Obviously, the focus on Disney+ originals largely revolves around the latest entries in the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe and the many planets of Star Wars. These series are undeniably exciting, but there are just as many thrilling new shows in the pipeline that aren’t a part of these franchises.
There’s a lot to look forward to, and this list is filled with a lot of the stories already cherished by fans, but considering how thoughtful Disney has been with some of the Disney+ exclusive series so far, there’s every reason to believe they will also be of a high quality.
Just Beyond
Obviously, a horror show on Disney+ isn’t going to be akin to The Haunting of Hill House or Servant. It’s going to be mostly light-hearted with some frights that would only be deemed scary by children. It’s a family-friendly streaming service, after all.
But wholesome haunts still have merit! Just Beyond will embrace the frightful and the funny in this series that is based on a classic R.L. Stine series. Stine stories generally present the perfect example of “baby’s first horror” and it also doesn’t hurt that Disney isn’t just remaking something with this show. The series is set to release sometime in 2021.
Ink & Paint
So far, some of the best Disney+ original programming has been their docuseries. The Imagineering Story and Into the Unknown both took fans deep into the machinations of how Disney makes their magical theme parks and movies come to life.
Ink & Paint will aim to keep that high-quality doc streak going for the streamer, as it will dive into how women were vital for building Disney’s animation department, even if they never got the credit they deserved. It will be glossier than most hard-hitting, similar documentaries, but it’s a fascinating topic to go in-depth on. This project is still in development.
Willow
While original storytelling will always be appreciated on Disney+, there are still some interesting remakes in the developmental stage. One such example is Willow, a sequel series to the 1988 fantasy epic starring Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer.
Typically, something like this might seem misguided or like scraping the bottom of the creative idea barrel, but with both Davis and director Ron Howard returning, there’s hope that Willow could capture an enchanting fantastical environment beyond space operas and superhero stories. The series is set to release sometime in 2022.
Darkwing Duck
One Disney superhero who doesn’t need to rely on the MCU is Darkwing Duck. An icon of Disney Television, Darkwing Duck is essentially the Batman-esque figure of the DuckTales universe.
Whether this Disney+ series will follow the version of Darkwing depicted in the DuckTales reboot (a truly enriching take on the character) remains to be seen. But with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg producing, it remains a must-see either way. The series has yet to have a release date.
Behind The Attraction
Returning to docuseries, Behind the Attraction will likely scratch the itch of those who enjoyed Disney+’s The Imagineering Story, an in-depth look at the history and making of Disney attractions and the theme parks they live in.
Behind the Attraction will have four more episodes than Imagineering and take a deeper look at the specific rides that populate the Disney parks. With Dwayne Johnson leading the charge on this series, it’s a must-see for the theme park nerds in the Disney realm. This project is still in development.
Tiana
Over on Disney Channel, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure was a thrilling example of the possibility inherent in series follow-ups to movies when the creative staff really cares about the story. Not to mention, it also brought back the original voice cast.
Hopefully, Tiana will do the same, as it would be such a treat to spend even more time in the world of The Princess and the Frog. While it’s still unclear what adventures Tiana will get up to in the series, just following her at her restaurant will be more than enough to justify this highly anticipated series, set to release in 2022.
National Treasure
It was just announced that the National Treasure franchise, in addition to receiving a third film, will be seeing a series on Disney+. This time around, a DREAMer will take the lead role, providing even more exploration into the different channels of America’s past.
Of course, it will still have all the requisite treasure hunting themes of the National Treasure stories, which will make it a fun scavenger hunt, week to week. Any adventure story like this is undeniably a fun time, although there is yet to be a release date.
The Little Town
Some might think that a prequel to the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast is a foolish decision. However, this is more than just IP mining. The Little Town is an excellent opportunity to see Josh Gad and Luke Evans re-team as LeFou and Gaston.
They had excellent chemistry together, after all. Throw in some surefire banger tunes from Alan Menken and there’s absolutely no downside to returning to the Beauty and the Beast world for some more jaunty French hijinks. There is no release date yet.
Moana
While the Tiana series is sure to be a ripper, it’s the Moana show that has fans most excited on the animation front. Considering Disney’s film animation studio will helm the show, it’s sure to be of an even higher quality than film follow-ups tend to be.
But also, Moana has so many different creative directions it can take. It felt like the explorations and adventures of Moana and her world of mythical figures were only just beginning. Building out that world even deeper will be such a thrill. The series is set to debut in 2023.
The Society Of Explorers And Adventurers
Lastly, this is the one. Marvel and Star Wars is great for Disney Plus, but The Society of Explorers and Adventurers has the most potential to be a truly epic, ambitious original series from Disney.
Set in a Magic Kingdom universe with backstories for its many famous attractions, SEA is being developed by Ron Moore, of For All Mankind fame. Considering his track record and this show’s ability to bridge derring-do storytelling with the cherished elements of the Disney parks, SEA is a must-see, though it is still in development.
