Disney Branded TV Partners with Wilmer Valderrama for Zorro

Disney Branded Television and Wilmer Valderrama are in development on a reinvention of the action-adventure series Zorro.

Valderrama will executive produce and star as Don Diego de la Vega and his alter ego, the masked horseman named Zorro. The series follows the masked avenger as he defends the poor and acts as the scourge of military tyrants on his black stallion.

The original series aired from 1957 to 1959, with a total of 78 episodes. The reimagined series is executive produced by Valderrama, Gary Marsh as part of his production banner at Disney General Entertainment and John Gertz (The Mask of Zorro, The Legend of Zorro) of Zorro Productions.

“We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style—with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense and humor of the original, iconic Zorro,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television.

She continued, “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience, and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”

“Growing up, Zorro was the one character that made me, as a Latino, feel like I could be a hero,” Valderrama said. “As an adult and a storyteller, I have a responsibility in the stories that I help bring to life. To partner with Gary and Disney to bring Zorro back into the family after 60 years and be a part of the legacy for other children to know they too can be the heroes of their own stories is a dream come true.”