Editorial: Studios Must Stop The Live-Action Remakes!

[The Overlord]

The numbers are in for the first weekend of Lilo & Stitch and it did amazing both in America and worldwide, so Disney will probably continue with them for now.

I think this will make them more choosey. They will likely try to stick to stuff from the 90s and 2000s, rather than something really old like Snow White.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Even if he is not CEO after 2026, he could still stay on the company board and have a major influence on all aspects like John Malone is with WBD.

He plans to retire rather than be on the company board. Iger's been at ABC since 1974 and at Disney since 1996. It’s time for his retirement.

 

[harry580]

I think this will make them more choosey. They will likely try to stick to stuff from the 90s and 2000s, rather than something really old like Snow White.

2000s you say, *cough* Atlantas *cough* treasure planet

 

[Pooky]

Yeah, they're not going to do that.

Despite Stitch's huge success we might be nearing the end of this cycle anyway, because they've used up most of the obvious smash hits. I guess Moana is still coming, and yes Tangled will probably be put back on the block. I guess Frozen if those do well?

They're sensible enough not to do A Goofy Movie... right?

 

[AdrenalineRush1996]

2000s you say, *cough* Atlantis *cough* Treasure Planet

I feel like both could work well as live-action TV shows than feature length films but that's just me.

 

[awinger24]

Yeah, they're not going to do that.

Despite Stitch's huge success we might be nearing the end of this cycle anyway, because they've used up most of the obvious smash hits. I guess Moana is still coming, and yes Tangled will probably be put back on the block. I guess Frozen if those do well?

They're sensible enough not to do A Goofy Movie... right?

I hope you are right. I honestly think David Greenbaum and Alan Bergman should be open to adapt fairy tales, books, biopics and other original material considering that Searchlight is somewhat of their saving grace right now.

 

[Corwin Haught]

Yeah, they're not going to do that.

Despite Stitch's huge success we might be nearing the end of this cycle anyway, because they've used up most of the obvious smash hits. I guess Moana is still coming, and yes Tangled will probably be put back on the block. I guess Frozen if those do well?

They're sensible enough not to do A Goofy Movie... right?

A quick check of Wikipedia has Bambi, Hercules, Hunchback, and Aristocats remakes in development, as well as sequels to Mulan, Maleficient, and Cruella.

 

[harry580]

They're sensible enough not to do A Goofy Movie... right?

or pixar or blue sky studios films

 

[Elijah Abrams]

We gotta remember also that the fate on live-action Disney remakes comes down to whoever succeeds Bob Iger as CEO of the company. If Josh D’Amaro, who is currently in charge of the parks division, lands the job, he could put that into overdrive!

I hope you are right. I honestly think David Greenbaum and Alan Bergman should be open to adapt fairy tales, books, biopics and other original material considering that Searchlight is somewhat of their saving grace right now.

I did have an idea for Disney to do an adaptation of the Japanese legend of Momotaro.

 

[Scofisticated]

I have not seen the Live-Act remakes, except for Jungle Book and Alice. They were fine. But I am not to interested remake for remake sake.

Didnt see it, but I think it is interesting how Malificent told the story from a different perspective. Giving backstory to a, cool, but underdeveloped character. And that could be interesting for a remake. A significant -enough- change that brings something new.

Something similar, I watched 3 eps of the Ruroni Kenshin anime remake from 2023. And didnt like it even tho it was well constructed. Problem being, it looked like it used the same storyboard as the previous one. Great art, newer techniques. Visually impressive. But I still felt like I was watching the exact same story from 20 years ago. Meanwhile, the reboot Trigun had a vastly diff approach in art and scale than the original. I didnt like what they did to some characters, or how they set up the story. BUT, after 2023 Kenshin, I respected the approach to remaking Trigun took. I respected the risks and the divergence. Even if I disagreed with decision. If I watched it, I feel confident I wouldnt see things coming. In Kenshin, I always knew what would happen after a while.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

A quick check of Wikipedia has Bambi, Hercules, Hunchback, and Aristocats remakes in development, as well as sequels to Mulan, Maleficient, and Cruella.

Okay I get despite how HORRIBLE Maleficent Mistress of Evil was getting a third movie since though not as big as the 2014 film, Mistress of Evil still made a profit and despite how obviously not into it Angelina Jolie was in obviously making the last movie, these are the only major movies she's got going that still you know NEED her in them. Considering how brushed away Tigress is now in the Kung Fu Panda films, so yeah Angelina would still want to do that. And Cruella actually did get some positive vibes and you could blame the Pandemic for it not doing as well as it could have since even then it still almost broke even. I don't get a Mulan live action sequel though. Yeah also released in the pandemic but even with the premium ask for Disney Plus it didn't do that well and not only was it most lambasted then a lot of other live aciton remakes but the big reason Disney pushed for it was for those Chinese box office numbers which it couldn't even get anyway as it got blacklisted so why would they want to do a sequel? I get another Live action Aladdin or even another "live action lion king" but Mulan baffles me.

