TheDisneylive-action remakes are a strange obsession that the company has been cultivating for the last decade or so. Mostly, they have served as easy diversions for parents to take their kids to on the weekly family outing. But at their worst, they exemplify the most shameless of cash grabs designed to feed the overstuffed coffers of The Walt Disney Corporation. Love them or hate them, they show no signs of stopping anytime soon.
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But if the world is going to be forced to continue stomaching these films, it only seems fair that Disney at least put in some effort by pulling picks from their animated properties that seem deserving of the live-action treatment, instead of recycling their classics likeBeauty and the BeastandMulan. There are a ton of gems in their vault that have been overlooked or have not achieved significant success and are therefore primed for modern re-imaginings or reinterpretation.
‘Atlantis: The Lost Empire’ (2001)
An expedition led by a young scholar travels below the surface of the world to unearth the lost city of Atlantis. But the crew is surprised to discover that the Atlantean civilization is mysteriously still alive.
At the time of this now-cult favorite’s release, people were not sure who it was made for. Knowing this today, Disney should be able to produce anexciting live-action re-envisioningwith an appropriate audience in mind. The remake could combine the spirit ofIndiana Joneswith the ambition and story ofJames Cameron’sAvatar,to create an engaging spectacle with glorious art design and an eccentric ensemble that a cast would have a ball bringing to life onscreen.
‘Treasure Planet’ (2002)
Troublemaker Jim Hawkins goes on a journey across the stars seeking planet-sized treasure but finds something more meaningful through his friendship with the space pirate John Silver.
This unusual take on theRobert Louis Stevensonclassic features a world stuck somewhere between steampunk and a technologically advanced future. But perhaps this is exactly the kind of odd creativity that the live-action remakes need. At a time when theStar Warsfilms are on sabbatical, this could be just the thing to satisfy audiences craving a new science fantasy adventure. And the father-son-like dynamic between Hawkins and Silver would be the emotional cherry on top.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2002)
Likely a divisive choice for a remake at best, this quirky movie about a lonely Hawaiian girl who befriends an alien with highly destructive tendencies was plenty popular when it first came out and even spawned a franchise.
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But with the original animated series now behind them and Disney looking to revamp their content library anyway, it may not be such a bad idea to re-examine one of their more experimental works instead of their well-established fairy tale adaptations. The live-action version could lean intoLilo & Stitch’s more mature themes like social ostracism and the older sibling becoming the adult for the younger one, while also presenting more insight into the Hawaiian culture and community.
‘Brother Bear’ (2003)
A coming-of-age story about a young man who learns who he is by living as a bear and looking after a lost bear cub,Brother Bearhas a largely unexplored world revolving around the Alaskan Native culture, making it almost ideal for a retelling.
Even if the concept of a character spending the majority of the movie as an animal has become outdated, there are certainly ways around this while still honoring the original story about surrogate brothers. The film would also serve to provide a refreshing perspective on the relationship between humanity and nature and how this relates specifically to the traditions of the Inuit people.
‘The Black Cauldron’ (1985)
Loosely adapted from a children’s book series, this movie tells the tale of a farm boy’s quest to destroy a mystical cauldron with the help of a princess, a bard, and their cowardly creature companion to defeat a demonic king.
This was another movie that had parents pounding on the doors of Disney complaining that it wastoo scary or inappropriatefor their kids, which, of course, meant that it was worth watching and probably worth remaking for a modern audience, both for children and adults. The premise already promises a funDungeons & Dragons-style adventure, and the visuals, recreated in live-action, would ensure an imaginative, electrifying, and downright terrifying atmosphere.
‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ (2000)
An egotistical young emperor is turned into a llama after a botched assassination attempt and must rely on one of his subjects for help in restoring his human form.
Although all Disney films have humor in them, this movie is a pure comedy. If you are concerned that redoing this in live-action would strip it of a comedic edge afforded by animation, directors likeTaika Waititihave proven that it is possible to make cartoon-like goofiness believable for a live-action movie. But what truly makes this film ripe for a re-imagining are the untapped narrative and artistic potential granted by its Inca and Mesoamerican influences, as well as the mine of buriedinspiration from the original developmentof the movie, which included having it be a grand musical drama.
‘Meet The Robinsons’ (2007)
Lewis, a 12-year-old genius, meets another boy named Wilbur, who is actually from the future. Together, they embark on an adventure through time which brings Lewis to meeting Wilbur’s zany family, the Robinsons.
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Amidst all the time travel, plot twists, and humorous shenanigans is the story of a boy just looking for his family. A remake of this could benefit from additionally incorporating elements fromTomorrowland, a Disney live-action film that had a great creative vision but was ultimately weighed down by its lofty narrative. If there was a way to merge the visual artistry of that movie with the simple heart of this one and trim away any superfluous parts, Disney could potentially have something wonderful on their hands.
‘The Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ (1996)
Adapted from theVictor Hugonovel of the same name, this story about a malformed bell-ringer who lives in the cathedral of Notre Dame and longs for acceptance is rightly reputed as one of Disney’s darkest films, animated or otherwise. It is actually surprising how much was altered from the original story while still keeping in the spirit of it.
Remaking this would be a challenge, but its thought-provoking themes and imagery would translate beautifully into live-action, and the new film would serve as an opportunity to improve on the animated movie’s weaker elements, like the gargoyle characters.
‘Hercules’ (1997)
Rebooting this well-regarded Disney flick may have more to do with timing than anything else. Greek mythology is widely accepted as being the progenitor of the superhero story. It is arguably the best time then, during the age of the superhero movie, to reintroduce a more faithful but still lighthearted version of Hercules, one of the original superheroes.
Fans may even desire for the character to crossover with theMarvel Cinematic Universe, as he is also a Marvel character, like Thor, or even with theAladdinremake, as an homage to their animated series in which the original Disney Hercules and Aladdin did meet at one point.
‘The Fox And The Hound’ (1981)
An odd pick to remake perhaps, but one that makes some sense when considering its story. A fox named Tod is a childhood friend with a hound called Copper. But they struggle to maintain their friendship into adulthood as they are meant to be natural enemies, with Copper being bred to be a hunting dog for wild prey like Tod.
The world we currently live in is a divided one. Various social and political values and pressures separate us even if we ought to be able to compromise and get along. This story, whether it is remade with the same animal characters or reinterpreted as something else, will serve as a timely reminder of where we are and where we should (or should not) be heading.
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