Sofia the First: Royal Magic

[NeoSuperBlissey]

A new "Sofia the First" spin-off series set at Royal Prep is now in development as part of an expansion of Craig Gerber's overall deal with Disney Branded Television.

This news comes on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the original "Once Upon a Princess" pilot film.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/sofia- ... 35324/amp/

[NeoSuperBlissey]

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that a sequel series of "Sofia the First" is now in production for a scheduled 2026 release on both Disney Jr. and Disney+.

The series, which will be titled "Sofia the First: Royal Magic," will see the returns of series creator Craig Gerber and Sofia herself, Ariel Winter.

Also, instead of the one 22-minute story per episode of the original series, each episode of "Royal Magic" will contain two 11-minute stories.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv ... 235974035/

[Sotiris]

Updates from the showrunner.

The new show will have a different feel than the original bc of the shorter length and bc we're gearing it more towards youngsters discovering Sofia for the first time rather than those who have already watched the first series. There are still some fun surprises for OG viewers.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824119724315492710

She is the same age that she was at the end of the original series.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824127742000148990

Sofia is the same age, Ariel Winter is reprising her role and some of Sofia's friends will make appearances but I can't say who yet.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824163789799035391

Sofia will basically look the same age as she did in the original Sofia series. But she won't look exactly the same because we are using more modern animation software for the new show.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824183084755161531

Q: I thought the Sofia spin-off was going to focus on Royal Prep!! And didn’t Sofia choose to attend EverRealm Academy?

Craig Gerber: Plans often change. In our world and Enchancia!

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824118153942843597

Q: What happened to Royal Prep? Is that still being made or has the Sofia the First continuation with her in a magic school replaced it?

Craig Gerber: We started off thinking we would do a spinoff and decided to do a sequel instead. So yes, this is replacing the other idea.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824181991081906333

Q: Why does the series doesn’t come out until 2026?

Craig Gerber: Because it takes about 18 months to make a single episode...and the studio waits until many episodes are finished before launching the show.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824190209329963072

Q: Is the Sofia the first sequel series is going to be a musical series just like the original series?

Craig Gerber: Yes there will be lots of music.

Source: https://x.com/CraigGerber_/status/1824991999931658324

I'm in the recording studio about to record Sofia once more.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craigsgerber.b ... cw6542ss2q

This afternoon, I'll be in the recording studio with a top-12 wizard and a certain fairy from the original Sofia series who has a surprising role in the new show!

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craigsgerber.b ... rdkiw2as2g

We had three VO all-stars in the booth yesterday and congrats to those who guessed one of them was Jess Harnell, who's been in every show I've made.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craigsgerber.b ... tshk4jvc27

My last meeting of the year was watching the second animatic screening of the first half of the first episode of the new Sofia the First series and the board team knocked it lot of the park. The first song sequence is *chef's kiss*!

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craigsgerber.b ... mxrlhezc27

This was some long weekend. I spent most of it doing my weekly Sofia polish and finishing the first draft of a development pilot.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craigsgerber.b ... a54byd4s2b

Sofia is going to a new school and has new friends.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... zkhfsut22m

The new show is not relying on a lot of lore from the original show to start with. Key characters are returning but we are going to establish the new characters and storylines before we revisit any older ones.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... tmgbhgys2y

Unlike a lot of sequels (esp. shows geared towards teens or adults only), the primary audience for this show is the new audience. So we don't want to overwhelm them with too many things that are from past storylines right off the bat.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... tvmofwo227

We're not bringing in all the roles she has right away. As I alluded to in other posts, we're not making new viewers have to "get up to speed" on older storylines like the protectors and the story keeper, etc. Some of those things will come later. Probably much later.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... wsyble6c2j

The new show takes place three months after the original show ended. So she is basically the same age. The whole series will occur before Elena's coronation.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... tvox4vkk27

Yes on new powers and animal friends. No on curses. The amulet shouldn't be cursing Sofia since Elena was released from it unless the amulet was magically tampered with.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... ty2yf4tc27

