Disney Branded Television Expands Premium Kids and Family Slate With New Series and Movies Across Disney+ and Disney Channels
New Original Movies:
‘Prom Pact’ (Working Title) Starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Milo Manheim,
Halloween-Themed Sequel ‘Under Wraps 2’ and
Holiday Heist Adventure ‘The Naughty Nine’
New Unscripted:
‘Growing Up’ From Brie Larson and
‘Rennervations’ from Jeremy Renner
New Development:
‘Paola Santiago and the River of Tears’ Live-Action Fantasy/Adventures Series From Eva
Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment,
Animated ‘Superfudge’ Movie From Disney Television Animation With the Russo Brothers,
Based on Beloved Judy Blume Book, and
Preschool Comedy Series ‘Tiny Trailblazers’ for Disney Junior From
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Join the Development Slate
New Scripted Series:
‘Goosebumps,’ Based on R.L. Stine’s Best-Selling Book Series
Series Renewal:
‘Secrets of Sulphur Springs’
Premiere Update:
‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’
Now Set to Premiere on Disney+ on Feb. 23, 2022, with TWO episodes
Casting News:
Daveed Diggs Set to Narrate ‘The Crossover,’
Catherine Zeta-Jones Joins ‘National Treasure,’
Michelle Yeoh Among Talented Cast of ‘American Born Chinese’
Groundbreaking Disney Junior Series ‘Doc McStuffins’ Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Disney Branded Television is adding new titles to a growing slate of premium original programming for kids, tweens, teens and families across Disney+ and Disney Channels. Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis announced these projects along with some key casting news today during the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, where she welcomed the press and delivered an overview of the brand’s legacy, values and content pipeline.
The titles that were announced today across the live-action, unscripted and animated space underscore Disney Branded Television’s commitment to serving audiences with exceptional, imaginative and aspirational stories from fresh, diverse voices and talent.
Davis also announced that GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs will narrate the “The Crossover” series. Announced earlier today, Tony and Academy Award® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones joins the cast of the “National Treasure” series, and Michelle Yeoh stars alongside an international cast in the upcoming series “American Born Chinese.”
Davis said: “With each one of these projects, we see an opportunity to build upon the strong foundation of storytelling that is a hallmark of the Disney brand. I am so proud to be working with some of the most creative and diverse talent in the industry, both in front of and behind the camera, to bring these fresh, inventive and impactful stories — new and reimagined — to life for our audiences to enjoy, regardless of platform.”
Additionally, during today’s presentation, Davis announced a milestone as Disney Junior’s groundbreaking animated series “Doc McStuffins” will turn 10 this year. Since it premiered in March 2012, the Peabody Award-winning series — the first animated series for preschoolers to feature a Black female lead — has helped open the door for other representation breakthroughs in media and even inspired some entries to the medical field. To celebrate the anniversary, a new animated music special inspired by the pioneering series is in the works for a debut later this year, and Disney Junior will air episodes daily throughout the month of March, including a marathon on Wednesday, March 23, the anniversary of its premiere. In addition, Disney Junior will unveil a new 10th anniversary Doc McStuffins doll from its licensee Just Play, and Walt Disney Records will debut a new digital single, “The Doc is 10,” performed by Laya DeLeon Hayes on Friday, March 18.
New greenlights announced today:
ORIGINAL MOVIES:
“PROM PACT” (Working Title) (Disney+ Original Movie)
Executive Producers: Melvin Mar, Julie Bowen, Jake Kasdan and Rachael Field
Written by: Anthony Lombardo
Directed by: Anya Adams
It’s the height of prom season, and high school senior Mandy Coleman and her best friend and fellow outsider Ben are surrounded by over-the-top ’80s-themed Promposals. However, Mandy keeps her eyes focused on a different goal: her lifelong dream of attending Harvard. When she finds out her acceptance has been deferred, she is determined to do whatever she can do to get herself off the waitlist, even if that means asking for help from the one person she abhors — popular all-star jock Graham Lansing, whose father is a powerful senator and Harvard alum. Once Mandy becomes Graham’s tutor, she begins to realize there’s more to him than she thought and perhaps something more to life than Harvard. Peyton Elizabeth Lee stars as Mandy, and Milo Manheim will play Ben.
