The live-action Little Mermaid remake is scheduled to be released on May 26, 2023.

The live-action Pinocchio remake was released in 2022.

The public reaction to live-action Disney remakes is mixed, with some fans expressing enthusiasm and admiration for the casting and production choices, while others may be more critical or skeptical.

The original Moana film earned nearly US$683 million at global box offices.

The document mentions Disney's live-action remakes of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, indicating that these films are part of the studio's efforts to adapt classic animated stories for modern audiences.

Peter Dinklage is concerned about the portrayal of people with dwarfism in the original Snow White story, citing negative stereotypes.

The Little Mermaid remake has a 67% Rotten Tomatoes rating, indicating mostly positive reviews.

Disney's next animated movie Wish is scheduled to be released on November 22.

The live-action remake of Disney's Hercules is being produced by Joe and Anthony Russo.

The Little Mermaid live-action remake has generated backlash due to a review by The New York Times that criticized the film for lacking 'kink' in its storyline, sparking online outrage.

The live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" sparked controversy due to the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, with some detractors using AI to alter her features to resemble a white woman.

"Nostalgia is a key driver of Disney's financial profits in live-action remakes, as the studio attempts to capitalize on the nostalgia of audiences who grew up with the original animated films."

The live-action remake of Pinocchio maintains the original spirit of the story, focusing on entertainment and story attraction, while adapting it for modern audiences.

The live-action remake of Pinocchio made few changes to the original story, modernizing it while retaining its spirit, tone, and theme.

The live-action Disney remake featuring Asian American representation is Mulan, which is inspired by Chinese legends.

The live-action Little Mermaid remake is scheduled to be released on May 26, 2023.

Title:

Content: Disney’s Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Finally Finds Its Lilo

Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch has cast its Lilo: Maia Kealoha, a young actress from Hawaii.

By Angie Orellana Hernandez Mar 31, 2023 10:57 PMTags
Watch: Disney Announces Toy Story, Frozen & Zootopia Sequels

Say aloha to Disney's newest family member.

Maia Kealoha, a young actress from Hawaii, has landed the role of Lilo in Disney's live-action remake of the 2002 classic Lilo & Stitch, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

And Maia, who was recently crowned the 2023 Mini Miss Kona Coffee, already has an ohana standing behind her. "what a little CUTIE!!! she's the perfect lilo," one fan tweeted, while another added, "oh she's adorable i hope she has fun and gets so much love."

For true fans of the movie, nothing—and no detail—got left behind. "She looks just like the animated character. Perfect casting," one fan commented, with another reacted, "The perfect Lilo does exist, and she looks like this." (See a photo of Maia here.)

The casting comes more than nine months after Dean Fleischer Camp joined Lilo & Stitch as director, per THR.

Though not much is known about what direction the live-action Lilo & Stitch will take, the original movie followed the unlikely friendship between Lilo—an orphaned 6-year-old girl living with sister Nani—and Stitch, a mischievous alien who Lilo adopts as her dog.

photos
Magical Facts About Your Favorite Disney Films

According to THR, the movie will be released on Disney+.

And Lilo & Stitch isn't the only live-action project Disney fans can look forward to. After all, the remake of Disney's The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, will hit theaters May 26.

Shutterstock

"I've seen a rough cut, and I was just sobbing the whole time," Halle previously told E! News. "I am ready for everyone to finally see this film, for it to finally be out. We have worked on it for a long time, we've been talking about it for a long time, but now we're finally going to see it and I'm just grateful."

Looks like there'll be plenty of Disney magic to come.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

The live-action Pinocchio remake was released in 2022.

Title:

Content: Pinocchio (2022) review: more like Pinocchi-oh no

Pinocchio (2022) fails to live up to its animated predecessor in almost every way. Still at least Luke Evans is having fun, which is something...

Pinocchio (2022), like many of the live-action Disney movies, is a difficult movie to review. You have to balance the nostalgia you feel toward the original animated movie with the understanding that these new films aren’t really made for me. They’re made for a new generation, to get them hooked on Disney movies the same way we were growing up.

Still, I can honestly say that if the House of Mouse is trying to encourage younger people and kids to get into their family movies, they’d be better off showing them the original ’40s Pinocchio because the remake is dreadful, and I don’t use that word lightly. Everything about this film is a downgrade from the original.

The story’s basically the same, a carpenter named Gepetto (Tom Hanks) builds a wooden boy and wishes his marionette son would come to life. The Blue Fairy (Cynthia Erivo) half grants his wish and brings the puppet named Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) to life but does not make him a “real boy”.

Instead, Pinocchio must prove himself worthy of becoming flesh and blood by being good and the fairy tasks Jimminy Cricket (Joseph Gordon Levitt) with serving as Pinocchio’s conscience. If you’re reading this, you know the rest of the story – Pinocchio gets caught up in a big adventure that culminates in him being eaten by a whale.

Right, let’s get to the big reason this film does not work. The VFX are atrocious. We’re talking Ally McBeal Dancing Baby levels of bad at times. While watching the film, I did not believe that Gepetto and Pinocchio were in the same room or touching, which is surprising considering this film was directed by Robert Zemeckis.

Zemeckis was the mastermind behind the comedy movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which made me believe Bob Hoskins and a cartoon rabbit were in the same room back in the ’80s. Unfortunately, Pinocchio has a touch of the Polar Express about it, with the characters’ eye lines failing to match up and dead-eyed CGI monsters staring off into space.

I’m sorry to say it as well, but Pinocchio is creepy. He’s a living puppet, essentially a family-friendly Chucky. The original kid’s movie managed to dodge the Uncanny Valley by being animated. Here the sheer unnaturalness of Pinocchio is laid bare by putting him next to live-action actors. Had they made Pinocchio an animatronic, they may have gotten away with it, but the fact he’s a VFX character only heightens his general weirdness.

