Disney Branded TV Reveals All-New Kids’ Programming

Disney Branded Television has unveiled a slew of fresh programming highlights and its fall and winter premiere dates for new original movies and series on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

Disney Branded Television is developing the original movie From the Desk of Zoe Washington, based on the book by Janae Marks. Kerry Washington (Scandal) and Pilar Savone (Django Unchained), both of Simpson Street Productions, and Effie T. Brown (Dear White People) of Gamechanger Films are set to executive produce.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington centers on middle-schooler and aspiring pastry chef Zoe, who sets her sights on auditioning as a contestant on Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge the summer before seventh grade. One day, Zoe receives a letter from her father, Marcus, who was sent to prison right before she was born. When Marcus proclaims his innocence, Zoe is shocked: How could someone innocent end up in prison? With the help of her grandmother and her friend Trevor, Zoe begins to learn about systemic racism and how Marcus may have found himself unjustly imprisoned and embarks on a quest to set her biological father free.

Additionally, a second season of Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, the first full-length Marvel series for preschoolers, has been greenlit into production. The show debuted on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and DisneyNOW earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Emmy Award-nominated writer and producer Travis Braun has extended his overall deal with Disney to develop and produce both animated and live-action content across linear and streaming platforms for Disney Branded Television. The deal also includes a first look at any of Braun’s projects for other Disney-owned platforms, including additional streaming and theatrical releases. Pupstruction, a new series from Braun for the preschool audience, has been given a greenlight for Disney Junior, and a Disney Channel Original Movie is also in development.

In regard to premieres, two new Disney Channel Original Movies are in place: Under Wraps, debuting October 1, and Christmas Again, to debut December 3.

Also set for an October 1 debut is the new animated series The Ghost and Molly McGee, which explores the unlikely friendship between an eternally optimistic girl and a grumpy ghost.

On Disney Junior, Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches has been slated for October 7 and Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas for December 2.