The Forgotten Prince, directed by Michel Hazanavicius, brings together Omar Sy, Bérénice Bejo, and François Damiens in a family fantasy adventure film that explores the relationship between a father and his daughter at the pivotal age of adolescence. Released in theaters on February 12, 2020, the feature film will be available to stream in France on Disney+ starting December 5, 2025.
Djibi is raising his 8-year-old daughter Sofia on his own, with whom he shares an unchanging ritual: every night, he makes up a story for her before she falls asleep. In this "World of Stories" that they imagine together, Sofia becomes a princess to be saved and Djibi transforms into a brave prince, the hero of a universe populated by knights, extravagant villains, and spectacular settings. This parallel world, resembling a large movie set, is the fantastical extension of their bond.
Three years later, when Sofia starts middle school, the balance shifts. The child becomes a teenager, distances herself, and turns to new interests. Bedtime stories suddenly seem less essential. Djibi, unsettled, struggles to accept that his daughter is growing up and moving away from him. In the World of Stories, his princely alter ego gradually loses his central place, forced to face an unprecedented adventure: accepting that another protagonist is taking over, while redefining his role with Sofia.
The project was born from an original screenplay by Bruno Merle, who was later joined by Noé Debré and Michel Hazanavicius, with the aim of combining family intimacy and visual grandeur. The director revisits certain themes already present in his filmography, such as behind-the-scenes and image creation, transposed into a universe intended for the general public. Filming took place mainly at the Bry-sur-Marne studios, where the World of Stories was recreated, designed as a colorful "box of felt-tip pens," geographically coherent for the actors but deliberately dreamlike on screen.
The imaginary sets were designed in close collaboration with production designer Laurent Ott, the special effects teams supervised by Philippe Aubry, and graphic designer Jérôme Billet, in order to give Djibi and Sofia's inner world a strong visual identity. Digital District and Mikros provided the digital effects, integrating creatures, environments, and transitions between reality and imagination. The music, composed by Howard Shore, accompanies this dimension of a great family story, with themes developed in a tradition close to Anglo-Saxon animated cinema.
Starring Omar Sy in the role of a protective father, the film is aimed at families and children aged 6 and up, addressing the issue of the gradual separation between a parent and their child during adolescence. The presence of Bérénice Bejo, an eccentric neighbor who intervenes in the lives of Djibi and Sofia, as well as that of François Damiens, adds a comical dimension to the emotional stakes. Between spectacular scenes in the World of Stories and moments more rooted in everyday life, The Forgotten Prince combines visual entertainment with a story about the transition to a new age.
The Forgotten Prince
Film | 2020
Theatrical release: February 12, 2020
On Disney+ December 5, 2025
Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy | Running time: 1 hour 43 minutes
By Michel Hazanavicius | Starring Omar Sy, Bérénice Bejo, François Damiens
Nationality: France
Ages 6 and up
By playing on the coexistence of the real world and the fantasy world, The Forgotten Prince offers a variation on the theme of the parent who must learn to step aside and let their child grow up. The staging alternates between imaginary set scenes, adventure story codes, and moments of family comedy to offer an accessible narrative in which the question of the father's place over time is as important as that of the power of shared imagination.
To go further, check out our selection of new Disney+ releases for December, our guide to streaming releases on all platforms, and today's selection of What to watch today on streaming.
