Is Disney preparing another salvo of live action adaptations of these great classics? This is what is going on behind the scenes according to some insiders in Hollywood.
After Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Snow White, increasingly insistent rumors announce several other projects around live adaptations of great classics. Recently, we learned that Florence Pugh would be approached to slip into Rapunzel’s costume… but that’s not all!
According to Daniel Richtman and MyTimeTo ShineHello, two reputable industry insiders, the big-eared firm is also preparing live-action versions of The Princess and the Frog and Hercules.
For the first project, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar winner for 12 Years A Slave, would be the first choice to play Tiana, main character of The Princess and the Frog.
Regarding Hercules, two names are put forward by Daniel Richtman to interpret the demigod and his accomplice, Megara. It would be Taron Egerton and Ariana Grande.
If the latter is a successful singer, which would allow him to provide the songs for the film, the 33-year-old actor also showed that he knew how to give voice in the biopic Rocketman, where he played Elton John.
The actor has also shown physical abilities (Kingsman, Robin Hood, Black Bird) that could stick to the character of Hercules. In the pipeline since 2020, this film should be produced by Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers Endgame) and directed by Guy Ritchie, who had already directed the live adaptation of Aladdin.
In November 2022, at the microphone of VarietyJoe Russo promised that this new version would not be a shot-by-shot remake, as The Lion King was, but a more experimental project, notably inspired by TikTok.
“Questions arise as to how to translate it into a musical. Audiences today were trained by TikTok, right? What do they expect in terms of the look and feel of it? the vibe of a musical? It can be a lot of fun and help us push the boundaries of performing a modern musical a bit.”he said.
It will take a little patience to learn more, the strike of writers and actors is still underway in Hollywood. Does Disney do well to continue dusting off its classics? The Little Mermaid, produced for 250 million dollars, brought in “only” 567 million internationally.
A not exceptional figure which could deter the American giant from producing these remakes. The release of the next Snow White, expected for March 20, 2024, will surely be decisive for the future.
While waiting for hypothetical Hercules and The Princess and the Frog, we can therefore find Snow White (2024), Lilo & Stitch (2024), Mufasa (2024) and Moana (2025) on our screens. In addition to these, Disney is also considering live action versions of The Aristocats, Merlin the Wizard, Bambi and Robin Hood. However, it should be noted that these projects without specified release dates are still in early development and may not come to fruition.