Disney's live-action remakes of classic animated films have been a major part of the company's strategy in recent years, with films like The Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and Pinocchio being reimagined for modern audiences.

The decision to produce these remakes is driven in part by nostalgia, as Disney aims to appeal to both old and new fans of the original stories.

However, the company has also faced criticism for prioritizing "political correctness" over storytelling in some of their remakes, with some directors arguing that the company should focus on entertainment and character development rather than concepts.

The live-action remakes have been adapted to contemporary realia, with changes made to the original stories and characters to appeal to modern audiences.

For example, the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid features a more diverse cast and updates the story with new characters and songs, while the remake of Snow White removes the traditional love story and features a strong female lead.

The public reaction to these adaptations has been mixed, with some fans praising the updates and others feeling that they have lost the charm of the original stories.

Disney's live-action remakes have been successful at the box office, with The Little Mermaid grossing over $550 million globally and surpassing the original's box office earnings.

The company's commitment to diversity and inclusion has driven the production of live-action remakes, with a focus on promoting representation and diversity in storytelling.

The live-action remakes have also been used to promote Disney's streaming service, with films like The Little Mermaid breaking records on Disney+ after poor cinema performance.

Overall, Disney's live-action remakes have been a key part of the company's strategy to drive revenue and market share, with the company investing heavily in the production of these remakes.

The company's focus on diversity and inclusion, as well as its use of nostalgia in driving the production of live-action remakes, has been key to the success of these films.

Disney's live-action remakes have been a successful strategy for the company, allowing them to appeal to new audiences while still honoring the original stories and characters.

The company's approach to live-action remakes is likely to continue to evolve and adapt to changing audience tastes and preferences, with a focus on creating films that are both faithful to the original stories and fresh and innovative in their approach.

The role of nostalgia plays a significant part in driving Disney's decisions to produce live-action remakes, as it allows the company to tap into the nostalgia of older audiences who are familiar with the original animated films.

Market research also plays a crucial role in the decision-making process, as Disney aims to create films that will appeal to a wide range of audiences, including both old and new fans of the original stories.

Creative input is also essential in the remake process, as filmmakers aim to reimagine the original stories and characters in a way that is fresh and relevant to contemporary audiences.

The live-action remake of Aladdin, for example, was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Disney, with a script that aimed to stay true to the spirit of the original while also introducing new elements and characters.

The remake of Hercules is another example, with Guy Ritchie set to direct and the Russo brothers producing, and a script that is being finalized by Disney.

The live-action remake of Snow White has sparked controversy and debate, with Peter Dinklage criticizing the film's approach to the seven dwarfs and Disney responding with a statement aiming to address his concerns.

Disney's live-action remakes often involve changes to the original stories and characters, such as the introduction of new characters or the reimagining of classic songs and musical numbers.

The public reaction to the live-action remakes has been mixed, with some films receiving widespread critical acclaim and others facing criticism and controversy.

The success of a live-action remake depends on its ability to reimagine the original story and characters in a way that is fresh and relevant to contemporary audiences, rather than simply relying on nostalgia and familiar characters.

Disney has multiple live-action remakes in production, including Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid, which are expected to be released in the coming years.

The company's approach to live-action remakes is likely to continue to evolve and adapt to changing audience tastes and preferences, with a focus on creating films that are both faithful to the original stories and fresh and innovative in their approach.

Disney's live-action remakes of classic animated films have been a major part of the company's strategy in recent years, with films like The Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and Pinocchio being reimagined for modern audiences.

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Content: Snow White director’s son calls Disney remake a “disgrace”

Disney

The original Snow White director’s son has slammed the upcoming Disney remake as “insulting” and a “disgrace.”

Disney has recently recreated several of its classic films into live-action adaptations. Past examples include The Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and Pinocchio. However, these recreations have generated backlash for various reasons.

For example, Halle Bailey’s role as Ariel wasn’t universally agreed upon. This is due to haters complaining that the princess should have been white like in the 1989 animated movie.

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Now, the upcoming remake of Disney’s Snow White starring Rachel Zegler has been under fire for its controversial portrayal of the seven dwarves among other reasons. Here’s what the son of the original Snow White director had to say about the film.

Son of Snow White director criticizes upcoming Disney remake

In an interview with The Telegraph, David Hand, who worked as a Disney designer in the 1990s, admitted his negative feelings toward the Snow White remake. Hand’s father, also named David, served as one of the directors of the 1937 film.

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“It’s a whole different concept and I just totally disagree with it, and I know my dad and Walt would also very much disagree with it,” 91-year-old Hand said. He continued by calling the movie a “disgrace” and discussed Disney’s “radical thoughts.”

“They’re making up new woke things and I’m just not into any of that. I find it quite frankly a bit insulting [what] they may have done with some of these classic films,” Hand remarked. “There’s no respect for what Disney did and what my dad did. … I think Walt and he would be turning in their graves.”