“THE NAUGHTY NINE” (Disney Channel and Disney+)
Executive Producers: Suzanne Todd, Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas
Written by: Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas
Directed by: Alberto Belli
“The Naughty Nine” is a holiday heist movie — think “Ocean’s 11” at the North Pole — that follows fifth grader Andy, who has been a bit of a troublemaker this year. When Christmas morning rolls around and Andy gets stiffed by Santa, he realizes he’s on the “naughty list.” Feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a crack team of fellow “naughty listers” to execute an elaborate heist to get the presents he and the others feel they deserve. The determined ensemble includes Dulce, Andy’s best friend and archery expert; North Pole conspiracy theorist Lewis; daredevil “wheel woman” Ha-Yoon; animal whisperer Rose; master-of-disguise Jon Anthony; adorable charmer Albert; and Andy’s older sister, Laurel, a talented gymnast seeking to regain her confidence. Andy also enlists the help of Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa’s sleigh. However, in the process of finding their gifts, the gang begins to realize that Christmas is more about giving than taking. “The Naughty Nine” stars Winslow Fegley, Camila Rodriguez, Anthony Joo, Clara Stack, Imogen Cohen, Madilyn Kellam and Deric McCabe.
“UNDER WRAPS 2” (Disney Channel and Disney+)
Produced by: MarVista Entertainment
Executive Producers: Todd Y. Murata and Fernando Szew
Written by: Josh A Cagan
Directed by: Alex Zamm
The sequel to “Under Wraps,” the remake of the very first Disney Channel Original Movie, “Under Wraps 2” picks up as Amy is preparing for her father’s Spooktacular Halloween-themed wedding to his fiancé Carl. However, plans soon go awry when Amy, Gilbert and Marshall discover that their mummy friend Harold and his beloved Rose may be in danger. Sobek, an evil mummy with a thousand-year-old grudge against his best friend-turned-bitter rival Harold, is unexpectedly awakened and out for revenge. With help from his hypnotized lackey Larry, Sobek kidnaps Rose, and Amy, Gilbert, Marshall, Buzzy and Harold must use their skills once again to save her and get back in time to attend the wedding. “Under Wraps 2” stars Malachi Barton, Christian J. Simon, Sophia Hammons, Phil Wright, Melanie Brook, T.J. Storm, Rryla McIntosh, Jordan Conley and Adam Wylie.
UNSCRIPTED:
“GROWING UP” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: Culture House
Executive Producers: Brie Larson, Nicole Galovski, Raeshem Nijhon and Carri Twigg
Episode Directors: Brie Larson, Yara Shahidi, Sydney Freeland, Elegance Bratton, Ashley Eakin, Ekwa Msangi, Smriti Mundhra, Rudy Valdez, Bernardo Ruiz, Kishori Rajan and Nicole Galovski
“Growing Up” is a groundbreaking hybrid docu-series that explores the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of adolescence through ten compelling coming of age stories. The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story. They represent a wide range of lived experiences, giving audiences emotionally powerful narratives that offer an engaging look at teenage-hood and the diverse social, familial, and internal obstacles young people face on their path to self-discovery and acceptance. Each 30-minute episode features one young person, or “hero,” and their experience growing up. Each episode is anchored by a deeply personal interview that allows our heroes to walk us through their childhood and teenage years. Alongside these interviews, creative cinematic reenactments help bring their major inflection points to life.
“RENNERVATIONS” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: Boardwalk Pictures
Executive Producers: Jeremy Renner, Rory Millikin, Romilda De Luca, Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Sarina Roma, Patrick Costello
“RENNERVATIONS” is an original four-part series that embraces Jeremy’s lifelong passion for giving back to communities around the world by reimagining unique purpose-built vehicles to meet a community’s needs. Behind the big screen, Jeremy is a construction aficionado. He is heavily invested in the highly creative fabricator culture that exists across the globe and hopes to change lives with these skills and inspire others to do the same.
