Disney appears to be shifting slightly away from its princess-focused live-action slate. The studio is now turning its attention to one of its most recognisable characters: Tinker Bell, the mischievous fairy fromPeter Pan.
A new live action drama series titledTinkis currently in development for Disney+.Deadlinebroke the news, with Liz Heldens and Bridget Carpenter reportedly writing the script. While the project is still in its early stages, the announcement alone has already generated considerable interest online, with fans speculating who will play the role of Tinker Bell in the series.
The upcoming series is expected to present an updated version of the classic 1953 character who first appeared on the animated filmPeter Pan.The character has since been seen in countless other movies and series over the past 70 years.
Tinker Bell originated in J.M. Barrie's earlyPeter Panstories and was known as Peter Pan's sidekick. She can produce fairy dust which, when combined with happy thoughts, allows people to fly.
Former Disney Branded Television president and chief creative officer Gary Marsh is reportedly attached as an executive producer, alongside Quinn Haberman from Heldens' production company, Selfish Mermaid.
As previously mentioned, Heldens and Carpenter are co-writing the series. The two are longtime friends and worked together onFriday Night Lights.
Heldens began her career onBoston Publicand later served as a co-executive producer onFriday Night Lights. She has since created a wide variety of shows, includingMercy,Deception,The Passage,Camp, andThe Big Leap. Her producing credits includeThe OrvilleandThe Dropout, and she currently serves as a co-showrunner for the fourth season of ABC'sWill Trent.
Carpenter started her career onDead Like Me.She later spent five seasons working as a co-executive producer onFriday Night Lights. Her credits include creating the Stephen King adaptation11.22.63for Hulu. Additionally, she has written for and produced major series such asParenthood,The Red Road,Westworld,King Shaka, andOnly Murders in the Building. Beyond television, she is also a highly regarded playwright.
Disney has attempted to develop a live-action Tinker Bell project before. In 2015, a film titledTinkwas in development with Reese Witherspoon reportedly set to play the lead.
For a time, it seemed as though the project was gaining real momentum, before being pushed back and lingering in development for several years. It ultimately failed to materialise. By 2021, it had become clear that the iteration featuring Witherspoon had been quietly shelved.
Source: International Business Times UK
