Who’s up for some swashbuckling and swooning? Disney Branded Television announced Games of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman is writing, showrunning, and executive producing the latest Zorro reboot for Disney+. The reimagined adventure stars Wilmer Valderrama (That ’70s Show, NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service) as Don Diego de la Vega and his suave alter ego, the masked horseman known as Zorro. Valderrama will also executive produce.
According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Cogman and Valderrama’s Zorro reboot finds “Diego De La Vega, who returns to his hometown of El Pueblo de Los Angeles following a family tragedy. There, he discovers a culture of corruption and injustice that will lead him to take on the mantle of the masked vigilante Zorro — America’s first true superhero.”
Disney’s Zorro reboot reimagines the Disney-ABC Zorro series of the 1950s. Zorro starred Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, George J. Lewis, and Henry Calvin. Viewers swooned over Zorror for 78 episodes between 1957 and 1959, including my grandmother, who would often boast about Williams’s magnetism and machismo. I’m not going to lie; it sometimes got a bit uncomfortable.
“We’re reimagining this Disney classic as a compelling period piece, set in Pueblo de Los Angeles, but told in a very modern telenovela style — with richly drawn contemporary characters and relationships set against the action, drama, suspense, and humor of the original, iconic Zorro,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, in December 2021. “Wilmer shares our commitment to reflect the interesting and rich diversity of the human experience, and we look forward to delivering a culturally relevant and entertaining story with definitional characters that will connect with our viewers for generations to come.”
Cogman was an invaluable Game of Thrones production team member, working on the series for ten years and eight seasons. His hard work earned him several awards, including four Emmys, a Hugo Award, a Producer’s Guild of America Award, and seven Writer’s Guild Award nominations. Cogman’s eye for detail and ability to manage several moving parts for a fast-paced series makes him an excellent fit for Disney’s Zorro reboot.
As for Valderrama, I’m excited to see his version of the masked swordsman. The role allows Valderrama to ooze sexuality while displaying his action chops. Are Disney audiences ready? We’ll find out when the Zorro reboot swings onto Disney+.