SCRIPTED SERIES:
“GOOSEBUMPS” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: Sony Pictures Television Studios
Executive Producers/Writers: Nick Stoller and Rob Letterman
Executive Producers: Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Conor Welch, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman
Director (first episode): Rob Letterman
Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling book series, “Goosebumps” combines teen comedy with horror, action-adventure, mystery and psychological thrill. The series follows a group of five high schoolers who unleash supernatural forces upon their town and must all work together — thanks to and in spite of their friendships, rivalries and pasts with each other — in order to save it, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process. Published by Scholastic, “Goosebumps” is one of the best-selling book series of all time, with more than 400 million English-language books in print, plus international editions in 32 languages. The television series is influenced by five of the most popular Goosebumps books.
SERIES RENEWAL:
“SECRETS OF SULPHUR SPRINGS” SEASON 3 (Disney Channel and Disney+)
Produced by: Gwave Productions, LLC.
Creator/Writer/Executive Producer: Tracey Thomson
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Charles Pratt Jr.
A live-action, time-travel mystery series, “Secrets of Sulphur Springs” follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell, whose family has uprooted their lives to move to a new town and take ownership of an abandoned hotel, The Tremont, in hopes of restoring it back to the lively vacation destination it once was. Not long after, Griffin learns that the hotel is rumored to be haunted by a ghost. Griffin and his best friend Harper, a bright-eyed, mystery-obsessed classmate, and Savannah, a girl who lives in the 1960s, work together to solve the mysteries of the supernatural forces at The Tremont by traveling through time via a secret portal in the basement of the hotel. Season two of the series took Griffin, Harper and Savannah back to the 1930 and 1962 to learn more about Harper’s family’s deep-seated connection to the hotel. In Season Three, a new ghost will torment The Tremont. Also, Griffin will travel to the future and then back to his present, where he and Harper will have to change the timelines of their lives in order to save their friendship and their families.
PREMIERE UPDATE:
“THE PROUD FAMILY: LOUDER AND PROUDER”
(Disney+ Original Series Premiering Feb. 23, 2022 – NOW WITH TWO EPISODES)
Executive Producers: Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar
A continuation of the acclaimed series, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” follows the adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring new career highs for mom Trudy, wilder dreams for dad Oscar and new challenges for Penny, including a socially woke neighbor who thinks she has a lot to teach her, bullying social media influencers who want to cancel her, and her own teenage hormones. Penny’s friends return, including Dijonay, LaCienega, Zoey and Michael. Penny’s Suga Mama also returns, ready as ever to dispense tough love or a gentle hand whenever Penny needs it. Among the new faces are Maya and KG, who not only have to deal with the struggles of being the new kids but also having two dads, a first for Smithville.
PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT:
Live-Action
“PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: 20th Television
Executive Producers: Eva Longoria and Ben Spector for UnbeliEVAble Entertainment
Executive Producer/Writer: Kevin Rodriguez
Executive Producer: Tehlor Kay Mejia
A fantasy/adventure television series based on “Paola Santiago and the River of Tears,” the critically acclaimed novel by author Tehlor Kay Mejia and published by Disney-Hyperion under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Inspired by the legend of La Llorona (the Weeping Woman), the story introduces a teen girl, Paola Santiago, who has always relied on hard science and logic to make sense of the world, unlike her mother, who believes in magic. But folklore becomes fact when Paola’s best friend goes missing, and to save her, Paola has to enter a world of mind-bending monsters and relentless spirits steeped in Latin folklore that defy both logic and legend.
Animation
“TINY TRAILBLAZERS” (Disney Junior Original Series)
Produced by Hello Sunshine in Association With Disney Junior
Executive Producers: Reese Witherspoon, Claire Curley
Geared towards kids aged 2-7, the entertaining stories model positive attitudes about the great outdoors and highlight the importance of environmental conservation and wildlife protection. Partners from National Geographic are consulting on the project. Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon (“Little Fires Everywhere,” “The Morning Show,” “Walk the Line”) serves as executive producer and will voice one of the mom characters, Fern, a wildlife specialist. The main characters are two girls, an adventurous city kid named Tilly and the more risk-averse Birdie, who befriends her when Tilly’s family moves to a campground while her scientist mom is doing field research on forest streams. As the girls observe their mother’s careers and interests and begin to explore and discover the magic of nature all around them, they develop a supportive friendship and a deep understanding of and appreciation for the natural world. The series also highlights age-appropriate social and emotional lessons about thoughtfulness, self-esteem, good instincts and trying new things.
