Our love for Disney has well and truly been reignited, thanks to the dozens of films set to be remade or rebooted by the studio in the coming years.
While the original animations seem to stand the test of time perfectly well, the appeal of the studio’s live-action remakes is showing no signs of abating – 2017’s Beauty and the Beast remake took over $1 billion at the box office, with The Jungle Book proving almost as successful. Most recently, the reboot of Aladdin raked in $508 million, surpassing the 1992 original.
With 21 remakes and reboots in the works, Disney now seems fully focused on making-over its back catalogue. In fact, there are just two confirmed films set to be released over the next two years that aren’t remakes or sequels – the new Artemis Fowl adaption and Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson, based on the theme park ride.
Here are the Disney remakes in the works, both confirmed and rumoured, for fans to look forward to:
The Lion King, July 19 2019
Disney has assembled one of its most impressive voice casts ever for the upcoming Lion King remake, with Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver and James Earl Jones all attached. The first trailer for the film set pulses racing back in November, with director Jon Favreau already seeming to have captured the imaginations of fans 25 years on from the original animation.
Mulan, March 27 2020
Chinese star Yifei Liu has been confirmed to play our favourite warrior princess in the upcoming remake of Mulan, after being picked from more than 1,000 candidates for the role. Gong Li is set to play a villainous witch in the film – in a role that didn’t exist in the 1998 original – while YouTube star Jimmy Wong will play the role of Ling. After many rumours, martial art legend Jet Li has also confirmed he will be joining the project.
The Little Mermaid, in development
Disney fans can expect to hear songs from Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken in the upcoming Little Mermaid reboot, which is not to be confused with the film of the same name from 2018. American singer Halle Bailey has been confirmed to be starring in the lead role, while Disney has signed up Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall to oversee the film.
Lady and the Tramp, in development
A live action/CGI remake of 1955’s Lady and the Tramp is coming to Disney’s new streaming service in 2019, with Justin Theroux providing the voice for the Tramp. Disney have appointed Brigham Taylor, one of the creative team behind The Jungle Book remake, as producer on the film.
Cruella, in development
One of Disney’s most iconic villains is the subject of a new origin story, with Emma Stone confirmed to star as a young Cruella De Vil in Cruella. Craig Gillespie, director of I, Tonya, is set to direct the film, which is set in the 80s. The film has yet to receive a release date.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, in development
Family-friendly Rick Moranis vehicle Honey, I Shrunk Kids proved great fun back in 1989, and if the Hollywood Reporter is to be believed the project will be available on the studio’s streaming service following its launch later this year.
Inspector Gadget, in development
It’s fair to say Matthew Broderick’s take on Inspector Gadget didn’t prove to be a classic in 1999, but Disney are reportedly developing a new movie 20 years on. It was announced back in 2015 that a live-action sequel was in the works, after aceshowbiz.com broke the news. However, there have been no developments since then and fans perhaps shouldn’t pin their hopes on the project too highly.
James & The Giant Peach, in development
Disney is preparing a new take on Roald Dahl’s classic, after teaming up with director Henry Selick for a memorable live-action/animation hybrid in 1996. The upcoming remake was first announced in 2016, with Sam Mendes in talks to direct and Nick Hornby to write the screenplay. However, no further information has been released since then.
Lilo & Stitch, in development
Unlikely duo Lilo and Stitch are teaming up again in a new live-action/CGI hybrid, which is being overseen by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich — the team behind the new Aladdin. However, it has not yet been revealed whether the film will receive a theatrical release, or be made available on Disney’s streaming service, which arrives later this year.
Oliver Twist, in development
Back in January 2018 it was announced that Ice Cube and Empire’s co-creator Danny Strong were planning to tell the story of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist in an update of 1968 classic Oliver! Hamilton director Thomas Kail will oversee the film, which marks his Hollywood debut. In some of the most incredible casting news of recent times, Ice Cube will also play Fagin in the upcoming movie. Consider yourself intrigued.
Peter Pan, in development
Film fans can expect to a return to Never Land soon, with another live-action Peter Pan movie in the works — the first take on the classic story since Hugh Jackman’s notorious flop Pan. Pete’s Dragon and A Ghost Story director David Lowery is in charge.
Pinocchio, in development
One of the darkest early Disney animations is being remade by the studio, with a Pinocchio reboot arriving nearly 80 years after the original. Tom Hanks is being lined up to play adoptive father Geppetto in a new live-action remake, with further details yet to be announced.
The Second Jungle Book, in development
Jon Favreau will return to direct The Second Jungle Book, after helming the successful first reboot in 2016. The film was originally intended to be shot back-to-back with The Lion King, although it was delayed due to scheduling conflicts. The project will draw on interesting subject material, including an unused 60s screenplay submitted for the original animation by writer Bill Peet, as well as the follow-up Jungle Book novel written by Rudyard Kipling.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in development
One of the earliest animated Disney classics is getting a reboot, with 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the subject of a new live-action musical. New music is being composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who worked together on the La La Land soundtrack.
Splash, in development
Ron Howard’s romantic classic Splash is getting a gender-swap reboot, with an upcoming remake set to see Channing Tatum play the mermaid originally brought to life by Daryl Hannah. Jillian Bell is set to star alongside him in the film. The reboot was first confirmed in 2016, but a release date for the project has yet to be announced.
The Sword in the Stone, in development
Game of Thrones writer and producer Bryan Cogman is working with 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo on an upcoming reboot of the Sword in the Stone, with the pair acting as writers and directors. A release date for the project has yet to be revealed, although fans could expect to see the film later this year.
Tink, in development
A live-action film centered around Peter Pan’s fairy friend Tinkerbell has been in development for some years, after The Hollywood Reporter first reported the film would star Reese Witherspoon back in 2015. Witherspoon is also acting as producer.
Three Men and a Baby, in development
The classic comedy Three Men and a Baby, itself a remake of a French movie Trois Hommes Et Un Couffin, starred Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson and proved one of the most memorable comedies of the late 80s. Deadline broke the news of an upcoming rebook in 2018, although no star names have yet been announced for the project. The report also stated that the film would be available through Disney’s streaming service, and not receive a theatrical release.
Tron, in development
Disney’s upcoming Tron reboot is set to be the latest take on the franchise since 2010’s Tron: Legacy, starring Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde, which was itself a reboot of the classic 1982 sci-fi film. Jared Leto revealed that he was attached to the project during an interview with Collider in 2017, but conceded that the project was in its “early days”. The movie has yet to be officially given the green light, but fans can still be hopeful.