Still, the cast is pretty stacked, so you’d imagine they’d do a good job, right? Well, they don’t do a bad job, but despite Disney expanding this adaptation, the story’s still pretty threadbare. As such, neither Hanks nor Levitt gets all that much to do, and they fail to leave any real impression. Erivo, however, is probably the worst treated of the main cast, with the Blue Fairy’s role cut down quite a lot leaving her with just one scene in the whole film.

As for the songs? Well, I’m sorry to raise the spectre of the original once again, but they’re not a patch on the ’40s Pinocchio’s tunes. The best Disney song in the film is probably ‘I’ve Got No Strings’, but it’s not even as good as the version Ulton sang in the MCU movie Age of Ultron.

If I had to say anything good about this, I liked Luke Evans as the nefarious Coachman and the Pleasure Island. While they took out the alcohol and smoking (unsurprisingly), the sequence maintains the sinister spirit of the original, and the donkey transformation is no less horrifying than the original.

Were I to be charitable, I might suggest if you’ve never seen the original, you might get something out of Pinocchio (2022), but for me, this is another live-action dud from the House of Mouse.

Pinocchio (2022) review

Pinocchio (2022) fails to live up to its magical predecessor.

2

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

The public reaction to live-action Disney remakes is mixed, with some fans expressing enthusiasm and admiration for the casting and production choices, while others may be more critical or skeptical.

How did audiences react to the 2020 Mulan live-action remake?

Some positive reactions praising both changes and additions

The original Moana film earned nearly US$683 million at global box offices.

Title:

Content: Dwayne Johnson says a live-action version of Moana is in the works

LOS ANGELES - Walt Disney Co is developing a live-action version of its animated movie hit Moana, star Dwayne Johnson announced at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Monday.

Moana is set in ancient Polynesia and tells the story of a teenage girl who sets sail on an epic journey to help save her tribe.

The animated version was released in 2016 and racked up nearly US$683 million (S$906.96 million) at global box offices.

“I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen,” said Johnson, who voiced the role of the demigod Maui in the original film.

“This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength,” said Johnson, whose mother is Samoan.

The actor said the new movie was in the early stages of development. No release date was announced. REUTERS

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

What motivates Disney to keep producing live-action remakes despite mixed reviews?

The document mentions Disney's live-action remakes of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, indicating that these films are part of the studio's efforts to adapt classic animated stories for modern audiences.

Title:

Content: The dragons and Vikings are taking to the skies once again, this time in live-action.

Universal Pictures has begun casting for a How to Train Your Dragon live-action flick with Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson and David Tennant in the frame to put flesh on their original voice roles.

The hero is Hiccup, a young Viking who lives in the mythical island village of Berk, surrounded by the mountainous crags where hostile dragons live.

READ MORE: Vivien Heilbron insisted nude scene was put into iconic Sunset Song production

Led by his father Stoick the Vast (Butler) and the dragon master Gobber the Belch (Ferguson), the villagers have been in combat with the dragons since time immemorial.

However, when Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) befriends a rare Night Fury dragon the Vikings discover that conflict is not always the best policy.

Tennant has voiced both second-in-command Spitelout and dragon trapper Ivar the Witless, along with other big stars such as America Ferrara (Hiccup's childhood friend and later his wife, Astrid Hofferson) Cate Blanchett (Hiccup's mother Valka Haddock).

Big money will be waved to get the cast back in the saddle, as the trilogy of films in the franchise grossed $1.6billion (£1.3bn) at the box office.

The studio is journeying on a path already trod by Disney, which has made making live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, Cinderella and Cruella.

The franchise is based on the books by Cressida Cowell, who was inspired by spending her summers on Little Colonsay – a tiny island off the west coast of Mull.

She has described the Inner Hebrides – ruled by the Vikings for hundreds of years – as "one of the most beautiful places on Earth" and "the kind of place where you expect to see dragons overhead".

A fan of the richly-filmed animated dragon franchise, the Doc is intrigued to see how the live-action version will handle Butler's Stoick, beefed up by many a hearty Viking feast and Ferguson's Asterix-like sidekick, both thundering their lines in muscular "Och-aye-the-noo" Scottish accents.

READ NEXT:

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

Peter Dinklage is concerned about the portrayal of people with dwarfism in the original Snow White story, citing negative stereotypes.

Title:

Content: Filed under:

The Little Mermaid live-action remake actually fixed the right character

The biggest story changes aren’t for Halle Bailey as Ariel

Whenever a new Disney live-action remake of an animated classic comes out, there’s always a hullabaloo about what, if anything, changed from the source material. Specifically, fans question whether the latest remake updates anything to take modern standards into account, or a creator boasts that it does — whether it’s giving LeFou an “exclusively gay moment” in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast or canning the Siamese cat song in 2019’s Lady and the Tramp.

For whatever reason, though, most of the filmmakers behind these projects seem determined to also “fix” the stories’ main heroines — usually losing what made them so appealing in the first place. The most nefarious case in point is Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, a character beloved by young bookworms everywhere. Making her a book-lover wasn’t enough for the 2017 remake, which also turned her into an inventor for some reason — and then did absolutely nothing with that plot point.

But in the case of the new Little Mermaid, director Rob Marshall and screenwriter David Magee actually picked the right character to update.

That isn’t Ariel, who for the most part keeps pretty much the same personality she had in the original, though she certainly gets more moments to flesh it out. Ariel is a beloved heroine, and Marshall and Magee understand what made her so appealing in the original animated Disney film. She’s curious, passionate, and idealistic, and the 1989 movie takes great care to highlight those things, while also embracing her faults, like her absent-mindedness and stubbornness. Halle Bailey’s stellar performance as Ariel in the live-action version bolsters all of those points. Even with some added moments, her Ariel is pretty much recognizable. She isn’t the one who needed to undergo a modern makeover, after all.

The character who really needed a change was Eric.

The original animated Eric is a hero of his era. He meets the minimum requirements to be a Disney Prince, in that he’s handsome and brave, and not much else. In the 1989 film, Ariel sees him on a ship, playing with his dog, and immediately falls in love with him. That’s pretty true to the original Hans Christian Andersen story — not to mention the Disney fairy-tale movies that came before — but in 2023, we need more evidence that this is a man worthy of Ariel’s time, and worthy of her giving up everything to try and be with him.

The 2023 live-action version of Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, isn’t just a hunk. He feels restless in his palace, and he wants to explore the world beyond his island nation, but he feels trapped by his mother’s rules. That’s a direct parallel to Ariel’s story, so it makes sense that she would relate to him. Her bargain with Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) is more about her desire to escape her father’s controlling rules about her being in love. (Ariel’s “Daddy, I love him!” line doesn’t make the cut in this version.) There’s a sense of comfort in knowing that there is at least one person on land who would understand her choice to leave the ocean. In Eric, she sees more of a kindred spirit than a soulmate.

The new Little Mermaid also gives Ariel and Eric more time to get to know each other. Instead of the dinner scene where Ariel bungles basic social interaction, now Ariel and Eric bond over Eric’s vast collection of trinkets he found on his adventures. As it turns out, they’re both total nerds when it comes to their interests, and they’re both just squirming to talk about what they love with someone. Ariel still can’t talk because of Ursula, but she’s still an active participant in the interaction, showing Eric a thing or two about his treasures from the sea, and eagerly poring over his maps. All their interactions are fueled by an awkward yet adorable attraction that just makes their romance all the more believable, and worth rooting for.

There are some superfluous changes to the live-action movie that don’t really add anything meaningful. For instance, Ariel’s sisters are rulers of their own seas, not Triton’s decorative choral singers, but they still don’t contribute much to the plot. Ursula has added motives, but that doesn’t come up beyond her introduction. Scuttle the seagull (voiced by Awkwafina) raps for a bit, because sure, why not? If you think too hard about some of the more consequential world-building changes in 2023’s The Little Mermaid, the movie begins to unravel.

But what makes The Little Mermaid isn’t whether the fish look good, or what exactly fuels Triton and Ursula’s feud. It all comes back to Ariel and her journey, which is fueled by the central romance between her and Eric. Just because Ariel falls in love doesn’t mean she’s not a strong and beloved protagonist, and just because Eric is a handsome and dashing prince doesn’t mean he lacks the substance behind that charming smile. By updating their romance, the 2023 Little Mermaid makes the love story more satisfying — and resonant for a new generation.

The Little Mermaid swims into theaters on May 26.

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The Little Mermaid remake has a 67% Rotten Tomatoes rating, indicating mostly positive reviews.

Title:

Content: Disney’s The Little Mermaid is looking to deliver one of the top Memorial Day weekend debuts ever, after grossing $38 million on Friday, including over $10 million from Thursday previews. The live-action remake of the classic animated film is expected to generate $104 million across the traditional three-day weekend, and around $125 million across the extended four-day holiday weekend, coming in ahead of expectations. This beats the $116.8 million that the House of Mouse’s live-action Aladdin remake grossed across the same frame in 2019.

If these estimates hold, The Little Mermaid’s Memorial Day bow will be among the top five of all time, behind Top Gun: Maverick ($160.5 million), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($153 million) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($152 million). Directed by Rob Marshall and starring newcomer Halle Bailey in the titular role, The Little Mermaid was produced on a reported budget of $250 million, and is currently tracking to gross around $80 million from overseas markets by Sunday, which should put its global debut above $200 million.

Aladdin legged it to over $1 billion globally, as did the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and considering the top-tier source material, The Little Mermaid has certainly set itself up for a similarly excellent lifetime haul with this debut. The reviews have been mostly positive, with the film currently sitting at a “fresh” 67% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and earning an excellent A CinemaScore from opening day audiences. Collider’s own Ross Bonaime called it “one of the rare live-action remakes that manages to capture that Disney magic” in his review.

RELATED: Everything 2023's 'The Little Mermaid' Changes From the Original Disney Classic

Last week’s number one film, Fast X, is eyeing a hefty drop in its second weekend. The 10th installment in the long-running action franchise is continuing to display diminishing returns domestically, despite generating sustained interest in overseas markets. Fast X added $6.3 million on its second Friday, taking its running domestic total to $91 million. By Sunday, the film will pass the $100 million mark stateside, and by Monday, it is expected to hit around $113 million. Globally the film has made more than $500 million, but it still has a long way to go before it can compare with some of the franchise’s top-grossing movies, two of which — Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious — have made more than $1 billion worldwide.

A Handful of New Releases Opened Low

Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 slipped to the third spot after four weekends in the top two. The superhero threequel added $5.4 million this Friday, and is expected to make around $20 million across the weekend. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 had a relatively soft $116 million opening in the first week of May, but it managed to deliver one of the top holds in Marvel Cinematic Universe history in its second weekend. The movie quietly stayed afloat over the next couple of weeks, and will pass $300 million domestically and $700 million worldwide by Sunday. Anything around or above Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s lifetime haul of $863 million should be considered a win, considering that the movie was marketed as the emotional closing chapter for a beloved trilogy.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is expected to narrowly claim the fourth spot this weekend, despite being available on digital for a couple of weeks. The mega-hit animated movie added $1.6 million on Friday, and is expected to generate over $8 million across the four-day extended weekend. This should take its running domestic total to $560 million. The sole newcomer to debut in the top five this week is The Machine, starring Burt Kreischer and Mark Hamill. The action-comedy made $2.2 million on Friday, and is expected to gross around $7 million across the extended holiday weekend. Two other new releases — the Gerard Butler action vehicle Kandahar and the comedy film About My Father, starring Robert De Niro — are expected to debut outside the top five.

