Disney unveils first teaser for original animated film 'Hexed'

Disney returns to original animation with a new fantasy setup

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Hexed, an original feature scheduled to open in theaters on November 25, 2026. The film marks Disney’s first original, non-sequel animated release in three years, according to the supplied source text.

The movie centers on Billie, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, and her mother Alice, voiced by Rashida Jones. The teaser frames Billie as an impulsive and unconventional teenager whose accidental release of hidden magical abilities sends her from suburbia into a magical realm called Hexe.

A story built around family mystery and magical identity

Once inside Hexe, Billie meets two key figures: Ms. Quill, voiced by Tracey Ullman, and Elias Quire, voiced by Stephen Fry. The supplied synopsis says Billie’s journey through this spectacle-filled world leads her to family secrets that could reshape the magical world of witches.

That structure gives the project a familiar Disney foundation, combining a coming-of-age arc with an intergenerational mystery and a secondary world governed by its own rules. At the same time, the material supplied suggests that the film is leaning into a more eccentric tone than some recent releases, helped by supporting characters that include a talking quill and a talking book.

Notable changes from the project’s earlier description

The teaser also clarifies that the project has evolved since Disney first announced it. Earlier descriptions had presented the story as following an awkward teenage boy and his Type-A mother. In the current version, the lead is now a teenage girl named Billie, a change that suggests the film shifted meaningfully during development rather than simply being refined at the margins.

Those changes are not unusual in animation, where projects often spend years in development and can undergo significant structural rewrites before reaching the public. What matters now is the shape of the film Disney is actually presenting: a mother-daughter fantasy set inside a hidden magical realm and anchored by self-discovery.

Creative team and release timing

Hexed is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, with Josie Trinidad serving as co-director. In Disney’s press material, Hand describes Hexe as a place where Billie feels truly seen for the first time, linking the fantasy premise to a more personal emotional arc.

That emphasis may be central to how the film is received. For Disney, original animated features carry both creative and strategic weight. They test whether the studio can still introduce fresh worlds and characters strong enough to stand beside its established franchises. The teaser does not answer that question, but it does show Disney positioning Hexed as a distinctive, character-forward fantasy rather than a legacy extension.

What stands out from the teaser

• It is Disney’s first original, non-sequel animated film in three years
• The story pairs a suburban teen with a hidden magical realm called Hexe
• Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones lead the voice cast
• The film arrives in theaters on November 25, 2026

This article is based on reporting by Gizmodo. Read the original article.