Disney fans have waited 15 years for a sequel to Enchanted, and at D23 Expo, we finally got our first look at the long-awaited sequel, titled Disenchanted. The highly anticipated follow-up reunites the original cast of Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden, while also adding stars Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays.
Much of the plot had been kept under wraps until now, but the trailer finally sheds light on the story of Disenchanted, which picks up 15 years after Giselle and Robert wed. Disillusioned with life in the city, they move to the quiet suburban community of Monroeville in hopes of starting a new fairy tale life. But as Giselle soon discovers, finding her happily ever after in suburbia will come with its own unique set of challenges and rules.
"If the world is not to your liking, then you must change it," the handsome but sometimes naive Prince Edward suggests. Perhaps with another little nudge from the local queen bee, Malvina (who appears to be this movie's real villain), Giselle turns to the magic of Andalasia for help. Unfortunately, there are some unintended consequences as the entire town is turned into a real-life fairy tale.
The trailer teases some wild twists, including Giselle struggling with the trope of becoming the evil stepmother. Watching actress Amy Adams switch on the fly from sweet and innocent to wicked and conniving should provide plenty of entertainment. And for more laughs, Pip, the chipmunk friend of Giselle, has now gained the power to talk.
Disenchanted is directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray, Cheapter by the Dozen 2), and will features new original songs by 8-time Oscar winning composer Alan Menken and lyrics by three-time Oscar-winning lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Their work together on Enchanted garnered three Academy Award nominations.
From the traditional archetypical Disney princess tropes to the references of Disney's live-action/animation combos, the original Enchanted acted as both a homage and self-parody of Disney's animated features. The film was a commercial success, having grossed $340.5 million.
Critics and fans alike also adored it, as evidenced by its 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 80% audience score. Critics described it as a "smart re-imagining of fairy tale tropes that's sure to delight children and adults," while praising its "witty dialogue" and "sharp animation" along with the fairy tale performance of Amy Adams.
But for whatever reason, Enchanted seemed to exist as one of Disney's most underappreciated movies. Thankfully, 15 years later, we're finally getting a sequel. Disenchanted will premiere on Disney+ on November 24, 2022.
Check out our live coverage of D23 Expo 2022 here!