Disney’s youngest princess is heading back to school in a new series.
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Disney Jr., the pre-school division of the Walt Disney Company, has greenlit a sequel to the popular children’s television show Sofia the First , The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.
Sofia the First: Royal Magic is a continuation of the show that premiered in 2012 and ran until 2018. The sequel series follows Sofia, a young girl who becomes a princess overnight when her mother marries the king, continuing her adventures as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, an academy for princes and princesses to further their magical and royal education.
Modern Family actress Ariel Winter returns to voice Sofia. The 26-year-old actress voiced the role throughout the show’s initial run. Additional casting is slated to be announced at a later date. The show’s original cast included Wayne Brady, Tim Gunn, Sara Ramirez, Eric Stonestreet and Kieran Shipka, with Gen Z IT girl Sabrina Carpenter playing a recurring role.
Craig Gerber, creator of Sofia the First and its spinoff Elena of Avalor , serves as the creator and executive producer of the upcoming series. “I wanted to try something new,” Gerber tells THR . Gerber adds that the sequel will lean into the emotion and comedy of a young princess “who is in a new school with new friends, learning new skills and encountering stories that teach her about teamwork and friendship and leadership.”
The Emmy award-winning show has remained a successful franchise for Disney. The original series premiered with a television movie, which became the number-one cable TV telecast for kids 2-5 and girls 2-5, and the No. 1 preschool cable TV telecast in total viewers, with 8.17 million viewers. The character has expanded well beyond the original series with stints in Disney parks, merchandise, music, books and more.
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“Since its debut in 2012, Sofia the First captured the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers everywhere for its beloved characters, memorable music, adventurous spirit and meaningful storylines,” Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, said in a statement. “The enduring charm and appeal of Sofia is undeniable, and we’re excited to continue sharing her journey in Sofia the First: Royal Magic .”
Each episode of Sofia the First: Royal Magic will include two 11-minute stories (each with a new song), a change from the 22-minute episode format of the original show. Gerber notes that there has been a rise in shorter form content in the time since Sofia the First has been off the air, and that the switch to 11-minute stories is a “very tangible way” in which the new show is “playing to a modern audience.”
The creative team for the sequel series, which is produced by Disney Television Animation, will include key members from another Gerber-created Disney Jr. show, Firebuds , such as co-EP and story editor Krystal Banzon, supervising director Kris Wimberly and producer Craig Simpson.
Sofia the First: Royal Magic is currently in production and slated for release in 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney+.
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