You can watch our interview with The Little Mermaid star Bailey here, and stay tuned to Collider for more box office updates over the weekend.

Disney's next animated movie Wish is scheduled to be released on November 22.

Title:

Content: How Disney Brought Back Robin Williams' Genie for 2023's Once Upon a Studio (Exclusive)

By Russ Milheim Posted:

Two key producers from Disney Animation revealed how they brought the late Robin Williams’ Genie back for the company’s newest short, Once Upon a Studio.

In 2023, Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary. To do that, the studio is dipping into its extensive history to create a new short that pulls from over 85 of the company’s previous feature-length films and shorts.

This new project is called Once Upon a Studio, and it will see 543 Disney Animation characters come to life in a whole new way. Not only that, but it will even feature crossovers that fans have only ever dreamed of.

Have you ever wanted to see Moana and Flounder share a moment together, or Tinker Bell with Mickey Mouse?

Many things became possible when Disney set its eyes on making this impressive new short a reality, which also served as the opportunity to bring together scores of classic characters.

Bringing Back the Genie

Brad Simonsen and Yvett Merino, the producers for Disney Animation’s newest short, Once Upon a Studio, spoke exclusively to The Direct about the new project and revealed how they worked to bring Robin Williams’ Genie back for a brief moment.

Robin Williams debuted as the voice of the legendary Genie in 1992's Aladdin but refused to return for 1994's Aladdin 2 due to a merchandising-related fallout. The disagreement was later settled and the comedy icon returned as the Genie for the 1996 direct-to-video threequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves.

Simonsen shared that “[they] knew from the beginning” that Williams’ iconic Genie needed to partake in the fun, so the team “reached out almost immediately to [the late actor’s] estate:”

“... We knew from the beginning that the Genie needed to be in this movie, right? So we reached out almost immediately to [Robin William's] estate. And we started sharing with them what we were up to. And then what we did is we actually looked at outtakes. Dan Abraham, our director, looked at outtakes from the recorded sessions and then chose those lines.”

He continued, noting that they quickly “went back to the family” to “[make] sure that [they] were on the journey together:”

“And then we went back to the family and the estate and shared, 'Hey, this is the specificity. [Disney animator] Eric Goldberg is going to be part of this.' So it was really a collaboration with them. And us making sure that we were on the journey together.”

As for the short itself, Merino added how the “first cut was about 12 minutes long” and figuring the final version out quickly became “a balancing act:”

“I think [the] first cut [with Directors Dan Abraham and Trent Correy] was about 12 minutes long. It was like, we can't make a 12-minute short in this amount of time. So we had to really make sure, be careful, that every interaction that we have was timed specifically to that interaction. It became as like, 'Oh, we're spending a little bit more time on this, and it takes away from this.' So, it became like a balancing act of doing that.”

But with such an ambitious short, Merino confirmed that Once Upon a Studio unsurprisingly posed “a lot of unique challenges,” namely in marrying multiple styles of animation while also taking place in a live-action setting:

“There were a lot of unique challenges in this one. I think bringing in the various styles of hand-drawn and CG into our studio and making it feel like they actually are walking in our studio and walking the halls and making them blend seamlessly.”

The producer continued, pointing out the shot with “Moana and Flounder,” an interaction that was “difficult to make them look like they’re living in the same world:”

“There's the shot… the Moana shot because that's in the trailer; like the Moana and Flounder shot, right. And when you're interacting, you're not only having them in the same scene, which is difficult to make them look like they're living in the same world, but they're actually interacting, holding, and touching. And so it's really a credit to the incredible talent of artists and technicians and production people that we have here in the studio to make sure it all works together.”

Simonsen jumped in to explain how they worked closely with production designer Ryan Long, the directors, and animator Eric Goldberg “to make sure that everything was working:”

“I was just gonna say, Ryan Lang, our production designer, we worked really, you know, closely, Dan and Trent worked really closely with him and Eric Goldberg to really do these tests. So we'd take, like, a single frame, and he'd paint over, and we'd really work with the artists to make sure that everything was working together. So each shot had kind of that love.”

One key element of many Disney animated projects is the musical elements. While there is a moment towards the end of the short, fans shouldn’t expect these many characters to be consistently singing tunes as they glide through the halls of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building.

But were more songs ever considered? Simonsen shared that maintaining the balance between all these character moments and musical numbers “would be very hard to do:”

“What we realized was with every second you're with a character, you're taking away time from another character when you're trying to get as many in as possible. So it would be very hard to do musical numbers and still keep that pace that we have.”

Merino expressed how Once Upon a Studio “was a fun one to screen [internally]” because many of the notes would center around adding new characters or moments into the story:

“This one… was a fun one to screen [internally] because the notes were more about like, 'Oh, well, remember this character? Oh, try to get this character.' And there were some good story notes about making sure that we keep a drive alive within the short. It was really fun because we have so many great directors and writers in our studio who have such a history here. They were like, 'Oh, you can put this character in there. Oh, what about this?' So it was a lot of fun. Yeah.”

Brad Simonsen added how they “did a survey to the entire studio” that encouraged people to pitch their ideas to the team:

“Yeah... And we even did a survey actually, after the original pitch, we did a survey to the entire studio and said, 'Hey, if you have ideas, please, please pitch them.' And one of those ideas that came out of that was the moment near the end of the short as they're all gathering. Where Oswald actually tips his hat to Mickey, and Mickey says, 'After you.' That was literally--someone suggested that as one of our team members, yeah.”

