Disney Classics Being Rebooted Into Live-Action Movies

By Editorial Staff in Entertainment On 16th May 2016

Disney is coming into the 21st century. Some fans are ecstatic over the announcements that the company is remaking some of its big animated films into live action movies, but others are disappointed that they are tinkering with such classics that they grew up with. The recent "Jungle Book" is just the first of a long list of animated flicks to get the remake.

#11 The Jungle Book

Released in April 2016, the remake as a live action film from the 1967 Jungle Book does not feature any 'Bare Necessities" or singing and dancing at all. The film is a darker, moody tale about a boy raised in the jungle by wild animals. This adaptation stars Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Bill Murray, and Christopher Walken all lending their voices to the new movie, with child actor Neel Sethi playing Mowgli. Not exactly a childhood classic, but the film is very well made with special effects by Gordy Lewis and direction by Jon Favreau.

#1 Mary Poppins

One of our childhood favorites. Who could forget this classic movie with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and a whole slew of animated characters who danced, frolicked and sand beautiful tunes? Originally released in 1964, Disney announced that a sequel to the original classic is in the works, with Rob Marshall directing. The updated sequel will also incorporate portions of the original script ideas and will star Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and Hamilton creator Lin Manuel-Miranda will star as Jack, a lamplighter who is presumably an updated version of Dick Van Dyke's chimney sweep Bert.

#2 Alice in Wonderland

Originally released in 1951 by Disney as an animated feature, Alice already received the live-action treatment in 2010, but the latest installment to this dreamy Disney character's story, Alice Through the Looking Glass, will hit theaters on May 27, 2016. This modern version will star some of the cast from the 2010 version including Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham-Carter.

#3 Cruella De Vil

Based on the vile character from the classic animated film (which also got a reboot as live action a few years back), this update about Cruella De Vil will star Emma Sone as the title character. The newer film about the #1 enemy of dalmatians everywhere, Cruella, will be an origin story about the iconic villain, and will supposedly be released sometime in the two years, with production starting in July 2016.

#4 Peter Pan

So yes, there have been a few live-action takes on this Disney classic already, including 'Hook', but this remake by Disney will be true to their animated 1953 version. Following Warner Bros.'s foray into a real-life Neverland in 2015's Pan, Disney has commissioned Pete's Dragon director David Lowery to helm their own Peter Pan film though no film dates have been set so far.

#5 Beauty and the Beast

Not being released until March of 12017, though the movie is complete and ready to roll, this flick is getting a lot of buzz already due to its star-studded casting of Emma Watson as Alice, while Ewan McGregor, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, and more round out the film. The original 1991 animated version is a classic already and won several Oscars including Best Score and Best Song. The new version will not feature any musical numbers.

#6 Aladdin

A live-action prequel to the hit 1992 movie revolving around everybody's favorite genie is in the works at Disney under the title 'Genies', and the comedy adventure will be written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Though it will be tough to fill the shoes of the voice of Aladdin, Robin Williams, studio heads are hopeful the new script will satisfy viewers. The only person attached to the project so far is Neil Patrick Harris, but his role is unclear at this time. Filming is set to begin by the end of 2017 with casting in December of 2016.

#7 The Sword in the Stone

This 1963 animated film was a huge hit and continues to be a favorite of children and adults. Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman is being tapped to pen the script and Brigham Taylor set to produce. No cast has been announced yet but filming begins in February 2017 in the Netherlands so it's a safe bet they already have a cast signed. Sources say the film will follow the original but will have a "darker appeal".

#8 Tinkerbell

First seen in the animated 1953 "Peter Pan," the little fairy gets her own feature length film this time around. Reese Witherspoon is set to star and produce Tink, a live-action film centered around Peter Pan's mischievous fairy friend, Tinker Bell. So far on Witherspoon is attached to the film, along with director Steven Spielberg. Casting for other characters begins in Spring 2017.

#9 The Haunted Mansion

This one is odd. It's based on a ride that hit Disneyland way back when. Although the Disney World ride spawned a live-action movie already starring Eddie Murphy in 2003, the studio is in talks to reboot it in a completely different (read: darker) direction, with Guillermo del Toro directing. He has alternated between Spanish-language dark fantasy pieces, such as the gothic horror film The Devil's Backbone (2001), and Pan's Labyrinth (2006), and more mainstream American action movies, such as the vampire superhero action film Blade II (2002), the supernatural superhero film Hellboy (2004), its sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), and the science fiction monster film Pacific Rim (2013). Also credited with all the Hobbit films as a writer, he is set to direct numerous Disney films in 2017-18. So far only Ryan Gosling is cast in The Haunted Mansion.

#11 Snow White/Rose Red

Continuing its trend of spinning animated classics into live-action movies, Disney is now developing a second installment of its first fully animated 1937 feature film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Snow White has already received a live action set of films, some by Disney and others by competing studios including Julia Roberts in "Mirror Mirror" and Angelina Jolie in "Maleficent". However, the biggest two are the "Huntsmen" movies by Disney, with another already in the works for release next summer. The latest sequel switches from Snow to another sister in "Winter's War" with Charlize Theron. The upcoming film in production will feature Rose Red, Snows sister. Rose Red is a character that appeared in "Grimms' Fairy Tales" in an adventure that had no relation to the more well-known "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" fairy tale that inspired the classic Disney animated film. Justin Merz has written a script based off of a pitch from Evan Daugherty, which sees Rose as a big player in Snow White's later life, teaming up with Grumpy and the rest of the dwarves to break Snow's infamous, apple-related curse. No cast has been announced yet but the release date is set for the Winter of 2017.

Categories

More