Disney's animated film Hexed experienced a significant narrative pivot after its initial D23 announcement in 2025. Originally conceived as a story about an awkward teenage boy and his Type A mother uncovering magical powers, the project evolved into a tale centered on a rebellious teenage girl as protagonist. Directors Jason Hand and Fawn Veerasunthorn explained the change at the Annecy Festival, noting that the mother-daughter dynamic offered a stronger emotional foundation and better served the film's thematic exploration of empowerment and magical inheritance.

The revised story follows Billie (Hailee Steinfeld), a misfit high school student whose latent magical abilities manifest when a protective bracelet crafted by her mother, Alice (Rashida Jones), comes loose. The narrative takes Billie into Hexe, a hidden magical realm built by witches who escaped historical persecution. The filmmakers highlight their approach as distinct from comparable Disney narratives by positioning the mother as integral to the protagonist's personal development, rather than following the isolated hero's journey pattern seen in films like Harry Potter or The Owl House.