The most iconic Disney villains are getting their own web series.
The House of Mouse’s upcoming streaming service Disney+ is developing Book of Enchantment, an adaptation of the book series Villains by Serena Valentino which will feature some of Disney’s most popular antagonists like Ursula from The Little Mermaid, The Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, and the Wicked Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
According to Deadline, Book of Enchantment is envisioned as an epic universe that merges classic Disney tales told in a fresh new way. The project has reportedly been in the works for more than six months now, with Michael Seitzman writing a pilot script and a bible for the series. ABC Signature Studios will produce the series along with Seitzman under his Maniac Productions banner.
Known for creating the CBS medical drama Code Black, Seitzman also serves as showrunner for Book of Enchantment, whose writers’ room is slated to open in April. Though budget numbers are still being finalized, location scouting has already started for a 2020 shoot in the UK. Popsugar reported that the production will kick off in Ireland.
Launched in 2009, Valentino’s novel series Villains started with the book Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen. Five Villains books have been published so far with a sixth, The Odd Sisters: A Villains Novel, hitting the shelves later this year.
Though there’s no official launch date yet for Disney+, it is expected that Netflix’s rival streaming service will debut in the last quarter of the year. In addition to Book of Enchantment, other series already ordered at the service include a High School Musical series, a High Fidelity series, and Star Wars live-action shows The Mandalorian and a yet-to-be-titled Rogue One prequel. A number of limited series based on characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are also being developed for the service.