Craig Gerber | Source: Disney Branded Television

It’s been a decade since audiences met Disney‘s first little girl princess, Sofia the First.

On Nov. 18, 2012, Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess debuted and launched a franchise spanning TV, toys, games, music, roleplay, theme park activations, and more. Created by Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Firebuds), Sofia the First came to a conclusion in 2018 but it felt as if the story might be unfinished.

Now, the Emmy Award-winning Gerber has extended his development deal with Disney Branded Television to create new projects, including a Sofia the First spinoff. The new series is set in the Royal Prep Academy, the school for princes and princesses in the kingdom of Enchancia. Gerber is also developing a series about a time-traveling treasure hunter for Disney through his Electric Emu production banner.

“Craig’s commitment to representing diverse characters and stories with messages of compassion, leadership, and resilience is a throughline in his career,” says Alyssa Sapire, senior vice president of development, series and strategy, at Disney Junior. “His ability to tell entertaining, heartfelt, and meaningful stories that resonate with both children and adults alike is unmatched, and I look forward to continuing our partnership for many, many years to come.”

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“I am excited to be continuing my creative partnership with both Alyssa and Disney Branded Television,” Gerber says. “Together, we have produced three meaningful, diverse shows, and I am looking forward to broadening the scope of our collaboration while also championing new voices … to return to the enchanted world of Sofia the First, where it all began 10 years ago, and create a follow-up series that is just as magical.”

Just Play currently manufactures a selection of Sofia the First toys that are available alongside costumes and apparel at Amazon.

Toys from Gerber’s Firebuds are on the way from Spin Master next year.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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