More than a decade after Sofia the First first introduced audiences to Disney’s first little girl princess, the beloved franchise is officially returning with Sofia the First: Royal Magic. Set after the events of the original series, the new show follows Sofia as she attends Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the Ever Realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new friends along the way.
During a recent virtual press conference attended by Popped, voice star Ariel Winter and series creator Craig Gerber discussed revisiting the world of Enchancia, evolving Sofia as a character, and introducing a brand-new magical academy setting for a new generation of viewers.
Balancing Nostalgia With A New Adventure
With the original Sofia the First still finding new audiences through streaming, Gerber explained that the team wanted Royal Magic to feel both familiar and fresh.
“It’s tricky because there’s a lot of love for the show from the original fans, and they’re all quite vocal about it,” Gerber explained. “They remember a lot about the original show. The way we approached it was by creating a brand-new adventure for Sofia. She’s going to a new school, a school for royal magic, and in that sense, we can introduce her to the new generation.”
“Here’s this young princess going to a new school for the first time, meeting new friends, learning new things. By presenting the show as something new for her, we bring in audiences that may not know anything about her.”
However, Gerber noted that longtime fans can still expect many returning elements from the original series.
“She still has her family, her bunny Clover, and her flying horse Minimus. She still lives in the same castle. So there are a lot of things for original fans of the series, or young kids who know the old series very well because it’s on streaming, they can hook into that part of it”
Ariel Winter On Returning As Sofia
For Winter, stepping back into Sofia’s shoes after all these years has been an emotional experience.
“I’ve been playing Sofia since I was 10 years old… When I heard the show was coming back in a new series, I was so excited. It’s such a beautiful character and such a special show.”
The actress also reflected on the impact the series has had on younger audiences over the years.
“You’re learning really important life lessons that are pretty invaluable, and it means so much to me. I think Sofia is such a beautiful character, and the whole show is wonderful. Getting to come back and do it again with a new adventure is incredibly special.”
Gerber also revealed that he still has Winter’s original audition recording saved from when she first landed the role.
“You know, I still have your audition on my laptop,” Gerber revealed.
“What?! Are you serious? I’ve never seen it!” Winter responded.
A More Magical Direction For Sofia
While the original series focused heavily on Sofia learning what it meant to be royal, Royal Magic introduces an entirely new challenge for the character.
“In the first show, Sofia was at Royal Prep learning what it meant to be royal, not royal on the outside, but royal on the inside,” Gerber explained. “In this show, she discovers she’s the most magical princess in the Ever Realm, and so she has to learn how to master that magic. There’s a brand-new challenge for her. She’s figured out what being royal is all about; now she has to figure out how to become the most magical person she can be, yet still be true to herself.”
“There’s also significantly more magic in this series,” Gerber revealed. “Sofia now has a wand, she attends sorcery classes, potions classes and battle charms classes.”
The Emotional Legacy Of ‘Sofia the First’
Throughout the press conference, both Winter and Gerber reflected on the emotional impact Sofia the First has had on audiences over the past decade.
“I hear from adults now who tell me they watched the show when they were younger, and they tell me they can’t wait to watch the new series,” Winter shared.
The actress also recalled one particularly memorable fan interaction involving her nieces and their friends.
“They called me a couple of months ago, and they were with their friends, and my niece told me they had created a rap version to the Sofia the First theme song,” Winter laughed. “They rapped it for me over the phone, and I was like, this is quite possibly the best thing I’ve experienced”
A Fresh New Sound
One of the biggest changes in Royal Magic comes through its updated music and theme song, something Winter immediately noticed when hearing it for the first time.
“I was blown away at the different beat,” Winter said. “I was like, ‘OK, we are really cooking here.’ I love it, we are having fun. I love the music in the new series, I think it is so fun, I think it is so current, and while it was new and different, it gives it a fresh new take for the parents who are listening too. I think that’s important. The parents have to listen to this all day, and so I think they’re really gonna like it too. I was vibing. ”
Gerber added that the series intentionally embraces more modern musical influences.
“I’ve always been a big fan of dance music and EDM, even before it was called “EDM” as Electronica, cause I’m an old man. I was like ‘So, we’re gonna put a trap beat under this? That’s great, okay! I can do that.”
“At one point, I literally said, ‘We need a trap fill here.’”
Quotes have been edited lightly for clarity and readability.
Sofia the First: Royal Magic premieres May 25 on Disney Jr. and streams the next day on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets. Check out a trailer below:
