Disney's upcoming animated feature, formerly announced as "Hexed," has undergone a significant narrative shift, evolving from a story about an "awkward teenage boy" discovering magical powers to one centered on a mother-daughter relationship. Directors Jason Hand and Fawn Veerasunthorn explained the creative process behind this change during a roundtable interview at the Annecy Festival.
The initial concept, revealed at the D23 fan event in 2025, described a plot where a teenage boy and his mother uncover his latent magical abilities. However, by the time the teaser trailer was released in June, the protagonist had become a teenage girl. Hand stated that a parent-child relationship was always foundational to the story, but the directors found that a mother-daughter dynamic offered a more compelling narrative, particularly in its exploration of witch-like empowerment for the daughter.
"Hexed," slated for release on November 25, follows Billie (Hailee Steinfeld), a rebellious teenager struggling to fit in at high school. Her life takes a magical turn on a particularly difficult day when a bracelet, a gift from her mother Alice (Rashida Jones) and a constant reminder to wear it, breaks. This event triggers the manifestation of magical powers that Alice had been suppressing since Billie's infancy.
While "Hexed" shares thematic similarities with other Disney films like "Moana" and "Encanto," which explore young female protagonists questioning their family dynamics, the directors aim for a unique approach. Veerasunthorn highlighted that the film's distinctiveness will stem from the specificity of Billie's situation and the unique magic system developed for the film.
Billie's journey involves discovering a hidden magical world called Hexe, a sanctuary founded by witches who escaped persecution and now live in harmony with nature. There, she encounters enchanted objects reminiscent of those in "Beauty and the Beast" and must learn to control her newfound abilities while being pursued by formidable witches capable of transforming into raven flocks. Although the premise of an unhappy youth discovering a magical destiny echoes stories like "Harry Potter" and Disney's "The Owl House," Veerasunthorn emphasized that "Hexed" differentiates itself by centering the narrative on the mother-daughter bond.
"This story is about a young girl who discovers her true potential, and it’s not like the usual hero’s journey where she has to do it on her own," Veerasunthorn explained. "In this film, the secret ingredient is her mom. I think that’s what sets it apart."
Furthermore, Billie's quest will involve uncovering family secrets to rescue her mother. Veerasunthorn expressed a personal connection to this aspect of the story, stating, "As a daughter who is also fortunate enough to become a mother, I really love this opportunity to tell this story that makes us curious about the side of our mothers we never thought to ask about: the joy, the mischief, and the mistakes."
The narrative explores the idea that fundamental aspects of identity may originate long before an individual's birth, adding a layer of depth to the mother-daughter exploration within the magical context of "Hexed."