[[The Star (Mariah Carey song)|The Star]]'', interpreted by [[Mariah Carey]] ranked at No. 6 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' US Holiday Digital Song Sales in 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mariah-carey/chart-history/xdt/|title=Mariah Carey The Star Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 26, 2017}}</ref> The song was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] at the [[75th Golden Globe Awards]].<ref name="auto">[https://ew.com/awards/2017/12/11/golden-globes-nominations-2018/Golden Globes nominations: Read the full list] Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved December 11, 2017</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline     = The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| extra_column = Artist
| total_length = 44:17
| title1   = [[The Star (Mariah Carey song)|The Star]]
| extra1   = [[Mariah Carey]]
| length1  = 4:01
| title2   = [[Children, Go Where I Send Thee|Children Go Where I Send You]]
| extra2   = [[Kelsea Ballerini]]
| length2  = 2:40
| title3   = [[We Three Kings]]
| extra3   = [[Kirk Franklin]]
| length3  = 4:06
| title4   = Can You See
| extra4   = [[Fifth Harmony]]
| length4  = 3:57
| title5   = Life Is Good
| extra5   = [[A Great Big World]]
| length5  = 3:16
| title6   = [[Mary, Did You Know?]]
| extra6   = [[Zara Larsson]]
| length6  = 3:23
| title7   = [[O Holy Night]]
| extra7   = [[Yolanda Adams]]
| length7  = 4:20
| title8   = [[What Christmas Means to Me]]
| extra8   = [[Saving Forever]]
| length8  = 3:03
| title9   = [[Home for Christmas (Amy Grant album)|Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)]]
| extra9   = [[Jessie James Decker]]
| length9  = 4:51
| title10   = [[His Eye Is on the Sparrow]]
| extra10   =  [[Casting Crowns]]
| length10  = 4:19
| title11   = [[What Child Is This?]]
| extra11   = [[Jake Owen]]
| length11  = 3:16
| title12   = [[Carol of the Bells]]
| extra12   = [[Pentatonix]]
| length12  = 3:13
}}