The conversation then pivoted to two of Disney Animation’s biggest franchises and their future.

The first topic at hand was Encanto, a film that quickly became a fan favorite after it debuted in 2021. The Direct asked the producers what audiences should expect from the franchise going forward, to which Yvett Merino confirmed that the team is “[continuing] to kind of look at different ways that [they] can keep the world alive:”

“I think we will continue to work on what that actually means. But we are so blown away by the reaction and how 'Encanto' kind of connected with so many people. We continue to kind of look at different ways that we can keep the world alive. I know they teased a little bit of Destination D23 about something 'Encanto' coming, possibly to one of the parks. And we love that…”

The producer continued, admitting she “[doesn’t] have anything official to say” but she’s excited to see the franchise “expand across the company:”

“… There's different—we're working closely with our friends in publishing and consumer products to make sure—there's always different ideas and needs and wants for, for it to stay alive out there. But I don't have anything official to say, but I love the 'Encanto' world and can't wait to see it expand across the company.”

The Direct then asked about the studio's upcoming animated sequel Zootopia 2 to see if the producers could share any fun teases.

Brad Simonsen was able to say he “know[s] that this next one’s going to take it to another level” compared to the original:

“We're all super excited about it. And it's a world that, you know, I was part of the first movie, and it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life, to be honest. And I know that this next one's going to take it to another level and be, as you know, as good or better than the first. So we're super excited about that project.”

More Disney Crossovers to Come?

Once Upon a Studio is definitely different than Disney Animation’s usual shorts, but fans are undoubtedly going to fall in love with it. Seeing all of these classic characters interact in previously inconceivable ways scratches an itch many never realized they had.

Maybe if the short really catches on, Disney Animation could commission a larger project that would allow Disney’s large library of characters to interact in similarly unique ways. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait another hundred years before some more crossovers like this happen again.

The next step in celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary will be the release of Wish, the company’s next animated movie, which will be released on November 22. The film follows Asha, a young girl who wishes for a star, only to get a much more direct and magical response than she ever would have thought.

Once Upon a Studio will make its Disney+ debut on Monday, October 16.

The live-action remake of Disney's Hercules is being produced by Joe and Anthony Russo.

Title:

Content: Guy Ritchie will direct Disney's 'Hercules' remake.

The 'Aladdin' director is set to go behind the camera for the live-action remake of the 1997 animated movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Dave Callaham - who wrote Marvel’s 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' - has already written a first draft of the script and , penned a first draft of the script. The studio is currently in the process of searching for writers for the project.

'Avengers: Endgame' directors Joe and Anthony Russo will produce the film through their AGBO company.

Meanwhile, it was previously claimed that Disney is working on an 'Aladdin' sequel.

The studio was said to be working with writers John Gatins and Andrea Gerloff for the upcoming blockbuster after the huge success of the live action remake of the animated classic.

The film was in early development in 2020 after Disney spent six months figuring out what direction they wanted to take with the follow-up.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich - who produced the original - were tipped to return under their Rideback banner, with Ryan Halprin as executive producer.

LATEST NEWS

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

The Little Mermaid live-action remake has generated backlash due to a review by The New York Times that criticized the film for lacking 'kink' in its storyline, sparking online outrage.

Title:

Content: © Disney
Halle Bailey plays the lead character, Ariel, in 'The Little Mermaid.'
The New York Times has stirred online outrage by faulting Disney's new live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid', a children's movie, for not including any "kink" in the storyline.

Times film critic Wesley Morris began his review by saying the movie had "noble intentions," dutifully checking various diversity boxes to gain approval. However, he added that Disney erred by trying too hard to avoid offending audiences: "Joy, fun, mystery risk, flavor, kink - they're missing."

Controversy over the review bubbled up earlier this week, when the newspaper posted a Twitter message promoting the piece. It came amid a wave of conservative boycotts against major corporations over alleged sexualization of children and promotion of transgender ideology.

US retailer Target, for instance, has lost more than $13 billion in market value over the past two weeks amid public pushback over a "Pride Month" campaign that featured merchandise for babies and other children.

"The New York Times complaining about the lack of 'kink' in 'The Little Mermaid' pretty much sums up where we're at," said Darryl Cooper, host of the MartyrMade podcast. He added, "Their contempt for traditional values transformed into a seething hatred for ordinary people."

Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren argued on Tuesday that by promoting the sexualization of children, leftists had galvanized conservatives who normally lack the "intestinal fortitude" to fight for their causes. "They have found the hill that conservatives and decent folks are willing to die on, and that is protecting children. And we will do it every single time. Ask Target, ask Bud Light, ask Kohl's."

Comment: Disney should have gotten the boycott treatment a long time ago

"We will protect children. We will keep them from being exploited. We will do it every time. Do not mess with us. We are done playing with this."

Morris, the film critic, said that although black singer Halle Bailey was cast to play the lead role of Ariel, 'The Little Mermaid' took few chances that might anger "the haters." He added, "That allergy to creative risk produces hazards anyway."

The reviewer also critiqued the movie's allegedly racial undertones, such as a scene in which the character Vanessa, played by a white actress, steals Ariel's voice and woos her love interest, Eric, with a song. "There's a whole American history of theft and music to overthink, too," Morris said.

Morris has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work, including a 2021 group of essays that explored "the intersection of race and pop culture," according to his New York Times bio.

The live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" sparked controversy due to the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, with some detractors using AI to alter her features to resemble a white woman.

