The 2004 cult classic Ella Enchanted is officially returning as a television series, with development currently underway at Disney+.
Anne Hathaway, who starred in the original film, is set to executive produce this new adaptation. The series is being developed by Disney+ and draws inspiration from both Gail Carson Levine’s original novel and the beloved Miramax film. It is being written by Ilana Wolpert (Anyone But You) and will be spearheaded by showrunner Beth Schwartz, known for her work on Dead Boy Detectives.
Ella Enchanted centers on 16-year-old Ella, who was cursed at birth with the “gift” of obedience. However, the series marks a departure from the movie’s romantic Cinderella-style retelling; instead, it shifts the setting to a boarding school, focusing on a coming-of-age narrative. This new direction is expected to lean into a darker, more atmospheric tone, drawing comparisons to the boarding school environment seen in Netflix’s Wednesday.
Ella Enchanted is being produced through a collaboration between Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios, reflecting a broader strategic push by the two companies under new CEO Jonathan Glickman to modernize and adapt classic titles from their extensive film libraries. For Anne Hathaway, this project serves as a homecoming to the studio that helped launch her career with The Princess Diaries. By stepping into an executive producer role, Hathaway is further strengthening her long-standing relationship with the Disney brand.
“Like so many of you, I was introduced to Disney as a child, learning how to dream and tell stories,” said Hathaway. “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, and I am so honored to be a part of the family.”
