One of the world’s biggest and oldest production outfits, The Walt Disney Company (TWDC), has announced series of African inspired productions that will take the continent to the world.

The company, which has been active across the African continent, primarily out of South Africa, for over 50 years, is currently working on several African-inspired productions for the world stage.

Deirdre King, Head of Marketing for the Walt Disney Company Africa, disclosed this at the Disney Breakfast Roundtable as part of activities for the 2015 MultiChoice Africa Content Showcase Extravaganza in Mauritius Friday.

She disclosed that already, a film, Queen of Katwe, starring Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong’o, which tells the tale of a young girl from Uganda who trains to become a world chess champion, is ready and will be released in 2016.

Another series of Kings and Prophets – a biblical drama shot in South Africa and centred around a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd will hit television screens in 2016.

Deirdre said her outfit recognises the huge talent and potential in Africa and, therefore, is partnering stakeholders to put the continent on the world stage.

“Disney is a global family entertainment company with a strong commitment to South Africa and Africa. Being part of the local community is a core part of Disney’s commitment to the market as is recognizing the importance of Africa’s unique culture and supporting the development of local creative industries by collaborating with relevant stakeholders and audiences,” she said.

Desperate Housewives Africa, produced in Nigeria with Ebony Life TV (DStv Channel 165), is the first format show Disney Africa has produced on the continent. The local adaptation of the multiple award-winning ABC Studios series premiered on April 30 this year.

Disney, the Head of Marketing added, is furthering its support for the local entertainment and animation industry by offering a mentorship program (by studio and television executives in Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California) to Triggerfish Studios’ ‘The Story Lab’.

‘The Story Lab’ is a continent-wide search for Africa’s most talented writers and directors, giving them the opportunity to develop their ideas into potential episodic TV content or an animated feature film for the global market.

The Walt Disney Company has three channels on the Multichoice DStv platform which operates across the continent – Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD.

TWDC is the home of Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel, ABC Studios, ESPN and Lucasfilm.