November 14 (Insider) – If you loved Disney’s live-action “The Jungle Book” and take on “Maleficent,” the Mouse House is bringing even more animated classics back to life.
From fairy-tales like “Snow White” to classics such as “Bambi” and “The Little Mermaid,” Disney’s live-action list continues to grow with more than a dozen in the works.
Some of the movies that have been announced are complete remakes of their animated counterparts, while others are based on origin stories or sequels to existing live-action adaptations.
Emma Stone will play the “101 Dalmatians” villain in “Cruella.”
Glenn Close played the villainous Cruella de Vil in the 1996 live-action remake of the animated movie.
The new movie is planned to be an origin story for the villain, directed by Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”). At Disney’s 2019 D23 Expo, Stone described the movie as “1970s, set in London, and punk rock” in a message to fans.
The film was moved back from December 23, 2020, to May 28, 2021.
Disney is remaking 1963’s “The Sword in the Stone,” which follows a young King Arthur and his lessons with the wizard Merlin.
The remake will be written by “Game of Thrones” writer and producer Bryan Cogman. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was named as the director in January 2018.
The movie will also be available on Disney’s streaming service.
Disney is working on its own “Little Mermaid” remake with new music from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken.
Alan Menken worked on the music for the original film. He recently returned to compose the music for the “Aladdin” remake. The movie will include songs from Menken and legendary Disney lyricist Howard Ashman as well as new songs from Menken and Miranda.
Disney announced 19-year-old singer Halle Bailey will play the lead role of Ariel in July 2019.
“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” producer Rob Marshall said in a statement released by the studio.
According to Disney, production for the live-action movie will begin in early 2020. There is no set release date for the film.
“Bambi” will be getting remade for a new generation.
According to Variety, the remake of the 1942 film won’t be live-action with a real deer, rabbit, and skunk. Disney will utilize the technology that helped bring “The Lion King” remake to life to look photorealistic.
Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Captain Marvel”) and Lindsey Beer (“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser”) will write the screenplay for the film.
Disney’s second animated film “Pinocchio” is being adapted into a live-action version.
Deadline first reported the movie in 2015.
“Paddington” director Paul King left the project over the 2018 holidays, according to cinematographer Seamus McGarvey. Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future,” “Forrest Gump”) will now direct the movie and co-write a script with Chris Weitz.
“Peter Pan” has been brought to life in numerous iterations, but Disney is set to remake its 1953 animated film.
David Lowry, who directed “Pete’s Dragon,” will re-imagine “Peter Pan” as well.
Lowry told Collider in 2016 he’s a big fan of the film and he intends to bring his own spin to the material.
“It made a huge impact on how I grew up. I love the cartoon. I love the 2003 version. I didn’t know how I would do it better,” said Lowry. “Then, I started thinking, ‘Well, how would I do it, not better, but differently?'”
According to Variety, the film is titled “Peter and Wendy.” As of July 2020, Jude Law is reportedly in talks to play the villain, Hook. Deadline reports “Grown-ish” star Yara Shahidi will play Tinker Bell in the theatrical release.
Disney is set to release a live-action adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a live-action/CGI movie is in the works from the same producers working on “Aladdin.” Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) is in talks to direct.
It’s unknown if the movie will be for theaters or for Disney’s streaming service.
Disney is working on an adaptation of 1996’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
According to Deadline, a live-action version of Disney’s 1996 movie about an orphaned Quasimodo living in the bell tower of Notre Dame is in the works. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, who teamed up on “Pocahontas,” will write the music while Josh Gad (“Frozen”) is producing.
Deadline reports the live-action film will adapt both the 1996 Disney film and the Victor Hugo novel. It’s not clear whether or not the remake will be for Disney’s streaming service or a theatrical release.
A sequel to the live-action “Aladdin” is in the works.
Variety reports John Gatins and Andrea Berloff are writing a sequel to the 2019 film with producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich returning.
Lin told Insider back in August 2019 they were discussing a sequel.
“I can’t talk too much about the sequel just yet, but know that we are hearing fans’ desires to see another ‘Aladdin’ movie and feel like there’s more story to tell,” Lin told Insider after the film crossed $1 billion at the box office.
Stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott haven’t joined and won’t be given offers until a script is finished.
Disney released two popular direct-to-video sequels for “Aladdin” in the ’90s, including “The Return of Jafar” and “Aladdin and the King of Thieves.” Variety reports the sequel will be completely original and not based on the straight-to-video films.
Disney has not officially announced the sequel.
Disney’s successful 2019 adaptation of “The Lion King” is getting a sequel.
Deadline reports Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) will direct the sequel. The film won’t be a direct remake of the animated sequel, “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.” Instead, it will explore Mufasa’s origins.
It’s little surprise the film is receiving the sequel treatment. The film is Disney’s most successful animated remake, grossing more than $1.7 billion worldwide.
“Robin Hood” is getting remade for Disney Plus.
A live-action “Hercules” is expected to get a theatrical release.
The DisInsider first reported the 1997 animated film about the son of Zeus will get a live-action remake.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Avengers: Endgame” directors Anthony and Joe Russo will produce, but not direct, the film.
Danny DeVito and James Woods lent their voices in the animated film. Ariana Grande recently performed a solo six-part harmony of the movie’s “I Won’t Say I’m In Love,” prompting many fans to suggest she’d be the perfect Meg. It’s unclear at this time whether or not music will be a part of the film.
Source – Insider