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The Snow White remake has finished filming and is scheduled to premiere on March 22, 2024. Other Disney live-action projects in the works include Lilo & Stitch, Moana, and Mufasa: The Lion King.

You can find out more about Zegler’s Snow White controversy here.

Related Topics

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

The decision to produce these remakes is driven in part by nostalgia, as Disney aims to appeal to both old and new fans of the original stories.

Title:

Content: It’s possible that being an only child was one reason I was not exposed to the phenomenon of Disney princess worship during my youth. On the other hand, the lack of a coordinated merchandising effort during the 1970s probably had much more to do with the fact that the company’s princess lineup wasn’t yet emerging as a cultural trend.

In that decade, Disney focused most of its marketing on the so-called “Sensational Six” core characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck; along with product tie-ins to the 1977’s “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.”

Of course, Disney had only made three princess movies up to that time. Those included 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” 1950’s “Cinderella,” and 1959’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Following the introduction of Aurora in 1959, Disney would make moviegoers wait 30 years for the next princess to arrive in a film that would herald the start of the Disney Renaissance.

And that film was 1989’s “The Little Mermaid.”

Written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the 28th Disney animated feature film was very loosely based on the 1837 Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It boasted a string of memorable songs that brought imbued the production with Broadway panache. Alan Menken wrote the score, and collaborated with Howard Ashman on the songs. The film scored three Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea.”

The animated film featured the voices of Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars, and Buddy Hackett.

Buoyed by the success of “The Little Mermaid,” the Disney Renaissance ran from the late 1980s to the late 1990s and unleashed a series of critically and commercially successful animated films. Of the 10 films considered part of this period, five were Disney princess films. By 2000, the list of Disney princess included Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan. Andy Mooney, a former Nike executive who had been named president of Walt Disney Company's Disney Consumer Products division, saw an opportunity. He pitched the Disney Princess franchise line — and a generation of children became entranced consumers.

More than 20 years have gone by since the end of the Disney Renaissance and the official launch of Disney’s Princess Line. These days, Walt Disney Pictures is focused on making live-action adaptations of its animated films. The latest of these is “The Little Mermaid,” directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay written by David Magee. The film was released theatrically on May 26.

When evaluating a remake, adaptation, or reinterpretation of a classic film, one must consider not only the quality of the new film, but also how it compares to the original. It’s not enough to ask if the film entertaining and well executed. One must also determine what makes the remake valuable in its own right.

“The Little Mermaid” is set in the 1830s in the Caribbean. Ariel (Halle Bailey), youngest child of King Triton (Javier Bardem), lives in an underwater kingdom. Disney wisely mentions in its synopsis of the film that Ariel is 18 years old — not 16, as she was in the animated version.

Unlike her older sisters, Ariel is defiant and rebellious. She is captivated by a world beyond her reach, defying her father’s orders to study humans and collect their possessions from shipwrecks. She is often joined in this endeavor by her aquatic companions Flounder and Sebastian (voiced by Jacob Tremblay and Daveed Diggs, respectively); as well as by the birdbrained Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina), a seabird whose understanding of human culture is amusingly erroneous.

When a sailing ship she has been watching is destroyed in a storm, she rescues Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). When Triton learns Ariel interacted with the surface world, he goes on an overprotective father rampage, destroying her collection of bric-a-bracs, baubles, and curios while reiterating his mandate that she should not indulge her inclination to learn, explore, or meet new people. Ironically, Prince Eric’s adoptive mother, Queen Salina (Noma Dumezweni) places similar constraints upon him because she is fearful of the outside world and of losing her son.

Desperate to be reunited with Prince Eric — who she is in love with despite the fact that the two haven’t even actually met at this point — Ariel turns to Triton’s evil sister Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a scheming sea witch who sees this as an opportunity to oust Triton and take power over all the world’s oceans. Ursula strikes a deal with Ariel, giving her legs in exchange for her voice. There’s a catch: If Ariel fails to receive true love’s kiss from Eric before the end of three days, she will become Ursula’s property. To make sure Ariel fails, Ursula also causes her to forget about needing to score that kiss.

That’s just the setup. If it seems a bit drawn out, imagine how it feels watching it on the screen. With a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes — 53 minutes longer than the 1989 animated version — it sometimes feels like we’re treading water. One wonders if, in a post-pandemic world filled with ADHD brains, kids can manage to maintain focus on this narrative that meanders its way from scene to scene without a sense of urgency. Sebastian and Flounder know that there is a looming deadline, but in this version of the story, Ariel has been robbed of that knowledge. In the animated version, she at least had a specific objective. She actively worked toward that goal. In this version, she is a starry-eyed young woman crushing on someone she barely knows, drifting dreamily between infatuation and limerence.

