‘DWTS’ Star Whitney Leavitt Films Inside Disney Studios, What Her Husband Said Has Everyone Freaking Out
Whitney Leavitt’s career over the past year feels like a storyline from a Hollywood movie. She transitioned from reality television fame on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to becoming a semifinalist on Dancing with the Stars, and has now landed a coveted role on Broadway in “Chicago.” Her recent social media post has fans buzzing, convinced that an even bigger announcement involving Disney is on the horizon.
On December 3, Whitney shared a TikTok video that ignited widespread speculation online. The video features her inside the actual Disney/ABC Television studio—this is not just any office building or creative space, but the real deal. In the video, she lip-syncs to a quote from Debby Ryan, a former Disney Channel star, who says, “My one thing is that I went into the Disney Channel building, sat down with the president of the Disney Channel, and I said, ‘I want to make history.’ And that’s what this is.”
The caption? “I wasn’t gunna post this yet.. but I’m JUST TOO EXCITED!” If that doesn’t scream major announcement incoming, nothing does. Within hours, the comments exploded with fans theorizing about what this could mean. Some suggested a Disney Channel series. Others floated the idea of a Disney+ reality show. But one comment in particular stopped everyone in their tracks.
The Comment That Changed Everything
Whitney’s husband, Conner, commented with just three words: “Live-action Anastasia??” His comment instantly shifted the conversation from vague Disney speculation to a specific excitement about one possibility. Could Whitney really be in discussions to portray Anastasia in a live-action remake?
Here’s why that theory has legs. Anastasia was initially produced by 20th Century Fox in 1997, but now that Disney owns Fox, the property falls under their control. The character requires a performer who can handle singing, dancing, and emotionally dramatic scenes. Whitney just spent months proving on national television that she possesses all three skills. She made it to the Dancing with the Stars semifinals. Next, she is heading to Broadway to play Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’. Leavitt has already demonstrated that she can handle intense public scrutiny without crumbling.
Fans immediately latched onto Conner’s comment, flooding his replies with reactions ranging from excitement to disbelief. “Don’t tease me right now, spill the beans!!!” one person wrote. Another declared, “If this is legit, imma cry.” The energy in that comment section speaks volumes about how much people want this to be real.
Of course, Conner could just be manifesting alongside Whitney’s fanbase. He might not know anything concrete. But the fact that he specifically named Anastasia rather than throwing out something generic suggests he’s either heard something or has very good intuition about where this is headed.
The Broadway Connection
The timing of Whitney’s Disney tease is particularly interesting because it comes right on the heels of her Chicago announcement. She’ll be playing Roxie Hart at New York City’s Ambassador Theatre for six weeks starting in February 2026. That’s a massive get for someone who was primarily known for reality TV just a year ago.
Her path to Broadway started with ‘Dancing with the Stars’, where she partnered with Mark Ballas and consistently delivered strong performances throughout the season. When she didn’t make it to the finale despite high scores and obvious fan support, ABC brought her onto the Call Her Daddy podcast for a special interview. That episode allowed Whitney and Mark to address the intense media scrutiny and social media bullying she faced, much of which had carried over from her time on ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ where she was often portrayed as a villain.
During that Call Her Daddy interview, Whitney and Mark performed a freestyle routine that was so good, fans immediately started calling for her to get Broadway opportunities. Apparently, someone in the theater world was paying attention because the Chicago offer materialized shortly after.
Now she’s got Broadway locked in and Disney meetings happening. The momentum is undeniable.
Disney’s Live-Action Problem
To understand why Whitney might be exactly what Disney needs right now, you have to look at where their live-action remake strategy currently stands. They’ve been churning out these films for years with wildly inconsistent results. Some work. Many don’t. And the most recent high-profile example, Snow White, was an absolute disaster.
Snow White premiered in theaters in March 2025, surrounded by controversy. Star Rachel Zegler had made public comments criticizing the original animated film and taken stances on various social issues that polarized audiences before the movie’s release. When it finally opened, the film made just over $200 million worldwide against a $250 million production budget. Deadline reported that Disney ultimately lost approximately $115 million on the project.
That’s the kind of failure that makes studios reassess their approach. Disney needs to figure out how to make these live-action remakes work without generating massive backlash before the first trailer even drops. They need stars who audiences actually want to see, who generate genuine excitement rather than controversy, and who can handle the intense scrutiny that comes with playing beloved animated characters.
Whitney checks a lot of those boxes. She has a built-in fan base that’s genuinely excited about her success. Leavitt has also proven she can perform at a high level under pressure. All while handling negative media narratives and social media bullying without letting it derail her career. And crucially, she hasn’t said or done anything that would make audiences turn against her before a movie even comes out.
What Happens Next
Nobody knows for sure what Whitney’s Disney project actually is. She could be developing a scripted series. It might be a Disney+ reality show about her career transition. There’s the Anastasia possibility that everyone’s fixated on. Or it could be something completely different that no one has guessed yet.
What we do know is that Whitney was inside the Disney/ABC Television studio for meetings significant enough that she couldn’t contain her excitement. We know her husband specifically mentioned Anastasia in the comments. We know Disney owns that property now and could absolutely greenlight a live-action version. And we know Whitney has the exact skill set that role would require.
The other fan theories circulating are also entertaining. Someone suggested a reality series called “Love It Or Leavitt” about Whitney and Conner navigating her entertainment career. Others want her in Hallmark Christmas movies or playing Mother Gothel in a live-action Tangled.
Her fans feel personally invested in her success because they’ve watched her journey play out in real time. They saw her deal with villain edits on reality TV. Fans watched her work incredibly hard on Dancing with the Stars. They celebrated when she booked Broadway. And now they’re desperate to know what’s happening with Disney.
Whatever the actual project turns out to be, Whitney Leavitt is clearly building something substantial. She’s gone from reality TV to network television competition to Broadway to meetings at Disney, all in about a year. That’s not luck. That’s someone with genuine talent and work ethic capitalizing on opportunities and turning them into stepping stones for the next level.
The Anastasia speculation might be right on the money, or it might be wishful thinking from fans who want to see her succeed at the highest level. Either way, we’ll find out soon enough. Whitney said she’s too excited to keep quiet, which means an official announcement is probably coming sooner rather than later. And based on how this year has gone for her, it’s probably going to be something worth getting excited about.
