2 weeks ago
EXCLUSIVE: A cult classical fairytale movie starring Disney royalty is getting a bid adjustment astatine Disney+. The streamer has landed for development Ella Enchanted, a TV bid based connected nan 2004 Miramax film, Deadline has learned. The film’s star, Anne Hathaway, is executive producing nan imaginable series, which is written by Ilana Wolpert (Anyone But You), pinch Beth Schwartz (Dead Boy Detectives) arsenic showrunner, and co-produced by Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios, I hear.
In it, erstwhile 16-year-old Ella of Frell — cursed astatine commencement to obey each bid — is sent to boarding schoolhouse aft her mother’s untimely death, she originates to uncover nan truth astir her curse, builds an improbable recovered family, and deals pinch an highly inconvenient crush connected nan prince of her kingdom.
The series, now successful early stages of development, keeps nan basal premise of nan movie and Gail Carson Levine’s book it was loosely based connected — it centers connected nan eponymous teen woman stuck pinch nan unfortunate “gift” of obedience. But it’s pulling distant from being mostly a Cinderella retelling romanticist imagination by giving nan communicative a coming-of-age consciousness pinch a boarding schoolhouse setting, which is not successful nan film. Four chapters successful Levine’s caller chronicle Ella’s enactment astatine a boarding-style finishing schoolhouse for girls wherever she is mercilessly bullied but besides finds a champion friend. The boarding schoolhouse backdrop of Ella Enchanted besides echoes Wednesday‘s reframing of nan Addams Family lore.
Wolpert and Schwartz executive nutrient alongside Hathaway, Johnathan Rice and Adam Shulman via Somewhere Pictures arsenic good arsenic iGen Studios, nan institution down Netflix’s celebrated YA bid My Life pinch nan Walter Boys.
Ella Enchanted already has Disney ties, it was made while Miramax was owned by nan intermezo conglom, pinch Buena Vista International handling distribution extracurricular of nan U.S.
Miramax is now 49% owned by Paramount, pinch nan 2 companies expanding their collaboration nether caller Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman pursuing Paramount’s acquisition of Paramount successful August. Mining nan Miramax room has been a focus, pinch Ella Enchanted arsenic nan 2nd high-profile bid adjustment Miramax Television and Paramount TV Studios person taken retired together, following Cop Land, from nan film’s James Mangold.
The woody astatine Disney+ extends Hathaway’s longstanding narration pinch Disney. She started her profession astatine nan institution arsenic a teen pinch The Other Side of Heaven and The Princess Diaries, nan second of which became a world deed and spawned a sequel which she besides headlined. Currently starring successful nan studio’s latest hit, The Devil Wears Prada 2, she said astir her Disney relationship erstwhile she opened Disney’s upfront position past week, introducing caller CEO Josh D’Amaro.
“Like truthful galore of you, I was introduced to Disney arsenic a child, learning really to dream and show stories,” she said. “Playing Mia successful Princess Diaries became this magical portal that opened up my full life and now pinch nan Devil Wears Prada franchise; these 2 films that person shaped my profession nan astir are astatine nan aforesaid awesome home, and I americium truthful honored to beryllium a portion of nan family.”
Wolpert besides has Disney ties; she sewage her first penning occupation connected Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She besides co-wrote nan deed romanticist drama movie Anyone But You and precocious worked arsenic a writer connected Prime Video’s YA series The Runarounds.
Schwartz was executive producer/showrunner connected nan seventh and eighth play of nan CW’s Arrow and executive producer/co-showrunner connected nan Netflix bid Sweet Tooth and Dead Boy Detectives.
Hathaway, presently besides starring successful Mother Mary, will beryllium seen successful 3 much movies this year, The Odyssey, The End of Oak Street and Verity. She is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360 and lawyer Jason Sloane. Wolpert is repped by UTA, Curate and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Schwartz is repped by Felker McGinnis & Ryan.