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How Disney's The Little Mermaid Live-Action Remake Is Changing the Narrative

Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has made a significant impact by surpassing the original's box office earnings, offering representation to young girls of color, and standing firm against racist backlash.

BNN Correspondents
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In a world where representation matters more than ever, Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has set a new benchmark. The film, which grossed over $550 million in global ticket sales, has surpassed the original's box office earnings, making a significant financial and cultural impact. Beyond merely being entertaining, the film has become a beacon of hope for young girls of color, seeing themselves represented in a fantasy world for the first time.

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Reimagining Inclusion in Fantasy

The casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel sparked controversy even before filming began. Detractors used AI to alter her features to resemble a white woman, reflecting a narrow view of what a mermaid, or a princess, should look like. Despite the racist backlash, Disney stood firm, challenging the status quo and reimagining inclusion in fantasy. The film's success underscores the necessity of diversity in storytelling, proving that audiences are hungry for fresh perspectives and narratives that resonate with their own experiences.

Standing Firm Against Racism

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The release of the first teaser at D23 Expo was met with enthusiasm and anticipation. The beautiful shots of Halle Bailey's Ariel in the ocean, accompanied by the iconic Part of Your World, were a powerful assertion of Disney's commitment to diversity. The film, directed by Rob Marshall and released in May 2023, also features Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Noma Dumezweni in an undisclosed role. Each casting choice was a testament to the company's determination to stand against racist attacks and uphold the importance of representation.

Attending to Details for Authentic Representation

With its Reimagine Tomorrow initiative, Disney is leading the way in promoting diversity and inclusion across its productions. By paying meticulous attention to details, the company ensures authentic and inclusive representation both on-screen and off-screen. The success of The Little Mermaid underlines the significance of these efforts, and the film serves as a potent reminder that stories have the power to inspire change.

In conclusion, the journey of The Little Mermaid offers valuable lessons for leadership and the power of storytelling. It highlights the importance of standing firm against critics, especially in the face of racism. It also emphasizes the necessity to reimagine inclusion in fantasy and the significance of paying attention to details for authentic representation. These lessons are not just applicable to film-making, but are relevant in all fields where leaders have the opportunity to challenge hate and inspire change through their work.

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What controversy did Disney's The Little Mermaid spark globally?

Debate over both Ariel's casting and racial representation.

"Nostalgia is a key driver of Disney's financial profits in live-action remakes, as the studio attempts to capitalize on the nostalgia of audiences who grew up with the original animated films."

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

The live-action remake of Pinocchio maintains the original spirit of the story, focusing on entertainment and story attraction, while adapting it for modern audiences.

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Content: The original "Little Mermaid" director can 't stand it! The real version of the irony: the zoo crab expression is even richer
Reporters Lau Wan-yan / Comprehensive Report
Disney has created countless moving animated films, accompanied by many people to grow up, such as "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty", "Beauty and the Beast" and other classic films, in recent years, these classic animations have been remade as live-action versions, but Disney has been criticized for pursuing excessive "political correctness", while trying to convey specific ideas, ignoring the story itself. And the depth of the role, deeply criticized by the outside world.
The real version of "Little Mermaid" was criticized.
(Courtesy of Disney)
According to foreign media reports, the director of the "Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" animation, John Musk, publicly pointed out that Disney should revise the line, focusing on the "entertainment" and "story attraction" of the work, "the concept" should be placed on the secondary, bluntly, "they should revise the line", and added that "it is not necessary to completely put the concept into, but until then, the most important thing is to create the audience. It's a role that captures the eyes of the audience."
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The director of the animated version of "Little Mermaid" believes that the live-action version should be more about the relationship between father and daughter.
(Courtesy of Disney)
John Musk emphasized that Disney ’ s classics were never born out of preconceived ideas, but rather immersed the audience in the world built by the story and the characters.
He believes that while it is not necessary to completely abandon the concept, before that, you should first create characters that the audience can feel and feel attracted to.
As for Disney ’ s frequent remakes of old animations into live-action versions, he believes that this is to make the audience like things, and then sell them again, and he obviously does not agree with this practice.
Disney ’ s remake of the classic animation, apart from Aladdin, has a mostly bad reputation. John Musk pointed to the 2023 live-action version of “The Little Mermaid ” and bluntly said:“ They don ’ t put much ink on the story of their father and daughter, that ’ s the core of the whole movie. ” The lions in the Lion King are much richer.
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According to John Musker, what should Disney prioritize in its remakes?

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

By turning classic animations into live-action films with major stars

What approach makes Disney's classics successful according to John Musker?

Immersing audiences in story-driven worlds rather than pushing preconceived ideas.

The live-action remake of Pinocchio made few changes to the original story, modernizing it while retaining its spirit, tone, and theme.

