2007's Enchanted was a fun and surprisingly thoughtful treat from Disney, simultaneously paying homage to the studios' classic animated princess movies and making fun of their stereotypical tropes. While the movie worked excellently as a one-off tale, a sequel was was announced several years later, although it's been languishing in development hell ever since. However, it now looks like Enchanted 2 is back on track with a new director being eyed to lead the charge.
According to THR, Hairspray director Adam Shankman is in negotiations to helm Enchanted 2, which is officially titled Disenchanted. If a deal is worked out, he would take over directing duties from Kevin Lima, who oversaw the first movie. Step Up's Anne Fletcher was tapped to direct the sequel in 2014, but two years later, it looks like Disney wants to go in a different direction. The report also included a basic plot synopsis provided by THR's sources. Set 10 years after the first movie, Disenchanted will see Princess Giselle questioning her "happily ever after life," which subsequently leads to the lives of everyone around accidentally being "turned upside down," both in the real world and the animated kingdom of Andalasia. Amy Adams is expected to reprise Giselle, and Disney is hoping to start shooting Disenchanted by summer 2017.
For those who need a refresher on Enchanted, the movie followed Princess Giselle, an animated citizen of Andalasia who finally believed that she'd found her "happily ever after" when she fell in love Prince Edward and would soon marry him. However, her life was thrown askew before the wedding when Edward's evil step-mother Queen Narissa transported her to our world, where magic is basically nonexistent and "happily ever afters" are rarer. She eventually met a cynical divorce lawyer named Robert and his daughter Morgan, and as she helped brighten up their lives, Giselle's idea of true happiness gradually changed. By the end of the movie, she decided to stay in the real world to start her own fashion business and build a family with Robert and Morgan.
While it may seem odd at first to release Disenchanted after Enchanted provided a happy ending. it's actually an interesting way to continue playing on Disney fairy tale movie tropes. After all, just because a story ends doesn't mean that the characters don't go on living their lives. Just because Giselle found new people to love in our world doesn't mean that the years after would be perfect. As for Adam Shankman, he has plenty of musical experience helming the Hairspray and Rock of Ages theatrical adaptations, while his other directing credits include The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember and Bedtime Stories. Shankman is also a longtime choreographer, so taking on Disenchanted would put many of his talents to good use if he and Disney work out an arrangement.
Stay tuned to Cinema Blend for all the relevant details surrounding Disenchanted as more news comes in. For now, let us know what you think of these developments in the comments below.
