What Will Disney Ruin Next? The Beloved Films Headed for a Modern Reboot

It has been nearly 15 years since Disney started transforming its cherished animated favorites into live-action films.

From big-screen hits such as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, to the classic Cinderella and the Little Mermaid , many of its most renowned pieces have been reinterpreted for contemporary viewers.

However, if countless fans believed that the remakes would allow them to reconnect with beloved characters, they have surely experienced disappointment.

In an attempt to foster diversity, the worldwide entertainment behemoth has found itself at the heart of a ' woke Backlash has emerged, with claims that they are eroding the heartfelt charm of the original movies by mutilating conventional storylines.

And Disney’s most recent project, a musical adaptation of the 1937 film "Snow White," has similarly faced backlash, leading executives to cancel it. London launch despite concerns about potential criticism.

The $300 million remake has faced criticism for abandoning the classic 'sexist' love story and recasting the Seven Dwarfs as a varied ensemble of 'magical beings'.

Rachel Zegler The actor co-starring with Gal Gadot in the film was also criticized for criticizing David Hand's original animated movie as being 'highly antiquated.'

Furthermore, Disney faced accusations of incorporating 'woke elements' into its 2023 reboot of The Little Mermaid.

In the 1989 film, Scuttle was portrayed as a male seagull but has been changed to a female gannet in the updated version. Additionally, King Triton, who was played by an actor in the original, continues to be part of the story. Javier Bardem , developed environmentalist leanings.

Now, MailOnline examines some beloved classics being considered for Disney remakes—and which might face another wave of criticism.

Bambi

One of the rumored live-action remakes being considered by Disney is "Bambi," a beloved family classic.

Although a release date hasn’t been announced yet, critics are already concerned that any new adaptation of the 1942 classic may turn out to be overly ‘progressive’.

It was previously reported that the movie might back off from its famously sad scene— the death of Bambi's mother.

Piers Morgan labeled the movie as "the latest casualty of the wokeness battle" during his program "Piers Morgan Unfiltered," questioning whether this represents "an epidemic of anxiety."

Nevertheless, journalist and author Ernest Owens suggested that handling the death of Bambi’s mother with sensitivity would be ‘a smart move’.

Previously, Variety had stated that Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Lindsey Beer would be penning the script.

Hercules

Hercules is yet another timeless gem from Disney, rumored to be heading for a live-action adaptation.

Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo will produce the film for Disney, with the pair confirming in April last year they are still waiting on a script.

Previously, the brothers mentioned that the live-action version of Hercules would take a more experimental approach and draw inspiration from TikTok.

"I believe they are enthusiastic about discovering what each of us can contribute to it in a manner that goes beyond simply reinterpreting the animated movie," Russo stated during a 2022 interview with Variety.

Nevertheless, this method faced criticism from devotees of the legendary 1997 movie.

A user expressed frustration on Reddit stating that the selected directors declared their intention to "modernize" the storyline as extensively as feasible and intended to draw inspiration from TikTok to transform Hercules into a musical comedy.

They aim to draw inspiration from TikTok for a remake of Hercules? Really?? What sort of CROSSOVER concept is this?

What's the connection between social media and a tale inspired by Greek mythology? This idea seems quite concerning to me; I'm curious to see how this film turns out.

Lilo & Stitch

In February 2020, a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch was announced, with plans for the movie to be released in theaters this May.

The trailer was unveiled this week, yet fans have already expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming it seems like a 'hasty reuse' of previous material.

The movie, inspired by the 2002 animated gem, tells the tale of a solitary Hawaiian girl named Lilo and her special connection with Stitch, an alien designed initially for destruction.

Someone shared on social media: 'Disney should cease revamping classic tales and start producing fresh content; we're pleading for this.'

Another comment read: "I'm still puzzled as to why this had to become a thing. The original was flawless. I wonder what aspects of the remake could possibly be improved?"

It remains uncertain what alterations were introduced to the storyline in the latest iteration of the film; however, significant backlash arose due to modifications implemented upon its transition to Disney+.

Online users mentioned that in one particular scene, Stitch’s hiding spot was altered from being inside a tumbling dryer to residing within a pizza box.

