Disney has given audiences plenty of original animated adventures over the past decade, from Moana and Encanto to Raya and the Last Dragon and Wish. However, with recent releases like Moana 2 and Zootopia 2, not to mention two more Frozen movies in development, there's a belief that the studio is starting to lean more heavily into established franchises.
That perception isn't entirely fair, at least according to Disney Animation chief Jared Bush, who insists there's no mandate requiring filmmakers to produce sequels. With the studio preparing to release Hexed, an original animated adventure, Bush has pushed back on the idea that Disney's future revolves around revsisting familiar characters and worlds.
Speaking with Cartoon Brew, Bush addressed the growing perception that Disney has become more interested in producing sequels than taking chances on something new.
"For me personally, as I’m looking at the slate moving forward, 100% we have to tell new original stories," Bush explained. "I came to Disney and I had the luxury of working on three originals back to back. It was amazing."
That said, Bush doesn't necessarily think returning to established franchises is a bad thing. Just look at the box office numbers. However, he argues that the desire to make sequels often comes from the filmmakers themselves rather than a corporate diretive.
"But I will also say, I actually do love stepping back into worlds that I help to build with characters that I love," he continued. "A lot of times people think there’s a mandate of sequels. Actually, people are excited to jump back into those worlds and spend time with characters that we fell in love with."
There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend more time with belvoed characters, but it's worth remembering that before Frozen became a worldwide phenomenon, Anna and Elsa were just two sisters starring in an original Disney movie. The same could be said about the characters in Zootopia. Bush believes there's something special about that initial experience, particularly the opportunity to surprise audiences.
"I’d say the special thing about an original is that no one knows what’s going to happen yet," he said. "You’re taking people on this journey. They don’t know the character’s secrets yet. They don’t know whether flaws are flaws or a superpower. They don’t know the worlds that you step into."
"And I think a really good balance is a sequel to an original" Bush added. "If we can keep a cadence like that, to me, it makes a lot of sense as we’re moving forward."
Releasing this Thanksgiving, Hexed is Disney's next big original animated adventure, introducing audiences to a new world of magic and witchcraft. The film follows Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager who discovers she has magical abilities that transport her from the suburbs into a hidden world of witches called Hexe. Alongside her overprotective mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones), Billie sets out on a journey that uncovers long-buried family secrets that could change the magical world forever.
Hexed is set to hit theaters in the United States on November 25, 2026.