Walt Disney Animation Studios has lifted the curtain on its next original animated feature, Hexed, with a theatrical debut locked for November 2026. The announcement came Saturday during the Walt Disney Studios Showcase at Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney, held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Revealed by Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Hexed tells the story of an awkward teenage boy whose so-called “weirdness” is revealed to be hidden magical powers. Together with his perfectionist, Type-A mother, he is thrust into a secret world of magic that threatens to turn both their lives—and the rules of that hidden realm—upside down.
The official logline describes the premise as: “An awkward teenage boy and his Type-A mom discover that what makes him unusual, might just be magical powers that will turn their lives and a secret world of magic, upside down.”
The film is directed by Josie Trinidad (Zootopia+) and Jason Hand (Moana 2), with producing duties handled by Oscar winner Roy Conli (Big Hero 6) and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones (Encanto). While Disney has yet to share casting and other details, the project is already being discussed as a potential metaphor for themes of difference and neurodivergence, though how the studio will explore those ideas remains to be seen.
Saturday’s announcement was part of a packed Disney slate reveal, hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown, that also delivered updates on Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, Tron: Ares, and Ice Age: Boiling Point. Pixar, Disney’s sister studio, also previewed its 2026 release Hoppers, directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears: The Movie).
With Hexed, Disney continues its push for original stories alongside sequels to established franchises, aiming to balance fresh concepts with the security of box office heavy-hitters. As the 2026 release date approaches, more details on the cast, animation style, and soundtrack will emerge. For now, Hexed stands as the studio’s boldest new title on the horizon—blending family dynamics, fantasy adventure, and a reminder that what makes us different might be the very thing that saves us.
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