First footage of Oprah's new Disney movie filmed in New Zealand

The first trailer for the New Zealand-filmed A Wrinkle in Time has made its debut.

The Disney film saw Hollywood stars Oprah Winfrey Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and director Ava DuVernay become honorary locals while the crew filmed in the South Island earlier this year.

The trailer, which debuted at the biannual Disney fan expo, D23, is mostly focused on the characters, but there are glimpses of New Zealand scenery which totally look at home as part of the film's magical storyscape.

Ava DuVernay says she wanted to direct an adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's fantasy classic A Wrinkle in Time because she saw herself in it.

Speaking at D23, DuVernay was joined on stage by her film's cast, which also includes Chris Pine and newcomer Storm Reid, who plays the film's lead, Meg.

Winfrey, who was anointed a Disney Legend on Friday, cried out to the crowd of thousands that everybody gets a poster! Fans responded by chanting, "Oprah! Oprah!"

The fantasy epic was written by Oscar-winner Jennifer Lee, who wrote and co-directed Frozen.

It hits theatres March 9, 2018.

• This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.