Disney: Every Upcoming Live-Action Remake
Disney is one of the biggest distribution and production companies in modern Hollywood. The influence of the company started growing after its purchase of Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios, and especially after the acquisition of Fox in 2019. All these companies and their movies are bringing Disney insane amounts of money every year, and Walt Disney Pictures is also giving the company financial injections with the remakes of their known animated classics.
Although 101 Dalmations and Alice in Wonderland have been adapted to live-action in 1996 and 2010, respectively, this Disney’s politics has fully taken off in 2014 and 2015 with the release of Maleficent and Cinderella. Since then, no year has passed with at least one live-action remake from the House of Mouse. Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King have all grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide each, and Disney has plenty of plans for more remakes and sequels to already released remakes.
Keep reading to find out which live-action remakes we’ll get from Disney in the future.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Release date: May 26, 2023
Status: Post-production
Director: Rob Marshall
Stars: Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Jonah Hauer-King, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy
Synopsis: A beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
Release date: 2023
Status: Post-production
Director: David Lowery
Stars: Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson, Yara Shahidi, Molly Parker, Alan Tudyk, Jim Gaffigan, Jude Law
Synopsis: Live-action adaptation of the story of Peter Pan. The movie will premiere exclusively on Disney+.
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
Release date: 2024
Status: Pre-production
Director: Barry Jenkins
Stars: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen
Synopsis: Prequel movie to 2019’s live-action adaptation of The Lion King.
Snow White (2024)
Release date: 2024
Status: Post-production
Director: Marc Webb
Stars: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot
Synopsis: Live-action adaptation of Disney’s first animated classic and the first full-length animated movie of all time.
Other movies in development
There are a lot of remakes and sequels that are in the early stages of development and have no release dates.
- Hercules, directed by Guy Ritchie
- Aladdin 2, directed by John Gatins and Andrea Berloff
- The Jungle Book 2, directed by Jon Favreau
- Hunchback, directed by David Henry Hwang
- Cruella 2, directed by Craig Gillespie
- Bambi
- Lilo & Stitch
- The Sword in the Stone
- Robin Hood
- The Aristocats
- Tink
Despite the audience finding these live-action remakes needless and a sole cash-grab, Disney’s formula is apparently working and we will surely watch a lot of live-action fairytales, on both big and small screens.