Disney developing Ella Enchanted TV series with Anne Hathaway

A television series adaptation of the 2004 fantasy film "Ella Enchanted" is in early development for Disney, with the film's star, Anne Hathaway, serving as an executive producer. The project is being written by Ilana Wolpert and will have Beth Schwartz as showrunner, with production handled by Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios.

The series will follow the core premise of both the original Gail Carson Levine novel and the film, centering on a 16-year-old girl named Ella of Frell who is cursed with a compulsion to obey any command given to her. After her mother's death, Ella is sent to a boarding school where she investigates the origins of her curse, builds a found family, and navigates a crush on the prince of her kingdom.

A significant creative shift from the 2004 movie will be the emphasis on a boarding school setting, an element present in Levine's novel but not featured in the film. This change is intended to frame the story more as a coming-of-age narrative. The series remains in early development, with no casting announcements or release date confirmed.

Hathaway's involvement continues her long association with Disney, which began with her starring role in...