Once upon a time, a princess found herself in New York City. That was the simple but irresistible premise of 2007’s Enchanted, which proved to be a star-making role for Amy Adams. Yes, the star enchanted audiences as Giselle, a princess from Andalasia who is sent away to the Big Apple just before she is set to get her fairy-tale ending. And though the crowded city might not seem like the spot where dreams come true, that’s where she falls in love with Robert, a slightly jaded lawyer played by Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a. Grey’s Anatomy’s resident dreamboat.
The Kevin Lima-directed movie became an instant success after its Nov. 21, 2007, release, earning more than $340 million worldwide at the box office on a budget of $85 million. And 15 years later, fans finally got their wish as the long-awaited sequel, Disenchanted, debuted on Disney+, reuniting Adams and Dempsey and revealing if Giselle and Robert truly got their happily ever after.
Costar Idina Menzel holds an equally special place for the film (and its sequel) in her heart. “I see what a great movie it is and was,” Menzel shared. “I think that was an incremental thing. It started, people loved it, but through the years, I find that people love it even more, especially if they’re just discovering it.”
Amy Adams expressed her gratitude for the film, stating, “It’s still a very special film to me, so I’m glad that that’s a sentiment that’s shared with others. I really hope that they see this sequel as a love letter to the first movie and sort of a natural evolution for the characters.”
The initial script of Enchanted, written by Bill Kelly, was bought by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures and Sonnenfeld/Josephson Productions in 1997. However, the original version was described as “a much darker movie” by director Kevin Lima. He pointed out that the movie had been in development for seven years before it was green-lit, as the studio was trying to find the right tone for the film.
While the studio initially struggled to strike the right balance of sincerity and satire, Lima looked to the Shrek franchise as a way to hone the tone. In earlier iterations, Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson were considered for the lead role before Amy Adams was cast as Giselle.
Amy Adams auditioned for the role of Giselle among 300 other actresses, and Kevin Lima knew she was the perfect fit the moment she walked into the room. He was looking for someone who could embody the character’s naivete without judging it, and Adams delivered. Patrick Dempsey, who played Robert, initially found the filming process challenging, but he eventually settled into the role.
To create Giselle, Lima drew inspiration from early Disney princesses like Snow White, Cinderella, and Princess Aurora. Several iconic figures from the Disney animated film world made cameos in the movie, including Jodie Benson and Judy Kuhn.
The big musical number “That’s How You Know” in Central Park involved 150 dancers and took 17 days to film due to changing weather conditions. Talks of an Enchanted sequel began in 2010, but Disenchanted was not officially announced until December 2020. The majority of the original stars reprised their roles in the sequel, with some new characters joining the cast.
Overall, Enchanted was a beloved film that captured the hearts of audiences with its enchanting story and memorable characters. The long-awaited sequel, Disenchanted, continues the magical journey of Giselle and Robert, bringing back the charm and whimsy that made the original film so special.