They assumed this choice was made once the producers understood it might be risky if kids began imitating what they observed on television and climbed into dryers.

Aladdin 2

In February 2020, it was reported that Disney was contemplating producing a follow-up to their 2019 live-action adaptation of Aladdin.

The movie is expected to adopt an entirely fresh storyline and won’t derive any inspiration from subsequent installments of the original series like The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves.

The 2019 adaptation of Aladdin was successful at the box office and was helmed by director Guy Ritchie.

Nevertheless, there have been speculations that the most recent reboot could potentially be canceled.

The original star Mena Massoud stated in 2023: "Although they aimed to launch it for quite some time, I am clueless about its current status."

It has been six years since we completed filming and finished the project. At some stage, I realized that life simply moves forward.

Moana

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson will lead the cast in a live-action adaptation of Moana, set for release next July.

The 52-year-old actor who played Red One takes on the role of Maui, a Polynesian demigod, in this movie — which is based on the 2016 animated film.

The production of Moana started in August, and exclusive images were shared by MailOnline in November, offering the first look at the remake.

Johnson was accompanied by his principal co-star, Catherine Laga'aia, aged 17, who takes on the part of Moana in the fantastical musical production.

To get more into character, he wore a vibrant green traditional ti leaf skirt and opted for going shirtless to display his well-defined muscles and an array of tattoos.

Moana represents a personal endeavor for The Rock since he holds Samoan citizenship through his mother's heritage, as stated by IMDb.

"This tale represents my heritage, embodying the elegance and warrior spirit of our people. I carry this culture with pride in both my appearance and within my being," he stated regarding Moana.

'No greater world exists for us to celebrate the tale of our community, our zeal, and our mission than within the sphere of music and dance, which lies at the heart of our identity as Polynesian people.'

The Phantom of Notre-Dame

A live-action adaptation of the 1996 film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was announced in 2019.

Josh Gad, the actor, disclosed that he has taken up directing for the new project and went to Paris as part of his research for the movie.

The original film, featuring Kevin Kline as Phoebus and Demi Moore as Esmeralda, stood out as unusually grim for a Disney animated movie.

This release was also among their most contentious ones.

Although potential cast members have been hinted at and a release date has been suggested, the actual premiere of the movie still seems uncertain.

Tangled

A live-action adaptation of the 2010 musical success Tangled was reportedly being developed last December.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is said to be working on the screenplay; she previously wrote "Thor: Love and Thunder" as well as the forthcoming remake of "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

In the initial 2010 animated version, Mandy Moore voiced Rapunzel, Zachary Levi portrayed Flynn Rider, with Donna Murphy lending her voice to Mother Gothel.

Once it became known that a new adaptation was on the way, supporters demanded that Sabrina Carpenter should play the role of the fair-haired princess.

"Tangled" narrates the tale of Rapunzel, a princess possessing enchanted locks capable of granting everlasting youth.

As an infant, she was abducted by an elderly woman called Mother Gothel, who confines her within a tower to utilize her abilities for maintaining youth.

However, when a man named Flynn Rider stumbles upon her unexpectedly, they embark on an adventure together, during which he helps uncover her real identity.

Star Wars

After five years since the release of the most recent Star Wars film, Disney is reportedly set to revisit that iconic universe with a reboot.

According toDeadline, Disney has appointedwriter andproducerSimonKinberg(X-Men,Deadpool)topenandproduceanewStarWarstrilogy.

The report cited sources stating that this trilogy will consist of Episodes 10 through 12 of the main Skywalker Saga, which began with the original "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" from 1977.

Although Disney has been involved in creating Star Wars material for itsDisney+ streaming platform, there hasn't been a major theatrical release sinceStar Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalkerin 2019.

The studio had set a brand new film trilogy from Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi writer and producer Rian Johnson, though there has been little known about that project since it was announced in 2017.

Many think it has stopped being developed, particularly since Johnson along with his production partner Ram Bergman inked a two-film agreement with Warner Bros. earlier in March.

The upcoming Star Wars film screening will feature "The Mandalorian & Grogu," set to debut on May 22, 2026. This movie extends the narrative of the television series "The Mandalorian" with Pedro Pascal playing the lead role.

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