Disney is enjoying the success of its latest live-action remake of an animated classic with Beauty and the Beast and is beginning to put the pieces together for another. Colin Farrell is reportedly in discussions with Disney about taking on a role in a live-action remake of Dumbo from Tim Burton.
According to a report from Variety, Farrell would be taking the role of a father of kids who happen to fall in love with Dumbo the elephant, the outcast ridiculed for his big ears. While the cast is still being put together, other names that have surfaced as possible actors in the movie have included Danny DeVito and Eva Green. There is no word on what roles they would take on, but this Dumbo project has some work to do to get to a production starting point.
Farrell previously appeared in Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks. He just appeared in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which isn’t a Disney movie but was still entertaining.
It should not go without suggesting Tim Burton could certainly use a hit of his own. Burton had some success with his effort with Alice in Wonderland in 2010, but his directing efforts since then have led to less-than-stellar reviews. Burton is also set to direct the long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice from 1988, so hopefully Burton can bounce back a little bit with his unique style and directing.
Disney also has a lineup of live-action remakes of animated classics lined up. Among those on the to-do list right now include The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Mulan. A live-action Aladdin is believed to be on the agenda as well. Having already brought back to life Cinderella and Alice in Wonder Land, one can only imagine where Disney will go next with their live-action reboot mission.
Here are five I think Disney should contemplate, in no particular order.
The Fox and the Hound: People love dogs. And foxes are cool, as evidenced from Disney’s recent release of Zootopia. Let’s give this 1981 classic some modern-day love.
Pocahontas: This one might be a little too new, having come out in 1995, but if Disney can do a live-action remake of Mulan, which came out three years later, then Pocahontas is probably due for live-action treatment at some point.
Sleeping Beauty: This is a Disney masterpiece from 1959 along the lines of Cinderella and Snow White. It’s time to give this classic tale an update.
Lilo & Stitch: Remember back in 2002 when that little blue guy was everywhere? Stitch became a huge character for Disney and following up on the success of Moana it may have to be a few more years until Disney goes back to its Hawaiian roots. But when they do, CGI Stitch will surely be a huge hit once again.
The Little Mermaid: The red-haired mermaid who just wanted to explore life as a human cursed with the inability to speak has to be in the long-term vision for Disney. The Little Mermaid was one of the animated classics that rejuvenated Disney’s animation efforts and paved the way for Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin. At some point, Disney will give this classic a live-action makeover to make their collection complete.
What animated Disney film would you like to see redone in live-action form?
[Variety]
