Disney+ Developing Ella Enchanted TV Series with Anne Hathaway
A new take on the beloved 2004 film is in the works, shifting the focus from a fairy tale romance to a coming-of-age story set in a boarding school.
Disney+ has initiated development on a television series adaptation of the 2004 film Ella Enchanted, which originally starred Anne Hathaway. Hathaway will serve as an executive producer on the series. The project is being written by Ilana Wolpert and showrun by Beth Schwartz.
The original film follows 16-year-old Ella of Frell, who is cursed to obey any command. After her mother's death, she attends boarding school, uncovers the truth about her curse, forms a found family, and develops feelings for the prince.
The series will retain the basic premise of the film and the original book by Gail Carson Levine. However, the creative team is shifting the focus from a Cinderella-style story to a coming-of-age narrative set in a boarding school, a reframing similar to what was done with the character Wednesday Addams.
Co-producing the series are Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios. In addition to Hathaway, Jonathan Rice and Adam Shulman will also serve as executive producers.