Along with the upcoming Villains expansion to the Magic Kingdom, big things are happening for Disney's batch of bad guys. As thrilling and chilling as that sounds, will the new Hollywood Studios stage show at Walt Disney World live up to the hype?
Last night, previews for the show leaked on TikTok and other social media outlets, giving eager Disney fans a sneak peek at what dastardly deeds lurk behind the Magic Mirror in Villains: Unfairly Ever After. Unfortunately, it might not be the thrilling experience most expect.
Have the villains lost their edge?
From the footage above, viewers are certainly promised a visually striking stage show, but the first descriptions of the production leave much to be desired. Fans of Disney's Villains franchise want to see their favorite foes giving them their worst, but that doesn't seem to be the case for this show.
Per the official Disney description,
"Enter the realm of the Magic Mirror—where dozens of villains are trapped! They want the Mirror to reveal the truth: which villain has been treated the most unfairly of them all?"
In this writer's opinion, the show sounds less like a villainous tribute to classic characters like Cruella, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, and more like another attempt at trying to make the villains more sympathetic and comical (i.e., more kid-friendly).
By trying to make the audience sympathize with these characters, it takes away that certain flavor of Disney darkness that makes them so beloved. The new villain projects in the works are opportunities for Disney to embrace a different side of its magical brand, and it shouldn't be squandered.
To be fair, these are very brief snippets of a full-length stage show and only reveal a small sampling of what's to come. The final product might still be delightfully dark and terrifically twisted, but its first impressions aren't exactly leaning in that direction. Still, the curtain has yet to rise.
Villains: Unfairly Ever After arrives at Hollywood Studios on May 27, 2025.