New ‘Ella Enchanted’ TV Series on Disney+ with Anne Hathaway as Executive Producer

New Adaptation of Ella Enchanted in Development

A fresh series adaptation of Ella Enchanted is currently in the early stages of development, focusing on the story of 16-year-old Ella of Frell. Cursed at birth to obey every command, Ella finds herself navigating the complexities of a boarding school after her mother’s untimely death. In this new rendition, she begins to unravel the truth behind her curse, forges an unexpected found family, and grapples with an inconvenient crush on the prince of her kingdom.

This series retains the fundamental premise of the beloved movie and Gail Carson Levine’s original book, which centers on Ella’s challenging gift of obedience. However, it shifts away from a traditional Cinderella retelling romantic fantasy, embracing a coming-of-age narrative set in a boarding school environment—a backdrop absent from the film. Notably, Levine’s novel features four chapters that detail Ella’s experiences at a finishing school for girls, where she endures bullying but also finds solace in a best friend’s companionship. The boarding school setting in Ella Enchanted echoes contemporary reimaginings, such as those seen in Wednesday, a new take on the Addams Family.

Executive producers for the series include Wolpert and Schwartz, alongside Anne Hathaway, Johnathan Rice, and Adam Shulman through Somewhere Pictures. iGen Studios, known for the popular Netflix series My Life with the Walter Boys, is also involved in the project.

Originally released under Miramax during Disney’s ownership, Ella Enchanted has long-standing ties to the entertainment giant. Buena Vista International handled its distribution outside the United States. Miramax, currently 49% owned by Paramount, has ramped up collaborative efforts under the leadership of new CEO Jonathan Glickman since Paramount’s acquisition in August. This adaptation will be the second significant series project that Miramax Television and Paramount TV Studios have undertaken together, following the upcoming adaptation of Cop Land.

Hathaway’s engagement with Disney continues to thrive through this new collaboration. She began her career with the company as a teenager and is known for her role in The Princess Diaries, which became a cultural phenomenon and led to a successful sequel. Presently, she stars in the much-anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2 and recently emphasized her longstanding association with Disney during the company’s upfront presentation, where she highlighted her emotional connection to the brand.

“Like so many of you, I was introduced to Disney as a child, learning how to dream and tell stories,” Hathaway remarked. “Playing Mia in Princess Diaries became this magical portal that opened up my whole life, and now with the Devil Wears Prada franchise, these two films that have shaped my career the most are at the same wonderful home.”

Wolpert has also established a history with Disney, having begun her writing career on Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She co-wrote the popular romantic comedy Anyone But You and has recently worked on Prime Video’s The Runarounds. Schwartz, known for his role as executive producer and showrunner on the final seasons of Arrow, has also held similar titles for Netflix’s Sweet Tooth and Dead Boy Detectives.

Hathaway, who is currently also starring in Mother Mary, is set to appear in three additional films this year: The Odyssey, The End of Oak Street, and Verity. She is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, and attorney Jason Sloane. Wolpert is represented by UTA, Curate, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis, while Schwartz is represented by Felker McGinnis & Ryan.