Disney+ is officially moving forward with a new live-action series centered on its iconic fairy, Tinker Bell. The project, titled Tink, has been given the green light as a high-priority drama for the streaming service, with a talented team of writers now attached to bring the character to life .
Creative Team Behind the Series
The series comes from writers Liz Heldens and Bridget Carpenter, who are long-time friends and former colleagues from the critically acclaimed series Friday Night Lights . Both women will serve as writers and executive producers on the project, which is being developed through Disney’s 20th Television .
Heldens brings extensive experience to the series. She currently works as the co-showrunner on ABC’s successful drama Will Trent, which is now in its fourth season . Her previous credits include Boston Public, Mercy, Deception, The Passage, The Orville, and The Dropout .
Carpenter’s television resume is equally impressive. She created the Hulu miniseries 11.22.63, based on the Stephen King novel, and has worked on popular shows such as Only Murders in the Building, Parenthood, Westworld, and all five seasons of Friday Night Lights . She is also an accomplished playwright whose work has been featured at prestigious venues including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and The Public Theater .
Long Development History
The road to bringing Tinker Bell to live-action television has been a long one. Disney first announced a live-action Tinker Bell project back in 2010, when it was planned as a romantic comedy with Elizabeth Banks attached to star . Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, and McG were set to produce that iteration .
In 2015, the project resurfaced as another live-action film, this time with Reese Witherspoon attached to both produce and star in the lead role . That version also failed to move forward .
The current iteration began taking shape in 2021 when Gary Marsh departed his role as President and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Branded Television . Marsh set up his own Disney-backed production banner, and Tink was mentioned at that time as one of the projects he planned to pursue . He now serves as an executive producer on the series alongside Quinn Haberman of Selfish Mermaid .
Tinker Bell’s Live-Action Legacy
The character of Tinker Bell was created by J.M. Barrie for his 1904 play Peter Pan and later appeared in the 1911 novel Peter and Wendy . Disney introduced the character to generations of animation fans in the 1953 film Peter Pan, where she became an enduring symbol for the company .
Several actresses have portrayed Tinker Bell in live-action over the years. Julia Roberts played the fairy in Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film Hook . Ludivine Sagnier took on the role in the 2003 film Peter Pan . Most recently, Yara Shahidi portrayed Tinker Bell in Disney’s 2023 live-action film Peter Pan & Wendy .
The character also had a successful run in her own animated film series. Disney released a string of direct-to-DVD and theatrical animated movies featuring Tinker Bell between 2008 and 2015, including Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, and The Pirate Fairy .
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What We Know So Far
Disney has not yet released an official logline or plot details for the series . No casting announcements have been made, and there is currently no premiere date set for the show . The project remains in active development as a high priority for the streamer .
The series marks a shift in Disney’s approach to its classic characters. Instead of developing another theatrical live-action remake, the studio is focusing on long-form storytelling for its streaming platform . This strategy follows the massive success of the 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, which grossed over a billion dollars at the box office and reinvigorated Disney’s live-action development slate .
With the creative team now in place and strong support from the studio, Tink represents Disney’s latest attempt to bring one of its most beloved fairy characters to a new generation of viewers.
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