Walt Disney Pictures is expanding its live-action slate with a new feature film centered on the Greek mythological figure Medusa. According to an exclusive report from Deadline, screenwriter Michael Montemayor has been tapped to write the first draft of the original project, which is being developed by Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions under its ongoing partnership with the studio.

While the project is in early development and Disney has yet to issue a formal public comment, the attachment of Montemayor and Seven Bucks signals a major push to bring one of classical antiquity's most recognizable monsters into the modern studio tentpole era. At this stage, no director, cast members, production start date, or theatrical release window have been announced.

Behind the Scenes: Seven Bucks and Michael Montemayor

The live-action Medusa feature is being produced by Dwayne Johnson Alongside his Seven Bucks Productions co-founders Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia. While Johnson is heavily involved on the production side, ComingSoon.net notes that the actor is not currently attached to star in the film.

Industry reports differ slightly on the executive overseeing the project for the Seven Bucks banner: initial trade reporting identified the executive as Melissa Ford, while subsequent write-ups from outlets including MovieWeb and ComingSoon.net state that Melissa Fried is overseeing the title.

Joining the Seven Bucks team as a producer is Matt Smith through his Electro Corduroy Entertainment banner. Smith has deep ties to Disney's live-action catalog, having previously served as an executive producer on the studio's Maleficent franchise starring Angelina Jolie, which grossed $1.25 billion at the global box office. Smith also co-founded Highway 10, which premiered two features—The Saviors and Wishful Thinking—at SXSW 2026 ahead of a planned 2027 theatrical rollout.

For screenwriter Michael Montemayor, the Medusa assignment marks his latest high-profile script for the studio. Montemayor recently co-wrote Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled, which has Michael Gracey attached to direct and is scheduled to hit theaters on March 31, 2028.

In addition to the Rapunzel adaptation, Montemayor is penning Stepsisters, an original live-action Cinderella spinoff for Disney with Akiva Schaffer attached to direct and produce, as well as the Netflix romantic comedy Court Date for Berlanti/Schechter Films.

The Mythological Source Material and Creative Direction

In classical Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of the three Gorgon sisters born to the primordial sea deities Phorcys and Ceto. Unlike her immortal sisters Stheno and Euryale, Medusa was mortal. Depicted with living venomous snakes in place of hair, her gaze held the power to turn any onlooker to stone. In traditional lore, she was eventually beheaded by the demigod hero Perseus, who used her severed head as a weapon before presenting it to the goddess Athena to mount upon her shield, the Aegis.

As MovieWeb points out, ancient traditions diverge on Medusa's origins.

Early Greek accounts portray her as a monstrous Gorgon from birth, whereas later Roman interpretations—most notably by the poet Ovid—recast her as a beautiful mortal maiden who was cursed and transformed by Athena. While the character has appeared as a secondary antagonist in numerous Hollywood productions, including the 1981 and 2010 versions of Clash of the Titans and Disney's own Percy Jackson adaptations, she has rarely been positioned as the central protagonist of a major studio feature.

Specific plot details regarding Montemayor’s script are being kept tightly under wraps. While Deadline characterizes the pitch as a "unique take" on the mythological figure, secondary commentary from outlets like Nerdist and ComicBook.com has compared the concept to Disney's lucrative villain-origin subgenre, exemplified by Maleficent and Cruella. However, no official logline has confirmed whether the film will serve as a sympathetic origin story or take a different narrative path.

Meanwhile, Gizmodo noted that the studio is doubling down on Greek mythology alongside its ongoing Percy Jackson and the Olympians television series on Disney+.

Disney and Seven Bucks' Expanding Partnership

The development of Medusa is the latest milestone in a deepening corporate alliance between Dwayne Johnson's production company and the Mouse House. According to F4WOnline, Seven Bucks Productions signed a multi-year first-look film deal with Disney in June 2024 to develop theatrical features. That arrangement was expanded in February 2025 when Seven Bucks inked a separate agreement with Disney’s 20th Television to develop episodic programming.

Prior to this formal first-look pact, Johnson and Seven Bucks collaborated with Disney on 2021’s theme park adaptation Jungle Cruise and the live-action Moana feature. Outside of its Disney commitments, Seven Bucks is preparing for the Christmas Day theatrical release of Sony’s Jumanji: Open World, following two previous installments that generated a combined $1.76 billion worldwide.

The company is also collaborating with director Benny Safdie on Lizard Music for Amazon MGM Studios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Disney’s movie treat Medusa as a villain or a sympathetic protagonist?

Studio insiders have only described Michael Montemayor's script as an original, unique take on the Greek myth. While some entertainment commentators have compared the project to revisionist villain-origin hits like Maleficent and Cruella—especially given producer Matt Smith's history with the Maleficent franchise—the exact narrative angle remains undisclosed.

Is Dwayne Johnson starring in the live-action Medusa movie?

No. Trade reports explicitly state that the project is not currently a starring vehicle for Dwayne Johnson. He is attached strictly as a producer alongside Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia through Seven Bucks Productions, and no casting announcements have been made.

When will the Medusa movie be released in theaters?

Because Montemayor is currently writing the first draft of the screenplay and Disney has not yet officially greenlit the project for production, there is no filming schedule or release date.

By comparison, Montemayor's already-completed script for Disney's live-action Tangled is slated for release on March 31, 2028, suggesting Medusa is several years away from reaching theaters.

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