In the past fifteen years, Disney has released numerous successful live-action remakes, including The Lion King, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, and nearly a dozen others based on their animated classics. This trend shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Disney seems to be intensifying its efforts, with some of its most beloved classics and modern favorites slated to receive the live-action treatment in the near future.
In 2017, Beauty and the Beast raked in over $1.2 billion at the global box office, while The Jungle Book received highly favorable reviews upon its 2016 release and earned an impressive $966 million worldwide. Aladdin surpassed expectations by earning $1 billion despite initial skepticism. Cinderella, Maleficent, and Pete’s Dragon also enjoyed success. Initially, the idea of Disney remaking their entire back catalog was concerning to many fans. However, most are now eagerly anticipating seeing their favorite characters return to the screen. This anticipation is timely, as Disney currently has several live-action remakes in various stages of development.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Following the massive success of 2019’s The Lion King remake, which grossed $1.657 billion worldwide and set numerous records, a sequel was quickly greenlit. The upcoming CGI-crafted live-action sequel, officially titled Mufasa: The Lion King, will explore the origins of Mufasa, who was Simba’s Father. What’s particularly intriguing about this project is that it’s helmed by Barry Jenkins, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers in the world.
Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani are set to return to reprise their roles from the first film. British actor Aaron Pierre has been cast to portray the young Mufasa, while Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, will make her acting debut. The movie is scheduled for release on December 20, 2024.
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Snow White
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released in 1937, is considered the jewel in Disney’s vast crown. It was the company’s first full-length animated feature and has remained largely untouched by the corporation in the nearly 90 years since its release.
Scheduled for release on March 21, 2025, Snow White is finally receiving the official Disney live-action treatment, with filming already completed. Rachel Zegler takes on the role of Snow White, while Gal Gadot portrays the Wicked Witch.
Lilo & Stitch
The first Disney movie from the 2000s slated for a live-action adaptation is Lilo & Stitch. Not much information has been revealed about the project, except that Mike Van Waes will pen it and will blend live-action with CGI. Additionally, it seems likely that the Lilo & Stitch remake will be released directly on Disney+.
Production on the film began in March 2023, but it was suspended due to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike. So far, only a few announcements have been made. Zach Galifianakis has been cast as Pleakley, Jumbo Kookiba’s alien partner. Newcomer Maia Kealoha has been cast as the titular Lilo. Sydney Elizabeth Agudong plays Lilo’s older sister Nani, while Kaipo Dudoit portrays Nani’s boyfriend. Additionally, Chris Sanders reprises his role as the voice of Stitch, having voiced the character in the original animated movie.
Moana
The Disney live-action remakes released thus far have mainly been inspired by classic Disney films. While Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid are from the Disney Renaissance era, the focus has largely been on classic tales. That’s why it comes as a surprise to fans that Moana is being developed for a live-action adaptation.
Dwayne Johnson made the announcement via social media, where he revealed that he would be reprising his role of Maui in the movie. However, Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced the titular Moana, will not be portraying the character in the live-action remake. Instead, she will serve as a producer. Johnson specified that the movie will draw from Polynesian traditions of song and dance to tell the story, indicating that the live-action Moana will likely be a musical, similar to the animated version.
In addition to a live-action remake of Moana, Disney has announced a Moana 2, expected to be released in theaters on November 27, 2024. Read more…
Hercules
Guy Ritchie, who previously ventured into Disney’s live-action realm with his adaptation of Aladdin, is teaming up with the studio once more. This time, they’re collaborating to give a modern update to 1997’s Hercules.
Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo will produce the film for Disney under their AGBO banner. Joe Russo hinted that the remake of Hercules will have “a little bit more experimental tone, a little bit more experimental in execution,” and confirmed it will be a musical.
Cruella 2
Following the critical acclaim, particularly for Emma Stone’s iconic portrayal, a sequel to Cruella was quickly approved. Cruella 2 will likely delve deeper into Cruella De Vil’s journey toward becoming the villain we know from 101 Dalmatians. Just as the first film used a Disney character as inspiration rather than being a direct remake, Cruella 2 is expected to follow a similar approach.
Emma Stone is set to reprise her role, and other returning cast members include Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Kayvan Novak, Paul Walter Hauser, and Joel Fry. Additionally, Tony McNamara and Craig Gillespie, who worked on the first movie, will return to write and direct Cruella 2, respectively.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Another film from the 1990s Disney Renaissance, although not the most popular, slated for a live-action remake is The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The film is being executive produced by Josh Gad, who may also star as Quasimodo and lend his singing talents to the role. This new version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is reportedly still a musical. David Henry Hwang has been announced as the screenwriter. Interestingly, the film may face some competition, as Idris Elba is reportedly set to star in and direct his own version of the original story for Netflix.
However, there is some uncertainty surrounding the live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney composer Alan Menken mentioned in a recent interview that there are “a lot of real, important issues that should be explored and discussed.” He emphasized the need for agreement on how to address these issues. As a result, the movie is currently in limbo.
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