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Content: A live-action version of Disney ’ s classic animated “Puppet Story ” is released today with the latest official trailer and main visual poster, directed by Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis, featuring Tom Hanks, puppet“ Pinocchio ” Benjamin Einsworth, and cricket “Gimini ” Joseph Gordon. Lévy and Cynthia Alivo, the" Blue Fairy "and other superlatives, recreate the classic and create epic poetry for the audience.
"When I knew that Robert Simmons had been invited to make a live-action version of the film, I told him that if he could bear to work with me, let me play the old carpenter Gabbitt!" and said that Robert Simmons would never choose and shoot the film. Instead of compromising on what others have already done, Tom Hanks likes to challenge his limits and be creative in his work, so he believes that even if he shoots a live-action film, the classic animation will still be a classic, but the live-action film will leave its brilliant and immortal footprint in modern cinema.
When asked about the most difficult thing about playing the old carpenter Gabbitt, Tom Hanks admitted: “When watching the animated film, most people think that Puppet Story is just about a father ’ s desperate adventure to save his beloved son, but it is actually the process of fighting his biggest fear. ” The struggle, the helplessness and uncertainty of confronting the dark side of the world, and the determination and courage to defeat fear are definitely worthy of the audience's expectation.
In addition, Robert Simmons, who won the Academy Award for Best Director for Forrest Gump, created the classic science fiction film Back to the Future, and the famous disaster film Rebirth, was asked about the biggest difference between the original animation and the live-action film, saying that the live-action film retains the spirit, tone, and theme of the animation of Puppet Story, but modernizes the story and is no longer true. "Modern audiences are getting richer in the experience of watching movies, and they don't want to be told what to do and what to think, but they want to have space to think and interpret while watching movies."
The filming of the live-action version of "Pinocchio" was also the fourth time that Robert Simmons collaborated with Tom Hanks. Robert Simmons praised Tom Hanks as an omnipotent actor, but also brought unexpected breakthroughs and sparks to the role, and praised Cynthia Ariffer, Joseph Gordon Levy, and Pinocchio Benjamin Evans. Voss is also a very good actor, perfect interpretation of the role in his heart should have.
A live-action version of Disney ’ s classic “Puppet Story ” will be available on Disney + on September 8.
# Stranger Things # Puppet # Tom Hanks # Live Movie # X

The live-action Disney remake featuring Asian American representation is Mulan, which is inspired by Chinese legends.

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Content: Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month With These Disney Classics

in Disney, Entertainment

Credit: Disney/Pixar

May is AANHPI Heritage Month. For those unfamiliar, Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is the time of year when we reflect on and celebrate the community’s impact on our nation’s history. The official observation of this community came in small steps. It was 1977 when the U.S. Congress declared the first ten days of May to commemorate the history and contributions of Asian American communities here in the United States. The following year, President Jimmy Carter declared it would be an annual celebration, and in the early 1990s, it became a full month. As the years passed, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders were added to the observance.

The nationalities and countries included in the AANHPI community have a broad global span. Asian American represent the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. This includes China, the Philippines, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders include anyone having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. Altogether, there are over 75 countries that are honored during AANHPI Heritage Month.

Related: Ke Huy Quan Gives Touching Speech at White House Screening of ‘American Born Chinese’

This is the perfect time of the year to gather up the family and watch some inspiring stories with AANHPI representation. If you’re looking for some great movies that fall under that category, Disney actually has an abundance of them. From stories inspired by Chinese legends to ones centered around the waves of Hawaii, there are so many adventures to explore. Now let’s hop onto Disney+ and explore all the films highlighting the culture and people we are honoring this month.

It’s time for an Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Disney movie marathon.

The History of AANHPI Representation in Film

Before we get started, it’s important to revisit the history of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders in film. For many years in Hollywood, these communities had very little representation in cinema. And whenever characters from these backgrounds would appear in movies, it was usually a stereotypical role or overly offensive. And we can’t forget to mention that in the early years of cinema, many Asian characters were portrayed by white American actors. One of the most notorious “whitewash” casting cases was when Mickey Rooney played a Japanese man in the 1961 classic Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

Disney was also a culprit of inappropriate representation of the Asian community in the early days when they featured several stereotypical cats in not one but two of their animated classics. Don’t worry; these will not be included in our movie marathon.

It wasn’t just movie theaters that lacked representation but also television. Historically, very few programs and series center around an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander family. Shows like Margaret Cho’s All-American Girl in the mid-90s were revolutionary as they focused on a different type of culture that America hadn’t highlighted before. Unfortunately, shows like that didn’t last on the air long. It wasn’t until much later when series like The Mindy Project and Fresh Off the Boat gained mainstream success.

Eventually, but not soon enough, there was a shift in Hollywood. In the past decade, more films have honored the accurate representation of Asian culture. Movies like Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) have brought in major box office success and critically acclaimed reviews, with the latter earning the Best Picture Oscar this year.

We have seen a spike in stories that center around characters from the AANHPI community on both the big screen and television, and this is only the beginning. As we dive into the Disney movies that showcase and honor AANHPI heritage, we can also look forward to a new wave of stories coming in the future.

The Best Disney Movies to Watch During AANHPI Heritage Month

Let’s kick this list off with the 1998 animated film Mulan, which centers around Disney’s first Asian female protagonist.

Mulan (1998), like many Disney films, is inspired by a preexisting fairytale. This specific story is based on ancient Chinese folklore. There have been many versions of the legendary Mulan, which tells the tale of a daughter who disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the conscription for the Chinese army.

Before production began, the team behind this animated classic went to China for several weeks, where the architecture and culture inspired artists. Although the cast of Mulan was not entirely comprised of Chinese voice actors, it was the first animated feature from the studio to star an Asian actress and actor for the lead roles. Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga returned to Disney to record the singing voice for Mulan, just as she did for Jasmine in Aladdin (1992).

Disney had to make tough decisions when adapting this legend, as they wanted the story to appeal to an American audience. While some choices are considered questionable today, Mulan (1998) remains one of the best Disney movies to follow the Renaissance era.

The live-action Mulan (2020) was the studio’s second attempt at adapting the legend, and even though some critics gave it positive reviews, many fans felt the remake was unnecessary. But we’re adding it to the list as it’s just as important as the original, with the cast being comprised of all Asian stars.

Moving onto the next iconic AANHPI story, an absolute fan favorite, Lilo & Stitch (2002).

If “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” doesn’t instantly play in your head when you see a photo of Lilo and her alien dog Stitch, then maybe you should watch this one first.  Lilo & Stitch (2002) came out at a time when Disney needed a hit, and boy, did this movie deliver. The movie was loved for its return to Disney’s classic animation style (this one used less CGI than previous Disney films) and for its accurate Hawaiian representation. It was basically a love letter to the islands of Hawaii, from the names and locations to the beautiful music.

