Abigail Hing Wen to Premiere THE VALE – ORIGINS at SDCC

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – July 13, 2026 — New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and producer Abigail Hing Wen, best known for the LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI series, will premiere her hybrid live-action/animated short film THE VALE – ORIGINS at San Diego Comic-Con, marking her directorial debut and the next major expansion of her New York Times bestselling middle grade novel THE VALE.

Starring Tony Award winner and Disney Legend Lea Salonga, THE VALE – ORIGINS introduces audiences to the world of THE VALE, an AI-generated fantasy universe created by 13-year-old inventor Bran Lee. Salonga also performs a special closing-credits arrangement of “Lavender’s Blue,” arranged by composer Andromeda Wen. The short features animation directed by Emmy Award winner John Aoshima (GRAVITY FALLS, ULTRAMAN: RISING) and also stars Robert Palmer Watkins (THE WALKING DEAD), with Egan Xander (son of actors Janet Hsieh and George Young) making his screen debut.

A prequel to Wen’s novel, THE VALE – ORIGINS blends live action and animation to reveal the emotional foundation of Bran’s world and the family story behind its creation. The project extends Wen’s vision for THE VALE as a cross-platform storytelling universe exploring artificial intelligence, imagination, identity, family, and the ethical questions shaping the future of technology. The world of THE VALE also expands into Roblox, underscoring the property’s broader transmedia potential.

“I wrote THE VALE novel in 2015,” says Wen, “but back then, it was too early to publish a book about an AI-generated virtual world. I’m so thrilled that this story is now out in the world and expanding in so many ways, and to be on this journey with incredibly talented, wonderful people.” 

“Collaborating with writer-director Abigail Hing Wen on THE VALE – ORIGINS was a genuinely rewarding experience,” says Aoshima. “I was drawn to the story's emotional heart, a story about family, imagination, loss, and resilience. It was a privilege to help bring those ideas to life through animation alongside such a passionate and talented team. I'm incredibly proud of what we created together, and I can't wait for audiences to experience it.”

Following the screening, Wen will be joined by members of the creative team for a panel discussion on the making of THE VALE – ORIGINS and the development of THE VALE as a transmedia franchise. Panelists include animation director John Aoshima; composer Andromeda Wen, a breakthrough young artist who premiered her first piece at Carnegie Hall this June; and actor-producer Efrem Bonetti, who will unveil Wen’s highly anticipated next project. The panel will be moderated by actor Dante Basco (AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, Steven Spielberg’s HOOK).

Published by Third State Books in September 2025, THE VALE became an instant New York Times bestseller. The novel follows Bran Lee, a brilliant neurodiverse young inventor who enters his AI-powered virtual fantasy world into a major invention competition in hopes of saving his family, only to uncover dangerous glitches and a betrayal that threaten both the Vale and the real world beyond it.

Prior to its San Diego Comic-Con premiere, THE VALE – ORIGINS screened privately at select venues across the country, including Rideback Ranch, where Wen is a member of the Rideback Rise Circle, as well as at the Signet Society at Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Sandbox VR. The film is expected to screen at additional festivals and special events in the coming months.

San Diego Comic-Con Screening & Panel Information
Enter The Vale: World Premiere of a New Fantasy Universe

• Date/Time: Friday, July 24, 2026, 1:45 p.m.
• Location: Room 6DE
• Panelists: Abigail Hing Wen, John Aoshima, Andromeda Wen and Efrem Bonetti
• Moderator: Dante Basco
• Special Guests: Janet Hsieh (Fun Taiwan, Love in Taipei) and George Young (Falling for Christmas)

Autograph Session
Autograph Session: Enter The Vale: World Premiere of a New Fantasy Universe

• Date/Time: Friday, July 24, 2026, 3:15–4:15 p.m.
• Location: Sails Pavilion – Autographs, Autograph Area AA05