“SUPERFUDGE” (Disney+ Original Movie)
Produced by: The Russo Brother’s AGBO
Written by: Amos Vernon and Nunio Randazzo
Based on the global, best-selling book by Judy Blume and from Joe and Anthony Russo of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Superfudge” centers on The Hatcher family. Twelve-year-old Peter Hatcher almost has it all — two boomer parents, a perfect though slightly odorous turtle, his very own bedroom in a cramped Manhattan apartment, a ride-or-die best friend Jimmy and eight whole weeks of summer vacation ahead of him — with just one massive problem. Farley Drexel Hatcher, his 3-year-old brother, aka Fudge. Fudge isn’t just a problem; he is a tornado, a tsunami, a superstorm, an arctic bomb of chaos and destruction. And when Fudge runs away under Peter’s watch, an epic family adventure across NYC ensues. One that ultimately brings these two together just as their world is turned upside down by the arrival of a brand-new problem — an infant baby sister — reminding us all that nothing is ever constant … except change.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TITLES:
“AMERICAN BORN CHINESE” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: 20th Television
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Kelvin Yu
Executive Producers: Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, Destin Daniel Cretton, Asher Goldstein, Erin O’Malley and Gene Luen Yang
A genre-hopping action-comedy series, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. The action-packed coming-of-age adventure explores identity, culture and family. The newly announced international cast includes stars Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan, Jim Liu and Sydney Taylor.
“BIG SHOT”
Produced by: ABC Signature
Executive Producer / Show Runner: Dean Lorey
Executive Producers: David E. Kelley, Brad Garrett and Bill D’Elia
In season two of “Big Shot,” Marvyn Korn (Stamos) returns to Westbrook with a new fire, ready to show that his girls basketball team belongs in D-2 and that he’s still the championship-winning, powerhouse coach he was in the NCAA. Marvyn’s latest plan toward relevance is to get his team broadcast on ESPN, and his method is to recruit an unlikely player: Ava (Echeagaray), a gutsy beach volleyball phenom whose public tantrum got her ousted from her own sport. Between losing their assistant coach Holly Barrett (Gilsig) to a rival school, new friction amongst teammates, a sudden and unexpected proximity to boys, and off-the-court disasters that no one could’ve predicted, this season, the Westbrook Sirens have even more to prove. “Big Shot” stars John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig, Sophia Mitri Schloss, Nell Verlaque, Tiana Le, Tisha Custodio, Cricket Wampler, Sara Echeagaray and Yvette Nicole Brown.
“THE CROSSOVER” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: 20th Television
Executive Producers: Todd Harthan, Damani Johnson, Kwame Alexander, George Tillman Jr., Bob Teitel and Jay Marcus; and LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson of The SpringHill Company.
Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel-in-verse by Kwame Alexander, “The Crossover” introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of he and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball, and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own. Daveed Diggs will narrate the series, and Jalyn Hall, Amir O’Neil, Derek Luke, Sabrina Revelle, Skyla I’Lece, Deja Monique Cruz and Trevor Raine Bush will star.
“DOOGIE KAMEALOHA, M.D.” Season Two
Produced by: 20th Television
Executive Producer / Showrunner: Kourtney Kang
Executive Producers: Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, Dayna Bochco, Jesse Bochco, Erin O’Malley, Matt Kuhn and Justin McEwen
Set in modern-day Hawai’i, this coming-of-age medical dramedy follows Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha, a 16-year-old prodigy juggling a budding medical career and life as a teenager. The show was recently renewed for season two. The show stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee as the title lead alongside an ensemble cast of series regulars including Jason Scott Lee, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Matthew Sato, Wes Tian, Emma Meisel, Mapuana Makia and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.
“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES” Season Three (Disney+ Original Series)
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Tim Federle
Season three of the hit series is set at Camp Shallow Lake, a family-owned sleepaway camp in California, as the Wildcats and their fellow campers stage a high-stakes production of “Frozen” and determine who is “best in snow.” In addition to music from “Frozen,” season three will feature music from “Camp Rock” and the “High School Musical” franchise. It stars Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Adrian Lyles, Saylor Bell, Corbin Bleu, Meg Donnelly, Jason Earles, Kate Reinders, Olivia Rose Keegan and Olivia Rodrigo.