Like Mulan (1998), Disney sent their animators to Hawaii to study the culture before production began. The animators took in the landscapes, dancing, and people, all so they could give the film an authentic Hawaiian feel.  The soundtrack also heavily featured music from Elvis Presley, who famously loved the island and filmed several of his movies there.

Lilo & Stitch (2002) holds a special place in the hearts of many Native Hawaiians as it was the first Disney film to depict the culture accurately, or at least without messing it up in the way Disney has done with other cultures in the past. For better or for worse, there is currently a live-action adaptation in the works for this beloved movie.

Moving on to our next AANHPI adventure with one of Disney’s more recent smash hits, Moana (2016).

Related: “Who Wants This?”: Fans Criticize Plans for ‘Moana’ Land at Disney World

Although Moana’s home of Motunui is one of pure fiction, the culture is inspired by the real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. If you think Disney sent their animation team out on another journey around the world to gather inspiration, you’re absolutely correct. Once again, the Walt Disney animators traveled to different Pacific islands and learned the culture that influenced the film.

These aspects are what make Moana (2016) so unique. And, of course, the fantastic music. Not only was this the first time Disney collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda for an animated film, but the soundtrack also featured contemporary music artists from the Pacific islands, such as Opetaia Foa’i.

The film stars are also of Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent, with Auliʻi Cravalho being a native of the islands. Dwayne Johnson is a proud Samoan, making him the perfect choice for the voice of Maui.

Just like Lilo & Stitch (2002), this modern-day classic also has a live-action adaptation in the works.

For the next movie on our AANHPI Movie Marathon, we’re heading to Canada. Even though Canada isn’t one of the AANHPI countries, it is the home of the Red Panda from Pixar’s Turning Red (2022).

Domee Shi’s Turning Red (2022) is a melting pot of culture. The writer-director added many elements from her own life, cultivating a mixture of Canadian, Chinese, and early 2000s references. The film does a great job of showing the generation gaps between older Asian parents and their children. Turning Red (2022) hits several significant milestones for the studio, as it’s also the first Pixar film solely directed by a woman.

The main character, Meilin, finds herself turning into a Red Panda throughout the film. While her Red Panda symbolizes “growing up,” in Chinese culture, the red panda is a sign of good luck. The art style was also unique for the film compared to other Pixar movies. Shi has mentioned several popular Japanese Anime being the inspiration for the film, such as Sailor Moon, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha.

Moving right along, we will head over to the fictional island of Kumandra as we explore Raya and The Last Dragon (2021).

Southeast Asian cultures inspire Raya and The Last Dragon (2021). The countries of Southeast Asia include the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The film centers around the importance of unity and, you guessed it, dragons. Dragons are sacred creatures in Asia, as they consider them sources of power and bringers of rain. Fans were thrilled to see a new Disney animated feature centered around Asian culture, specifically from Southeast Asia.

Critics and audiences alike praised the film, as it gained positive reviews across the board. Unfortunately, not many people went to see it in theaters since it arrived on the big screen just weeks after the COVID pandemic was coming to an end. Many moviegoers were still staying home at the time of its release, and eventually, the film was overshadowed by Encanto (2021). The film did, however, earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. If you haven’t seen this one yet, it’s definitely worth a watch.

It’s time to bring this movie marathon into the Marvel Universe. Next stop, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Representation of all cultures is important; it sparks inspiration in many young children. When we see someone like us as a superhero, we believe we can be superheroes too. That’s precisely what  Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) did for Asian American culture. Seeing the first Asian protagonist in a Marvel film was a massive deal. The cast featured very talented actors such as Simu Liu, Michelle Yeoh, and Awkwafina (who also voiced Sisu in Raya and The Last Dragon). The movie perfectly balanced action, humor, and Asian culture.

The future of Shan-Chi is still up in the air, and we haven’t seen the character in the Marvel Universe since his debut. However, the actor Simu Liu loves to Tweet, and the star often drops updates on the character. We suspect we can see his return during one of the new Avenger films in a few years and even a full-on sequel to the 2021 film.

Honorable Mentions

While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) was the first time Disney created a live-action superhero film centered around an Asian protagonist, Big Hero 6 (2014) was a good starting point. This movie was also based on a Marvel comic, but one many fans weren’t aware of. It was a blend of Eastern and Western cultures. Disney kept the Japanese-inspired theme in the film, with the lead being half-Japanese. This would be the first Asian-influenced storyline from the studio since Mulan (1998).  The film also came out during a time when Disney was on a roll, and it went on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

This one is a classic for those who grew up watching the Disney Channel in the 90s. It was one of the only Disney Channel Original Movies to take place in Hawaii and introduced a new generation to Hawaii slang. While this movie didn’t feature a predominate Hawaiian cast, it did star Brandon Baker, who is of Filipino descent, and the legendary Japanese actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. This classic DCOM came out in 1999, in the early years of straight-to-television Disney movies, but it was the first to feature a lead character who wasn’t white.

Happy AANHPI Heritage Month.

Well, there you have it, folks, the ultimate AANHPI Disney movie marathon. And these were just some of the best Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander representation that Disney has to offer. There are still many more not covered on this list, such as the latest Disney+ film Chang Can Dunk (2023) and the upcoming series American Born Chinese.

Whether you watch or check out all of these movies or just one, it’s important to remember the positive impact that representation has in film. Disney hasn’t always been the best at it, the same goes for Hollywood in general, but as we continue to see the shift take place on the big screen, we will get more stories based on AANHPI culture. And that’s something to look forward to.

Did we miss any other big AANHPI Disney movies on this list? Let us know in the comments.

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