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Disney is putting the adult in Disney Adult. The Mouse House is famous for warm-and-fuzzy family entertainment — but it also has a stockpile of moody and magical love stories.
At D23 in Anaheim, Disney Publishing announced
“Disney Cursed Love,” an all-new romantasy initiative inspired by some of the Mouse House’s “most iconic love stories.” The first in the series is “The Curse of a Forsaken Heart,” featuring Belle and the Beast, written by best-selling author Emily McIntire and illustrated by artist Samairu. That will be available first on Webtoon as a webcomic before expanding into print formats in 2027.
The “Disney Cursed Love” series, according to the company, will “engage readers through seductive, action-packed romantasy adventure, entangled in dark magic, terrible curses and epic romance. Additional details including Webtoon release dates will be shared at a later date.
The announcement is the latest collaboration between Disney and Webtoon, which has already brought over 20 fan-favorite comics to Webtoon’s vertical-scroll format, available in a dedicated Disney section of the English-language Webtoon app.
This is the next wave of Disney titles coming to Webtoon (with release dates TBA): “Star Wars Visions: The Followers of Ankok” (2023); “Star Wars Visions: The Ronin and the Droid” (2024); “Disney Villains Hades” (2023); “Disney Villains Maleficent” (2023); “Disney Villains Ursula” (2026); “Gravity Falls: Lost Legends” (2018); and “The Ultimates” (2024). In addition, Disney and Webtoon are working to create an all-new digital comics platform, which Disney is positioning as an “expansion” to Marvel Unlimited.
Disney provided the following synopsis about “The Curse of a Forsaken Heart”: Belle and the Beast (in his human form) get sucked into a magical world through an enchanted stained-glass window. Once trapped, they quickly realize the fate of the realm is tied to the kingdom’s princess, Emberlynne: a woman who didn’t yield to the marriage proposal of an evil sorcerer. As a result of her refusal, the entire kingdom is cursed to live without love and anyone who steps foot inside it is also cursed. Belle and the Beast will have to not only find their way back to their own love, but also help the princess find hers in order to lift the curse from the kingdom and return home.
McIntire has made her mark for reimagining legendary stories through a new lens. While “Beauty and the Beast” — and the two main characters — are a significant part of “The Curse of a Forsaken Heart,” McIntire’s story centers around entirely new characters, Emberlynne and Lucan.
“They’re the last two people who should be falling for each other,” McIntire said. “She hates him, and he loves to flirt with her in spite of that. Or maybe because of it. Rivals to lovers, banter that betrays their feelings, a quest to break a curse, and a will they or won’t they tension that will have you screaming at them to just give in already. Their happily ever after is well fought and well earned.”
She added: “To me, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is about transformation. Recognizing that even with your flaws and fears, you’re worthy of love.”
The writer said that when Disney invited her to participate in the project, “I was two years deep into chemotherapy for Stage 4 breast cancer and my muse had disappeared entirely. Dreaming up ‘The Curse of a Forsaken Heart’ was the first time my creative voice poured back in. These characters and the journey they go through, both falling in love and fighting for love, reminded me why I write.”
