Disney has big, big plans for a lot of its fan-favorite animated films in the coming years, and it’s about time to get excited. There are major plans from the House of Mouse to remake, most notably in a live-action format, many of the animated films Millennials grew up watching on VHS. From Aladdin to Dumbo, The Lion King to Mulan, Disney is making sure that everyone’s favorite films get the live-action twist. And why not? With a proven track record of hit live-action remakes, including recent entries Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book, it’s clear that there is plenty of public interest and desire to see more favorite films brought to life.
So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the remakes Disney is currently whipping up for release through 2019. Prepare yourself, because this is an exciting lineup.
‘Mulan’
If you thought Mulan was the most badass Disney character of all time, then you’re going to love the news that an adaptation of her 1998 film is reportedly in the works. Writing team Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek have penned the live-action script.
The studio launched a global casting search for a Chinese actress to play Mulan. In Late November 2017, Disney finally found its Mulan and, excitingly, she will be a new face to American audiences. Crystal Liu, know as Liu Yifei in her home country of China, was announced to be taking the lead role in the Mulan live-action remake. It was also announced that the film will hit theaters November 2, 2018, and it’ll be released in 3-D.
‘The Lion King’
The full cast for the planned Lion King live-action remake has finally been announced, and it’s a crowd-pleaser if ever we saw one. Donald Glover and Beyoncé (yes, Beyoncé) lead the cast as Simba and Nala, respectively. Fellow cast members include James Earl Jones, Alfre Woodard, John Oliver, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric Andre and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Talk about a stacked cast, right?
The Lion King live-action remake is slated for a 2019 release.
‘The Little Mermaid’
According to Deadline, Disney’s 1989 animated feature The Little Mermaid will be getting the live-action treatment, with Hamilton star and writer Lin-Manuel Miranda as a producer and songwriter.
‘Tink’
Though it’s technically not an adaptation of the 1953 Peter Pan, one of the characters from the famous Disney movie is getting her own spinoff. According to Variety, Reese Witherspoon will play the sassy fairy in an upcoming live-action film. The film is still currently in development, so no official date has been set for its release, but if there’s any actress we’ll gladly applaud for, it’s Witherspoon.
‘Dumbo’
This is… interesting. A live-action version of the flying elephant flick will reportedly be directed by none other than Tim Burton. Will Dumbo get a morbid makeover? So far no date has been set for the film’s release, though it will reportedly mix live-action elements with animated ones.
‘Pinocchio’
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s April 2015 report, Disney is in early stages to adapt its animated film Pinocchio to the big screen. However, according to a July 2015 report by Variety, Paul Thomas Anderson had reportedly written a script for a live-action Pinocchio film which Robert Downey Jr. is set to produce. The catch? The PTA film will be for Warner Bros. and will not be based on the 1940 Disney film.
A ‘Prince Charming’ project
Disney is currently developing a project that will give iconic character Prince Charming the starring role in his own movie, which has been described by The Hollywood Reporter as a “revisionist” take on the character. The big question is, will it be the Prince Charming from Cinderella or Snow White?
A Cruella De Vil project
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emma Stone is in talks to play the 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella De Vil in a prequel to the animated movie. Will Cruella be quite as cruel in the prequel as she is in the animated film, or will we find out something about the fur-loving villain’s backstory that will make us sympathize with her à la Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent? Once Upon a Time kept her evil ways when Cruella had an arc on the series, but the new movie might do something totally original with the role.
A ‘Christopher Robin’ project
According to Variety, the live-action adaptation of the Winnie the Pooh stories is really more of a sequel. According to the report, the film will focus on an adult Christopher Robin. Could the movie go the way of Hook and have the character forget about his magical childhood adventures? Here’s hoping we get lots of life lessons no matter what the movie’s take is.
‘Fantasia’
This might be the creepiest live-action film Disney has on its slate. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is planning to adapt a segment from its 1940 shorts compilation Fantasia. “Night on Bald Mountain,” a segment that features one very scary winged creature, will reportedly be very similar to what Disney did with movie Maleficent. Could there be crossover potential?
‘The Sword in the Stone’
Variety reports that the 1963 Disney movie will get a live-action, big-screen treatment. Bonus? The script will be penned by a Game of Thrones writer, which seems totally appropriate.
‘Aladdin’
Aladdin is getting the live-action treatment in a super-exciting way. With Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie tapped to bring the vibrant world of Aladdin to life, the confirmed cast includes Will Smith as Genie and newcomers Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively. The remake is set to hit theaters in 2019.
‘Peter Pan’
A Peter Pan remake is definitely in the works. There are many details still to be announced about the cast, but we can still get excited because David Lowery, who directed the live-action remake of Pete’s Dragon, is on board.
‘Snow White’
The planned Snow White live-action remake won’t be the first remake of the classic fairy tale put on the big screen recently, but it will surely be one of the most interesting thanks to the street cred this production is earning: The Girl on the Train screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson is slated to pen the script, and La La Land‘s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are set to compose the score.
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