The new show will most likely feel younger because of the intense pressure from above to make it so.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... ntfomkw22l

I can say that we are not toon-shading the show like the original. It's a new series with a new look. I love what we did with the original show but the new one is not meant to feel like more of the same thing.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... nh6nbqpk2k

These are screen grabs from an internal animation test we did a year and a half ago. I'm surprised these images were released. Sofia's model has been revised at least 9 times since this test.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... mh5o4e3c2l

I've lost count of how many iterations of Sofia we've done over the past 2 years in different phases of her design (from 2D to modeling to surfacing to lighting). A lot of effort was put into it.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... msfhmysk2e

Some of this description is accurate and some of it isn't - but I'm not going to say which is which because it will lead to an avalanche of questions. We'll just have to wait and see.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... mhcdfqzs2l

Yes, they're all meant to be the same age as Forever Royal and we re-designed them that way.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... 3ns6hmrk2n

You will see Sofia's family and some of her friends from the old show but not her old classmates. If we get additional seasons, we may try to bring some of them back. Mystic Isles characters won't be showing up any time soon because we are trying not to burden the new audience with too much lore.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... 3ztetwkc2z

There will be no continuation of any storyline from the OG show in the new one at least in Season 1. There is a strong push to provide a new experience for the new audience. Any storyline we'd have to re-explain is usually nixed from above.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... 3o5nof6s2n

Sofia's taking a break from her protector duties for a while so she's not wearing it.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/craiggerber.co ... 3nqdr3ik2n

How could we make royal magic without the OG royal fam?!? I missed seeing these talented, amazing folks and it's been one of the greatest joys of the new show being in studio with them again! And there are even more returning voices yet to be announced.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/craigsgerber/p/DNLt142vhZt/

So this happened the other day….

Source: https://www.instagram.com/craigsgerber/p/DRQ5DC4EeFS/

Q: How many seasons?

Craig Gerber: Just 1 so far but it's a long one!

Source: https://www.instagram.com/disneyjr/reel/DU11t78AQVB/

[Sotiris]

Source: https://www.detpress.com/disneybrandedt ... ges-logos/

“Sofia the First: Royal Magic” follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends. As previously announced, Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+. Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make A Deal”) as Clover, Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”) as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) as Minimus, Sara Ramirez (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham (“The Legend of Vox Machina”) as King Roland.

• New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
• Produced by Disney Television Animation
• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

Source: https://www.detpress.com/disneybrandedt ... lay-event/

[DisneyFan09]

What a cute logo, despite how it`s not as different as the first. I wonder if this reboot is going to have new cameos from the Princesses.

[Sotiris]

The teaser trailer has been released.

Disney Jr. has revealed a first-look teaser for the highly anticipated “Sofia the First: Royal Magic,” a brand-new series set in the world of “Sofia the First.” The new series is set to premiere this May on Disney+ and Disney Jr.

Joining the voice cast that includes Ariel Winter, who returns as Princess Sofia, is Nate Torrence (“Zootopia”) as Pepper, Sofia’s adorable, yet mischievous, pet puppy-unicorn. Mela Pietropaolo (“Cocomelon Lane”), Kai Harris (“Paw Patrol”) and newcomer Aaliyah Magcasi will voice Layla, Zane and Camila, respectively, Sofia’s new school friends. Darcy Rose Byrnes and Jess Harnell will return as fan-favorite characters Princess Amber and Cedric, respectively. They join other previously announced returning cast members Wayne Brady (Clover), Tim Gunn (Baileywick), Eric Stonestreet (Minimus), Sara Ramirez (Queen Miranda) and Travis Willingham (King Roland).

“Sofia the First: Royal Magic” follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.

Craig Gerber, who developed and served as executive producer on the original series, is creator and executive producer of “Sofia the First: Royal Magic.” Krystal Banzon is co-executive producer and story editor, Kris Wimberly is supervising director, Craig Simpson is producer, and Francis Giglio is art director. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Source: https://www.detpress.com/disneybrandedt ... -unveiled/