At the D23 fan expo event taking place this weekend, Walt Disney Animation Studios officially announced its next non-sequel film since the disastrous release of 2023's Wish.
Taking to the D23 stage, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer, Jared Bush announced Hexed, a film about an oddball teenager and his mom who discover that his quirkiness is actually a result of his magical heritage.
Josie Trinidad (Zootopia+) and Jason Hand (Moana 2) are directing the pic.
The official logline for Hex reads: "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."
Hexed received an undated, November 2026 release at D23.
The last non-sequel released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in theaters that actually achieved solid box office numbers was 2016's Moana.
Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, and Strange World were all negatively impacted at the box office by the Covid-19 pandemic, while 2023's Wish simply failed to resonate with audiences.
Coming off Moana 2, Hexed finds itself sandwiched between Zootopia 2 and Frozen III, making this an important release for the studio's leadership in determining what amount of assets should be focused on original concepts.
Currently, Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat and Netflix's Narnia adaptation are also set for release in November 2026 but it's likely that Hexed will face more competition for family entertainment spending as the 2026 theatrical release calendar continues to fill up in the coming months.