“I’m not really sure what to do. Definitely not the news I was hoping for, but I had a feeling.”
If your family’s Disney+ watchlist has been feeling a little thin lately, a new project headed to the streamer might change that.
Disney is pushing forward with Tink, a live-action drama series built around Tinker Bell, and the studio is treating it as a high-priority effort, according to Deadline.
The series is in active development through Disney’s 20th Television, with writers and producers already on board.
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The series centers on Tinker Bell, one of the most recognizable characters in Disney’s library.
Originally created by J.M. Barrie, the character first appeared in Disney’s 1953 animated film Peter Pan and has been a fixture of the company’s storytelling ever since.
This one is being described as a drama series, which suggests a more developed storyline than a straightforward animated adventure.
Specific plot details, tone, and target age range haven’t been disclosed yet. No premiere date has been announced either.
This Project Has Been in the Works for Over a Decade
What makes Tink different from your average streaming announcement? According to Variety, a live-action Tink project has been in development in various forms for more than ten years.
Here’s how that journey played out:
- 2010: First announced as a live-action romantic comedy with Elizabeth Banks attached to star and Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, and McG as producers.
- 2015: Reese Witherspoon was attached to star in a live-action film version.
- 2021: The project was retooled after Gary Marsh stepped down from his Disney role.
- 2023: Yara Shahidi (Black-ish) played Tinker Bell in the live-action film Peter Pan & Wendy.
If your kids watched and enjoyed Peter Pan & Wendy, this new series could keep their interest in the Neverland universe going.
The long development timeline also signals that Disney isn’t rushing this.
The project has gone through multiple versions and creative teams, and its current high-priority status suggests the studio believes it has landed on the right creative vision.
Who’s Writing and Producing ‘Tink?’
Liz Heldens and Bridget Carpenter are writing and executive producing the series. The two are longtime friends who previously worked together on Friday Night Lights.
Heldens started her TV career on Boston Public. Her credits include Mercy, Deception, The Passage, Camp, The Big Leap, The Orville, and The Dropout. She’s currently co-showrunner on ABC’s Will Trent, now in its fourth season.
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Carpenter got her start on Showtime’s Dead Like Me and has worked on Parenthood, The Red Road, Westworld, Only Murders in the Building, and 11.22.63, which was based on the Stephen King novel. S
he’s also a respected playwright, with work produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
The name on the producing team that Disney families should pay attention to: Gary Marsh. He’s the former President and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Branded Television, the division responsible for content created with younger and family audiences in mind.
For parents wondering whether this will be a show they can watch alongside their kids, Marsh’s role as executive producer offers some indication of who the series is being made for.
Quinn Haberman of Heldens’ production company Selfish Mermaid is also executive producing.
What We’re Still Waiting to Find Out
Disney hasn’t announced casting, detailed plot information, a specific age rating, or a premiere date. Those details will shape whether Tink ends up as a must-watch for the whole family or something geared more toward older viewers.
What we do know: Disney considers this a high-priority project. It’s being developed by experienced storytellers with deep résumés. And a former Disney family-content executive is helping steer its direction.
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For families counting on Disney+ to deliver shows worth gathering around, Tink is one to keep an eye on.