“THE MIGHTY DUCKS: GAME CHANGERS,” Season Two
(Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: ABC Signature
Executive Producers/Showrunners: Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith
Executive Producers: Creator of the original movie franchise Steve Brill, Lauren Graham, George Heller, Brad Petrigala, Jordan Kerner and Jon Avnet.
After winning back the Mighty Ducks team name last year, our squad-with-heart and their coach Alex Morrow (Lauren Graham) take to the road to attend an intense summer hockey institute in California run by charming yet hardcore former NHL player, Colin Cole (Josh Duhamel). It’s a place for kids to get excellent at hockey — without school to get in the way. As our Ducks try to survive in this super-competitive environment, they’re faced with the question: Can you win summer?
“THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY” Season Two
(Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: 20th Television in Association With Halcyon Studios, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Company
Executive Producers/Writers: Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay
Executive Producers/Showrunners: Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin
Executive Producers: Jamie Tarses, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Deepak Nayar, David Ellender, Matt Loze and James Bobin
Based on the best-selling YA book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, season two of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” picks up as the team of four intrepid orphans reunite a year after their first mission, when they were assembled by Mr. Benedict and his cohorts to foil the nefarious “Emergency” created by Benedict’s twin brother Dr. L.D. Curtain. Now they must embark on a perilous journey, relying on wits, intellect and empathy to try and stop Curtain as he shifts to a new strategy with global implications. “The Mysterious Benedict Society” stars Tony Hale, Kristen Schaal, MaameYaa Boafo, Ryan Hurst, Gia Sandhu, Seth B. Carr, Emmy DeOliveira, Mystic Inscho and Marta Kessler.
“NATIONAL TREASURE” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: ABC Signature
Executive Producers: Cormac & Marianne Wibberley, Rick Muirragui, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jon Turteltaub, Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed
An expansion of the popular “National Treasure” movie franchise, this Disney+ original series centers on the young heroine Jess — a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer with a natural talent for solving puzzles and a proclivity for unraveling good mysteries. In search of answers about her own family, Jess embarks on the adventure of a lifetime and recruits a few treasure-hunting friends — Tasha, Ethan, Oren and Liam — and an FBI agent to help uncover the truth about her parents and their connection to a long-lost Pan-American treasure. Academy and Tony Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones joins the previously announced cast that includes Lisette Alexis, Zuri Reed, Jordan Rodrigues, Antonio Cipriano, Jake Austin Walker and Lyndon Smith.
“PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS” (Disney+ Original Series)
Produced by: 20th Television
Executive Producers: Rick Riordan, Jon Steinberg, James Bobin, Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, Bert Salke, Monica Owusu-Breen, Jim Rowe and Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell and D.J. Goldberg
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is an epic adventure series based on — and closely aligned with — Disney Hyperion’s best-selling book series by award-winning author Rick Riordan with more than 180 million books in print globally. Geared towards a general audience and especially tweens, teens and young adults, the live-action series tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound supernatural powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. Now, Percy must trek across America to find it and restore order to Olympus.
“THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES”
Produced by: 20th Television and Paramount Television Studios
Written by: Aron Eli Coleite
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Aron Eli Coleite
Executive Producers: Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg and Julie Kane Ritsch
“The Spiderwick Chronicles,” based on the best-selling books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, is a modern coming-of-age story combined with a fantasy-adventure as the Grace Family — twin brothers Jared and Simon, their sister Mallory and mother Helen — move into their dilapidated ancestral home and begin to unravel a dark mystery about their great-great uncle, who once discovered the secret and maybe foreboding faerie world existing parallel to their own.
About Disney Branded Television
Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers, and production and marketing teams responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group helps fuel the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior linear networks with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families, with stories that are imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences. Recent projects include “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” “Monsters at Work,” “The Mysterious Benedict Society” and “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends.” Disney Branded Television has created some of the most iconic and award-winning properties and franchises, including Peabody Award winners “Doc McStuffins” and “The Owl House”; Emmy® Award winners “Big City Greens” and “Elena of Avalor”; the beloved “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts plus the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) franchise, comprised of more than 100 titles.