World’s Best: Utkarsh Ambudkar sets a rap musical comedy film at Disney+

Ghosts star Utkarsh Ambudkar is making some big moves over at Disney. After starring in the CBS series Ghosts and appearing in Hulu’s Theranos drama The Dropout, Ambudkar is standing at the helm of World’s Best for Disney+.

Ambudkar will wear many hats for the World’s Best project, which he conceived, co-wrote, produced, and co-star. The film tells the story of a young math kid who vows to become the world’s best MC.

Directing World’s Best is Roshan Sethi, who helmed 7 Days, winning the Best First Feature award at the Independent Spirit Awards. Principal photography for World’s Best begins in May and co-stars Punam Patel (Space Force) and Manny Magnus, who stars in Amazon’s I Want You Back. Ambudkar and Patel previously worked together on Netflix’s Special and CBS’ Ghosts.

According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, World’s Best follows 12-year-old Prem, played by Magnus, as he navigates life as that junior high kid in the high school math class. After his best friend Jerome abandons him for the popular group, Prem never feels more alone, despite the support of his mother, Priya (played by Patel). But when Prem discovers that his late father Suresh, played by Ambudkar, was a great rapper, his new destiny is sealed. With renewed purpose (and some helpful, albeit imaginary, appearances from Suresh), Prem vows to break out of the mold of “math kid” and become the world’s best MC.

Ambudkar initially pitched the idea to Disney’s Sean Bailey in February 2020 and wrote the feature with Jessica Jones writer Jamie King. The pair have written together for several years after King would go to watch Ambudkar battle rap at NYC’s now-defunct Leopard Lounge, which appears in the film.

“Collaborating with Disney on a feature about a nuclear South Asian family with music at its heart means a lot to me personally. I can’t wait to bring World’s Best to life with friends and colleagues I’ve known for a long time, as well as people whose work is relatively new to me. After seeing his first feature, I knew Roshan Sethi could capture the intricacies, humor, and energy of World’s Best. Manny Magnus is a special find. He’s been dancing and performing his own music since he was six years old. And I know firsthand that Punam Patel will bring laughs and warmth to the role of Priya, the matriarch. I hope World’s Best will be super fun to make and watch,” said Ambudkar.

A mathlete turned battle rapper? Sign me up!