For fans who grew up quoting Ella Enchanted, rewatching Anne Hathaway’s fairy-tale adventure, or secretly wishing the story had more time to breathe, there may finally be good news: an Ella Enchanted TV series is in development at Disney+.

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The project is still in the early stages, so this is not a “mark your calendars” announcement just yet. There is no confirmed release date, no announced cast, and no official trailer. But reports confirm that Disney+ is developing a new television adaptation of Ella Enchanted, based on Gail Carson Levine’s 1997 novel, with Anne Hathaway attached as an executive producer. Hathaway played Ella in the 2004 film, which has since become a cult favourite for many fantasy-romance fans.

This new version is expected to follow 16-year-old Ella of Frell, a girl cursed at birth with the “gift” of obedience. That “gift” means Ella is forced to obey any command she is given, no matter how unfair, embarrassing, or dangerous it may be. After the death of her mother, Ella is sent to boarding school, where she starts to uncover the truth behind her curse while dealing with friendships, enemies, and a complicated crush on a prince.

That detail alone should make longtime book fans pay attention. The 2004 movie was fun, colourful, and very much its own thing, but it also changed a lot from the original novel. The upcoming series is reportedly aiming for a version that leans more into Ella’s coming-of-age story, with the boarding school setting playing a bigger role. That could give the show more room to explore what made the book so memorable: Ella’s intelligence, her frustration, her grief, her courage, and her fight to reclaim control over her own life.

Anne Hathaway’s involvement is also a major reason fans are excited. At this stage, she is attached behind the scenes as an executive producer, not confirmed to appear on screen. Still, having the original Ella involved gives the project a strong connection to the 2004 film, even if the new series tells the story in a different way.

The creative team includes Ilana Wolpert as writer and Beth Schwartz as showrunner. Wolpert is known for work connected to modern teen and romantic storytelling, while Schwartz has experience in fantasy and genre television. The series is reportedly being co-produced by Miramax Television and Paramount Television Studios.

What makes this news especially interesting is that Ella Enchanted has always had two fanbases: the people who love the 2004 movie for its humour, music, and charm, and the readers who have long wanted an adaptation closer to the book. A TV series could be the perfect format to satisfy both groups. The movie had to rush through Ella’s world in under two hours. A series could spend more time with Frell, the curse, the school, the prince, the friendships, and the emotional weight of Ella’s situation.

For now, though, fans should stay cautiously excited. “In development” means the idea is moving forward, but it does not guarantee that the series will definitely be filmed or released. Until Disney+ announces a cast, production start, or release window, the project remains a promising possibility rather than a confirmed arrival.

Still, for anyone who has ever loved Ella’s story, this is the kind of news that feels magical. More than twenty years after Anne Hathaway first brought Ella to screen, Ella Enchanted may be getting a second chance — and this time, the story might finally have enough space to cast its full spell.