I do feel any hope we had of ending the live action Disney remakes due to the abysmal flop of Snow White was cancelled out because of the insane pull of live action Lilo and Stitch. This may mean that Disney will likely be a smidge more picky in what they give a live action remake (maybe they won't try for a lot of their older movies anymore like anything after 101 Dalmatians) but I still see them wanting to push more recent movies, especially if live action Moana next year does well. And yeah it is sadly messed up how popular these can still be but it doesn't erase the original movie or animation as some seem to claim thus why we are still seeing major releases and Disney still having those originals to view for everyone.

 

[Darklordavaitor]

A quick check of Wikipedia has Bambi, Hercules, Hunchback, and Aristocats remakes in development, as well as sequels to Mulan, Maleficient, and Cruella.

I could have sworn that a Hunchback remake was decided against by Bob Iger, who reportedly is not a fan of Disney’s original. I’d also be surprised if a Mulan sequel is still in development, I don’t recall the previous film being a hit by any means.

 

[Pooky]

I suspect most of those were announced when these things were at their zenith (or in the case of the sequels, before the first films came out) and aren't really moving forward but haven't officially or publicly been cancelled. I guess Hercules has the most commercial potential on paper, but it's hardly as beloved as the first four renaissance films, nor as merchabdisable as Stitch. I'd be astounded if they really went through with a Hunchback film. (Also some of these were greenlit as Disney+ premieres, and I think they're quietly stepping away from making those at these kind of costs).

 

[Edward Joseph]

They're sensible enough not to do A Goofy Movie... right?

Uhh...

SEE IT: First Look At Live-Action Adaptation Of ‘A Goofy Movie’ (EXCLUSIVE)

It’s no secret that The Walt Disney Company is on a mission to remake its most popular animated films into live-action tentpoles. Despite a wide variety of adaptations already in development such as Hercules, Lilo and Stitch, and The Aristocats, we at The DisInsider have learned of another top...

thedisinsider.com

Spoiler

Don't worry guys, it's a joke and only exists in our imaginations...for now.

Anyway, the Huckaback remake apparently has stalled according to Alan Menken: Alan Menken Shares Update on Live-Action Hunchback of Notre Dame Movie (Exclusive). And it appears that the Mulan sequel has stalled as well as there's been no further updates since 2020 (ditto for the Cruella sequel except replace "2020" with "2021").

The Robin Hood remake really surprises me as there already IS a Live Action Disney film based on the character: The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men from 1952 (a movie that I've actually heard quite a few people claim is BETTER than the animated version).
(You know on a side note, maybe when they're doing the upcoming Robin Hood remake, they'll rotoscope/reuse most of the live-action footage from their vast remake catalogue to "pay homage" to the original (I bet most of you didn't get this joke))

Honestly, I think people DESERVE these remakes. After all: They keep falling for them OVER and OVER again (Did you KNOW that Disney actually put the remakes on pause temporarily because of Snow White's poor box office. Why? Because they wanted to wait and see how well Lilo & Stitch did (and considering it's current Box Office, you know the answer to the question of if the remakes will continue or not)).

 

[Pooky]

Let's be honest though, most of the people who go to see these movies aren't "falling for" them; they like them. It's one of those cases where what you read on the internet isn't reflective of the general audiences. They open big, stay in theatres for length periods, and get "A" Cinema scores. Maybe they don't stay with people, and I don't think many people prefer them to the originals, but in the moment they like them. Like Reality TV and your least favourite music genre, a lot of us don't get the appeal, but that doesn't the mean the fans aren't sincere.

 

[Surreal Kangaroo]

I’ll admit it, but I like them. No im not being duped into watching something I don’t like, I have a genuine interest in checking them out. I think they are great from a visual standpoint. Even though there are only few that I prefer to the original, they almost always have at least a couple things I actually think are better (like added scenes or new songs).

 

[hobbyfan]

It is part of Hollywood's OCD when it comes to pre-sold properties. It's why Hollywood is all but creatively bankrupt in 2025.

 

[John Pannozzi]

It is part of Hollywood's OCD when it comes to pre-sold properties. It's why Hollywood is all but creatively bankrupt in 2025.

That, and they're an easier sell to international audiences.

 

[harry580]

That, and they're an easier sell to international audiences.

if that the case, why didn't these be executives to international like why hasn't disney set up a division like fox's old fox international pictures label for these type of things

 

[John Pannozzi]

if that the case, why didn't these be executives to international like why hasn't disney set up a division like fox's old fox international pictures label for these type of things

I'm not entirely sure what you mean.

I'm pretty sure Disney (and the other major Hollywood-based studios) have their own different international/regional branches.

What I was trying to say, was something I read in IINM, a Cracked article about the entertainment industry.

Basically, the reason the studios keep making reboots, sequels, etc. and fewer original films isn't because they've run out of ideas, but because the international box office has grown more important than the domestic box office, and films based on established IPs are an easier sell to foreign audiences.

Plus, I've also heard that apparently some countries (including China, I believe) never got the original versions of certain famous films (or at least they didn't get them theatrically at the time), so remakes have the potential to generate extra buzz in those cases.