Anne Hathaway’s ‘Ella Enchanted’ TV Series in Development at Disney+
Disney+ is officially developing a new television adaptation of the 2004 cult fantasy film Ella Enchanted, according to Deadline. The project is still in early development, but it already has major creative names attached, including Anne Hathaway as an executive producer.
The upcoming series is based on the original Miramax film, which itself was inspired by Gail Carson Levine’s novel. The story follows Ella of Frell, a teenage girl who was cursed at birth with the “gift” of obedience, forcing her to follow any command she is given. In this new version, Ella is sent to a boarding school after her mother’s death, where she begins to understand more about her curse, builds new friendships, and deals with a growing romantic connection with a prince.
Deadline reports that the series is written by Ilana Wolpert, known for Anyone But You, with Beth Schwartz serving as showrunner. The project is being produced by Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios alongside Anne Hathaway and her production team.
The new adaptation will keep the core idea of the original story but shift the tone and structure. Instead of being a direct fairytale retelling, the series will lean more into a coming-of-age story set in a boarding school environment. This setting is expected to give the story a more grounded teenage perspective while still keeping the fantasy elements of the curse and royal world. The boarding school approach also draws comparisons to other modern YA adaptations that reframe classic stories in a school setting.
Anne Hathaway’s involvement also connects closely to her long history with Disney. She first worked with the company as a teenager in The Princess Diaries, which became a major global hit and remains one of her most recognizable roles.
Hathaway recently spoke about her relationship with Disney during a company event, saying, “Like so many of you, I was introduced to Disney as a child, learning how to dream and tell stories.” She also reflected on how The Princess Diaries shaped her career and opened new opportunities for her in Hollywood.
Wolpert also has experience working with Disney, having previously written for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Schwartz brings additional television experience from shows like Arrow and Sweet Tooth, adding further industry weight to the project.
Since the series is still in development, no release date has been announced yet. However, the involvement of Hathaway and the creative team has already generated strong interest, especially from fans of the original film and book.
