Disney’s Blueprint for the Next Generation of Stars

Disney’s Kids & Family division has spent the past five years rebuilding the “star-making machine” that once defined the Disney Channel. Executives Ayo Davis, Charlie Andrews (EVP of live-action) and Kelly Grant (SVP of talent and casting) set a priority to locate talent worldwide, nurture multi-platform abilities, and keep those performers within Disney’s ecosystem as they mature. The approach pairs acting roles with music releases, live concerts and social-media engagement, aiming to turn teenage actors into all-around entertainers who can transition to film, streaming and adult-oriented series.

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The division scouts globally, often identifying prospects before they appear on screen. Once signed, young artists join Disney’s “Becoming” program, receiving training in acting, singing, dancing and content creation. Executives maintain a constant presence on set—lunches, coffees and dinners—to monitor wellbeing and career needs. The strategy also leverages Disney’s portfolio of platforms (Disney+, Hulu, Freeform, FX) to provide “grown-up” opportunities while retaining talent in-house. Successful examples include Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, who moved from the “Zombies” franchise to lead roles in upcoming projects such as “Coven Academy,” slated for an October debut on Freeform and streaming the following day.

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Kelly Grant highlighted the shift toward a “new era of Disney stardom,” noting that streaming music, live experiences and cross-platform pairing deepen relationships between talent and audiences. Both executives stressed that Disney’s ecosystem enables performers to evolve from series to film, music and concerts without leaving the brand.

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• “Ayo said that priority number one is building the next generation of Disney stars. We all got into a room, and we talked about our best vehicles to do so,” — Charlie Andrews

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• “We are entering a new era of Disney stardom because the combination of streaming music, live experiences, and the way we can pair them together just builds these deeper relationships with the talent,” — Kelly Grant

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• “We try to have a very big presence on these sets, making sure we are having our lunches, coffees, and dinners with them, even in between projects, so that we’re having constant check-ins. So then we know what they’re thinking, how they’re doing, and what they need,” — Charlie Andrews

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• “What’s incredible about these kids is that they are actors. They are performers. They are dancers. They are singers. And they are all content creators on top of that. They are creating things online and in our content that speaks directly to the audience,” — Charlie Andrews

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• “I love the ecosystem that Disney can offer. We have performers that move from a series to a film, to music and concerts, and continue to grow creatively while staying connected to their audience,” — Kelly Grant

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Disney plans to continue expanding its talent pipeline with new faces such as Malachi Barton, Kylie Cantrall, Liamani Segura and Leah Jeffries, positioning them for roles across Disney Channel, Hulu and upcoming teen-focused series. The company’s ongoing investment aims to keep these artists connected to audiences as they transition from childhood fame to broader Hollywood careers.

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