WhenEnchantedhit theaters in 2007, it was a sizable hit. Disney’s live-action twist on its own classic animated film formula grossed over $340 million worldwide and landed a trio of Best Original Song Oscar nominations for some seriously catchy tunes (penned by Disney stalwartAlan Menkenno less). So given the film’s success, it wasn’t a huge surprise that Disney began developing a sequel. Actually getting that sequel off the ground, however, has proven more difficult.
We’ve heard rumblings over the years ofminimal movementonEnchanted 2, but now sources tell us that the project is seriously heating up over at the Mouse House.Anne Fletcher(TheProposal)remains attached to direct, and the studio is now in the process of punching up the script with the hopes that it will be in greenlight-ready shape very soon. What’s more, we know the current working title:Disenchanted.
Story details remain under wraps, and it’s still unclear exactly which cast members will return.Amy Adamsled a cast that includedJames Marsden,Patrick Dempsey, andSusan Sarandonin the first film and shehas been enthusiastic about reprising her lead role over the years.Enchantedwas a wonderful showcase of her talents, as she was able to bring the traditionally naïve “Disney princess” archetype to reality with shades of dimensionandshow off her formidable singing pipes in the process.
This development comes at an interesting time for Disney, as the studio recently put a secondTronsequelinto motionwith cast and director in place beforeabruptly pulling the plug. AnEnchantedsequel is much less expensive—and a much safer bet—than anotherTronmovie, but it does signal that the studio isn’t content to simply rely on mining its animated IP for live-action reboots or sit back and count that Marvel/Star Wars/Pixar money. They’re continuing to develop homegrown franchises. Even if some of those take nearly a decade to come to fruition.
