Exclusive: Disney+ is in early development on Phantom, a YA movie reimagination of classic novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, sources tell Deadline. The project hails from Disney Branded Entertainment and Kenny Ortega, who has led two major Disney franchises with High School Musical, Descendants. Phantom is very green at this time but has the potential to become a franchise similar to The Descendants if it moves forward.

This marks Ortega’s return to Disney following the conclusion of his deal with Netflix. He will direct and executive produce Phantom under his The Ko Company production banner. The spec script was written by Giovanni M. Porta (At Midnight) from a story by Porta and Eric Bromberg.

The 1909 novel, set in the 1880s, tells the story of Erik, a mysterious, disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House. He becomes obsessed with a young soprano, Christine,...