‘Aquamarine’ Returns as Disney Set Pilot, With Emma Roberts Reprising Her Role

A television pilot based on the 2006 film Aquamarine is moving forward with a production concept built around a setting at Disney, The Hollywood Reporter reported June 25, 2026.

The outlet said Emma Roberts will executive produce the pilot and also reprise her on-camera role from the movie. The report did not specify what the character is, but it tied her return to the new television project.

Sarah Watson is writing the pilot, according to the same report. It was not described in the article whether Watson will remain attached for future episodes beyond the initial script and development stage.

The project is framed as a pilot, a format typically used to establish series direction, casting needs, and production requirements before any commitment to a full season. The Disney-based setting points to a production approach that can integrate location-based elements and theme-park scale into a scripted narrative.

Disney’s involvement in the project also highlights the company’s continued use of film properties and established fan recognition as a pipeline for television development. The decision to bring back a lead actor from the original movie is often used to preserve continuity while adapting the premise for episodic storytelling.

With Roberts attached in both creative and executive capacities, the pilot’s next steps would generally include further scripting, casting finalization if needed, and decisions on whether and where the project will be ordered to series. The report did not include distribution details, episode count, or a premiere window.

For audiences, the development also indicates another instance of Hollywood studios returning to earlier mainstream titles for television, using known names and roles to reduce creative uncertainty during the early planning phases. Rights and licensing terms for adaptations are typically handled behind the scenes, but the public confirmation of a specific actor reprisal indicates that at least key performance and creative elements are under discussion.

The Hollywood Reporter’s reporting did not include additional production specifics such as the studio, platform, or production schedule, leaving those details to be confirmed in subsequent announcements if the project advances.