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Disney has 14 more live-action movies of its animated classics planned — here they all are

Disney remakes thumbnail May 2023
A "Lion King" prequel, "Moana," "Hercules," and "Snow White" are all among the next remakes in the works from Disney.Walt Disney Animation
  • Disney is remaking a number of animated classics into live-action movies.

  • Some are remakes while others are origin stories or sequels to existing live-action adaptations.

  • Among its current remakes are a live-action "Moana" and a prequel to "The Lion King."

Disney's "Snow White" — March 22, 2024

snow white
Snow White is the original Disney princess.Disney/"Snow White"

Disney is working on a live-action version of its first animated classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Marc Webb ("The Amazing Spider-Man") directs the upcoming adaptation with "West Side Story" star Rachel Zegler playing the iconic Disney princess. Gal Gadot assumes the role of her stepmother, the Evil Queen.

"Snow White is the girl you remember, but she's definitely made for the modern age," Zegler told the D23 crowd. "There's such an emphasis on what it really means to be the fairest of them all. For Snow White, it's coming to terms with finding herself and finding her inner voice and finding a sense of agency so that she can be a just ruler and a wonderful queen."

The fairy tale will have new music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the songs for "The Greatest Showman" and "La La Land."

The D23 crowd received a sneak peek at both Snow White and the Queen in their costumes. Gadot looked spot on.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" — July 5, 2024

lion king mufasa
"The Lion King" was Disney's most successful animated remake, grossing more than $1.6 billion worldwide. It's little surprise we're getting another one.Disney

Disney's successful 2019 adaptation of "The Lion King" is getting a prequel. During its 2020 investors day presentation, Disney confirmed that Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight") will direct the follow-up.

"'Mufasa' is the origin story of one of the greatest kings in the history of pride lions," director Barry Jenkins told fans at 2022's D23 Expo, saying that the film will be told in different time frames as it shifts between the present and past.

Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa are all narrating Mufasa's story, which will show how he came into power.

"Mufasa was actually an orphaned cub who had to navigate the world alone, by himself," Jenkins said of the prequel. "In telling this story, we get to experience the real journey of how Mufasa found his place in the Circle of Life."

You can read more on the prequel here.

 

 

"Moana" — June 27, 2025

moana
"Moana" will get the live-action treatment.Disney

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announced Disney's working on a live-action "Moana" during a pre-recorded video for a Disney shareholders meeting in early April.

Johnson will reprise his role from the hit 2016 movie as Maui.

"I'm deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of 'Moana' to the live-action big screen," Johnson said in a statement released by Disney.

"This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people's grace and warrior strength," he added. "I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me."

Auli'i Cravalho announced on Instagram she won't reprise her role as the Disney princess. Instead, she'll serve as an executive producer.

Disney is set to release a live-action adaptation of "Lilo & Stitch."

lilo and stitch
Stitch and Lilo will likely come to the small screen.Walt Disney

Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance will play Cobra Bubbles in the film, according to Deadline. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen will also star. Maia Kealoha will play Lilo. Dean Fleischer Camp ("Marcel the Shell With Shoes On") will direct.

The DisInsider reports the film will head to Disney's streaming service.

A live-action "Hercules" is expected to get a theatrical release.

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"Hercules" came out in 1997.Walt Disney Animatino

The DisInsider first reported the 1997 animated film about the son of Zeus will get a live-action remake.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Avengers: Endgame" directors Anthony and Joe Russo will produce, but not direct, the film. Guy Ritichie, who directed "Aladdin," will direct.

Joe Russo described the film in November 2022 as a musical that will be "a little bit more experimental in tone."

Danny DeVito and James Woods lent their voices in the animated film. Ariana Grande performed a solo six-part harmony of the movie's "I Won't Say I'm In Love" in 2020, prompting many fans to suggest she'd be the perfect Meg. It's unclear at this time whether or not music will be a part of the film.

Disney is working on an adaptation of 1996's "Hunchback of Notre Dame."

hunchback of the notre dame
Quasimodo is going to get his time to shine.Disney

According to Deadline, a live-action version of Disney's 1996 movie about an orphaned Quasimodo living in the bell tower of Notre Dame is in the works. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, who teamed up on "Pocahontas," will write the music, while Josh Gad ("Frozen") is producing.

