Written by: Bill Kelly, with a rewrite by Rita Hsiao (Mulan, Toy Story 2) and Todd Alcott (Antz)
Directed by: Adam Shankman (replacing Jon Turteltaub)
Music by: Alan Menken and Glenn Slater

Production Started on: originally set for 2000 animation production and 2002 live action filming with Jon Turteltaub at the helm
Released on: previously scheduled for November 2002, it is now targeting a 2004 opening date.
 
 

CAST

Previously Attached to Star:

The Evil Queen... Susan Sarandon (Cats & Dogs)
Nathaniel, the queen's valet... David Hyde Pierce (Osmosis Jones)
John Travolta (not confirmed)
 
 

STORY

A peasant girl in a fairy tale world falls in love with her Prince Charming only to be banished to the New York City of our real world by an Evil Queen. There, she falls in love with a married man. The Prince (and the Queen) follows her to the real world, forcing her to choose between a fairy tale happy ending and real-life love...
 
 

INTERESTING FACTS

  In the original draft, the girl asked to be sent to the real world, trying to escape Prince Charming, who she didn't like. The script has been changed to give the film a villain in the form of the Evil Queen.

  This film will be a combination of animation (the fairy tale world) and live-action (the real world).

  Barry Sonnenfeld and Barry Josephson will produce. Turteltaub and Christina Steinberg also will produce through their Junction Entertainment. Buena Vista Motion Picture Group president Nina Jacobson and director of production Doug Short are overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.

  Rob Marshall was originally attached to direct this project, but parted ways with Disney over the direction of the script. Turteltaub replaced him in January 2001.

  Work for the 20-minuted animated portion of the movie has started at the Walt Disney Studios in Paris.  But animation supervisor Eric Goldberg left Disney to direct Where The Wild Things Are for Universal, along with his wife, who was also working on the now-troubled project.

  Additionally, John Turteltaub put this film on the back burner in August 2001 in favor of another project, National Treasure. Which is interesting, since that second project has not been greenlighted yet. He is expected to return to Enchanted once Treasure is completed, in late 2002.

  Disney announced in April 2003 that Adam Shankman (Bringing Down the House) would direct the live-action/animated romantic fable. The script still had a fairytale princess banished from the cartoon kingdom to find herself a flesh and blood person in the Big Apple. Barry Josephson and Barry Sonnenfeld will serve as producers.

  According to Variety, the frontrunners for the female lead were Kate Hudson and Reese Witherspoon as of April 2003.

  Alan Menken revealed on August 13, 2003 that he and lyricist Glenn Slater (Home on the Range) were currently writing a new film for Disney. Said the composer, "[Glenn] and I are working on a new film musical called Enchanted. He and I have done quite a few things in the last five years. Enchanted is the story of an animated ingenue who has a spell. Basically, it involves animation and live action film." Menken wouldn't elaborate on the film, explaining, "It's a Disney film, and I'm gonna let them [announce the details]. I'm not gonna spill the beans on that!"

  Nina Jacobson, Disney's head of production, said in September 2003 that "turning into a princess is always an appealing fantasy for girls. It's the corollary of being a superhero for boys. These are transformational fantasies where you are changed from what you are to your idealized version."

  The Hollywood Reporter announced on October 10, 2003 that director Adam Shankman was in talks to helm the family comedy Four Christmases in early 2004. This likely means more delays or a new director for Enchanted.