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Disenchanted, the long-awaited sequel to Enchanted, finally hits Disney+ later this week. To celebrate the film, Disney held a virtual conference with some of its stars including leading lady Amy Adams, leading man Patrick Dempsey and Idina Menzel. With such a long gap between films, one of the questions the cast was most asked was what it was like to return. Adams, of course, noted how they had to carefully consider where Giselle would be nearly a decade later. But for Menzel, it was pretty easy to slip back into the role of Nancy Tremaine.

“Yeah, mine is a pretty drastic change,” she teased. “So, I go from this, you know, cynical New York chick, and then I jump down a portal or a manhole and then I come out like, and so it was so much fun for me. And the challenge for me, well, not even the challenge.”

While Menzel joked that returning as Tremaine was pretty easy, she went on to explain that part of what she loved so much about Disenchanted – and its predecessor, Enchanted – is the fact that the songs are wonderfully written. The actress and singer credited composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for their ability to write soaring melodies perfectly for the actors.

I mean, the thing is, when you have someone like Alan and Stephen just writing for you, because they’re so incredibly talented — Even for character, the way they write melodies and these soaring melodies — it’s just it kind of they’re little signs that tell you how to approach it. You know? You don’t even have to think that much. Because the way they write gives you everything that you need. And, to have somebody like them write for you, for all of us, it’s such a gift. You know? To have someone take you in. And, like, Alan was saying, it’s the characters. But also, they know our voices and they can write for our strengths. And then, we can really shine. And to have that kind of back- and-forth with composers like the two of them is just, yeah, it’s [indiscernible].

Menzel

Unlike its predecessor, Disenchanted will be skipping theaters when it releases later this week. The highly-anticipated sequel to Enchanted will instead stream exclusively on Disney+ beginning on Friday, Nov. 18th.

Those unfamiliar with the first film can check it out now on Disney+.

In 2008, Disney released Enchanted starring Amy Adams. The film, which stars Adams as Giselle, a young maiden sent away to New York by Queen Narissa, proved to be a massive success for the studio. It earned $340 million at the worldwide box office on a reported $85 million budget. And yet, despite the film’s success, a sequel to the film wasn’t officially announced until Dec. 2020. During a virtual press conference for the film, Adams was asked what it was like to return for the sequel.

Adams explained that there was a lot to consider when returning for Disenchanted. It was important for them to really think about where Giselle’s story ended off with Enchanted, a film that sees her undergo so much growth, and where she would be over a decade later.

“For me, it was interesting ’cause we were looking at where Giselle would be now. And, you know, when we leave her in the last movie, there’s been an evolution from the beginning of the movie of Enchanted to who Giselle is at the end of the movie,” she explained. “So sort of taking that evolution of who she might be after spending 10 years, but also making sure we keep her grounded in sort of the truth of her feelings, but without losing that joy and that naiveite and innocence and purity that makes Giselle so special.”

Adams continued, noting that she wanted to expand on what she loved about the character from the original film. She also enjoyed getting to work with the returning cast, as well as some of the film’s newest additions. “So that’s sort of where my launching place was, was taking everything that I loved about Giselle in the first movie, and then just getting this opportunity to spin it throughout this one,” she said. “It was really just such a pleasure, and getting the returning cast together. It was so fun to get to see everybody just step back into it, and that we were lucky enough to have everybody come join us. And I can’t thank them enough, and I’m very appreciative. And then for our new cast members, I was just so, so, so pleased to get everybody we have.”

Unlike its predecessor, Disenchanted will be skipping theaters when it releases later this week. The highly-anticipated sequel to Enchanted will instead stream exclusively on Disney+ beginning on Friday, Nov. 18th.