Deadline reports the live-action film will adapt both the 1996 Disney film and the Victor Hugo novel. It's not clear whether or not the remake will be for Disney's streaming service or a theatrical release.

In March, Gad said the script is "one of the best" he has read and expressed his hope that Disney will let them make the live-action adaptation.

"Robin Hood" is getting remade for Disney+.

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The animated "Robin Hood" is currently available to stream on Disney Plus.Disney

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the remake will be directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and will head to Disney+.

In June 2022, Chris Evans said he'd love "a crack" at playing the character since he's a big fan of the animated film.

A sequel to the live-action "Aladdin" may still be in the works, but the star doesn't seem hopeful.

aladdin jasmine live action movie
You can't have an "Aladdin" sequel without Will Smith.Disney

Variety reports John Gatins and Andrea Berloff are writing a sequel to the 2019 film with producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich returning.

Lin told Insider back in August 2019 they were discussing a sequel.

"I can't talk too much about the sequel just yet, but know that we are hearing fans' desires to see another 'Aladdin' movie and feel like there's more story to tell," Lin told Insider after the film crossed $1 billion at the box office.

Director Guy Ritchie told Collider in February 2023 he "would very much like to" return for a sequel, adding they've "been kicking some ideas around."

However, in March, star Mena Massoud sounded less hopeful, telling fans on Twitter a sequel was "very unlikely at this point."

Disney released two popular direct-to-video sequels for "Aladdin" in the '90s, including "The Return of Jafar" and "Aladdin and the King of Thieves." Variety reports the sequel will be completely original and not based on the straight-to-video films.

Disney has not officially announced the sequel.

An Aladdin spinoff, featuring Prince Anders, is in development for Disney+.

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Billy Magnussen will be back as the aloof Prince Anders.Disney

In 2019, THR reported that Billy Magnussen's "Aladdin" character would get his own spin-off movie on Disney Plus. The film is not supposed to be a sequel.

Anders is a prince who, rather unsuccessfully, sought Princess Jasmine's hand in marriage in the 2019 film.

In May 2022, Magnussen told Screen Rant the film was still moving forward and in the process of rewrites.

 

Disney is reportedly remaking 1963's "The Sword in the Stone," which follows a young King Arthur and his lessons with the wizard Merlin.

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The moment the young Arthur reaches for the sword is iconic.Disney

The remake will be written by "Game of Thrones" writer and producer Bryan Cogman. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was named as the director in January 2018.

The movie will reportedly be available on Disney's streaming service. There haven't been any updates on the project since 2018.

"Bambi" will be getting remade for a new generation.

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The Prince of the forest is getting his own Disney movie.Disney

According to Variety, the remake of the 1942 film won't be live-action with a real deer, rabbit, and skunk. Disney will utilize the technology that helped bring "The Lion King" remake to life to look photorealistic.

Geneva Robertson-Dworet ("Captain Marvel") and Lindsey Beer ("Sierra Burgess Is a Loser") will write the screenplay for the film.

We haven't heard updates on the rest of these films in a while. "The Jungle Book" sequel was originally announced years ago.

Jungle Book
Plan on seeing more of Baloo and Mowgli.Disney

Before the release of Disney's remake of 1961's "The Jungle Book," the studio already started planning a sequel. The movie was a huge success, grossing nearly $1 billion at the box office.

According to The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, Jon Favreau is expected to return to the director's chair for "The Jungle Book 2" along with Justin Marks to return for the sequel. There is no set release date for the movie.

Peter Pan's fairy companion Tinker Bell was reportedly getting her own live-action film, too.

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Tinker Bell may finally get her own live-action movie.RKO Radio Pictures/Disney

The Hollywood Reporter wrote about a movie in 2015 that would star Reese Witherspoon.

Disney is reportedly in talks to remake Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach," which was adapted as a stop-motion film in 1996.

james and the giant peach
Would you want to see a "James and the Giant Peach" movie?Buena Vista Pictures

No new information has been released since 2016.

Read the original article on Insider