Kidscreen » Archive » Disney is making a YA version of Phantom of the Opera

Disney, famous for its love of musical films, draws on over a century of its brand’s history to create another installment in the genre.

Deadline announced that the Branded TV unit is in the early stages of developing a film project called Phantom for its flagship streaming service Disney+, which is a new interpretation of Gaston Leroux’s novel Phantom of the Opera (1909) for youth.

Kenny Ortega (who confirmed the news on his profile) Instagram page) will executive produce and direct, working from a script written by Giovanni Porta (At midnight). Candle Media’s Los Angeles-based Exile Content Studio will executive produce, with Paul Becker (Riverdale) is also included.

The project marks Ortega’s return to Disney after a five-year deal with Netflix in 2019 that saw him helm a series for teens Julie and the Phantoms (2020).

Leroux’s novel, which has spawned numerous films and award-winning stage adaptations over the years, tells the story of a mysterious masked figure who haunts the Paris Opera and takes a keen interest in a young singer. The classic story was previously aged up for children in a loose adaptation titled Phantom at the Megaplexwhich premiered on Disney Channel in 2000.

Ortega has directed numerous major works for Disney, including several hit films from the popular High School Musical and Descendants franchises, as well as Hocus Pocus (1993) and This Cheetah Girls 2 (2006). He is also credited as the choreographer of cult coming-of-age films such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off AND Pretty in pink. His experience in the entertainment industry also includes directing concerts for stars such as Michael Jackson (HIStory World Tour), Cher (Heart of Stone Tour) and Miley Cyrus (The best of both worlds tour).