Because it is both a retelling of a classic fairy tale and a redesign of a beloved Disney property, the film suffers from a pronounced scarcity of creativity and originality. There are updates to the story, changes in individual characters, and a few additional songs. Some of these facelifts work, such as the addition of Queen Salina. Some of these addendum fall flat, such as Eric’s song “Wild Uncharted Waters,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda’s song “The Scuttlebutt,” performed by Awkwafina and Diggs, is a more palatable add-on, despite that fact that it is jarringly different tonally from other music in the film.

All the film’s flaws and miscalculations can be forgiven by its most impressive saving grace: Bailey’s performance is as remarkable as it is enchanting. Bailey stands out again and again in the murky, sketchy CGI undersea sequences, glowing with charisma and agency. She brings the magic that is noticeably lacking in elsewhere in the film, balancing the nostalgia of childhood memories with a contemporary attitude. She carries this film on her shoulders, filling it with a sense of wonder and awe that will inspire children to seek out unexplored horizons and work toward achieving their dreams.

Mind you: I’d prefer Ariel did not have to literally transform — for a man — to be deemed successful. This version somewhat mitigates that theme. Personal transformation is fine when prompted by a desire to become a better person, while self-change enacted strictly to please an individual or a group is unwise and unhealthy.

The film also features recurring examples — both subtle and palpable — that show gender equity, diversity, and inclusivity are beneficial to society. These are the very same principled concepts extremist legislators and ultraconservative judicial officials currently vilify as “woke,” as if being socially aware, compassionate, and empathetic has somehow become objectionable. If you ascribe to that mindset, you should probably skip this movie.

The bottom line is “The Little Mermaid” may not be as artistically inspired as the animated version, but a standout performance by Bailey keeps the film afloat. It frequently captures the kinetic energy of a Broadway stage production, delighting audiences both with signature songs and newly added sequences that enhance the story and the characters. It is consistently entertaining, with sporadic moments of dazzling brilliance.

If you don’t trust an old curmudgeon to properly evaluate a Disney Princess film, I’ll share a few points my 16-year-old daughter made.

According to B.C. Zumpe, the film’s CGI could have been better. She particularly enjoyed a scene in which Ariel and Eric are dancing in a village near his castle, while a Caribbean band plays.

“Some people want all the characters to look exactly like the originals,” she said. “It wouldn’t be fair if Disney excluded Halle just because of her skin color. They chose her for her voice and her spirit. Even if you’re only upset because she looks different from the Ariel you grew up with, you can’t expect them to keep everything the way you want it.”

My daughter also felt that Awkwafina did a good job in voicing Scuttle. She appreciated how the film promoted the idea that it is good to interact with other cultures and be open to new ideas.

She’s a good kid.

Photo courtesy of DISNEY

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.”

Photo courtesy of DISNEY

Melissa McCarthy stars as Ursula in “The Little Mermaid.”

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

However, the company has also faced criticism for prioritizing "political correctness" over storytelling in some of their remakes, with some directors arguing that the company should focus on entertainment and character development rather than concepts.

Title:

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?

Strong stories
Entertainment value
Engaging characters.

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

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

What controversy arose from Disney's casting and updates in The Adventures of Pinocchio?

The live-action remakes have been adapted to contemporary realia, with changes made to the original stories and characters to appeal to modern audiences.

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Content: Skip to main content

Following Aladdin, Guy Ritchie Has Scored Another Live-Action Disney Remake

After all the commercial success Disney live-action movies have racked up, it wasn’t a question of if there’d be a next one, it was when. And the House of Mouse has just lined up an exciting new remake from the director of 2019's Aladdin, Guy Ritchie. It looks like the filmmaker is on board to go the distance and helm the live-action Hercules

Back in 2020, it was announced that Disney was developing a live-action Hercules project, with Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo attached. Per a Deadline report, the Russo brothers are set to produce the movie, and Guy Ritchie will take the reins on adapting the Greek mythological tale Disney originally tackled in 1997.

Disney is reportedly in the process of finalizing the script for the Hercules remake after Dave Callaham, writer behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984 and The Expendables, wrote the movie’s first draft. The rest of the details are thin on the upcoming Disney movie otherwise, but previously Joe Russo said he and Anthony have a “strong emotional connection” to the original movie and want to “build it out” beyond the vision of the animated classic.

Guy Ritchie initially become known for his contemporary comedic crime films like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but he has also branched out to blockbuster action films like 2009’s Sherlock Holmes, 2015’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Aladdin with Disney. His first live-action film with Disney was a massive success, nabbing over $1 billion in box office revenue. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, but moviegoers enjoyed the movie overall, with the movie receiving an A CinemaScore.

Disney's original Hercules was written by Ron Clements and John Musker, who had previously written The Little Mermaid and Aladdin for Disney. The animated musical included original music from Alan Menken, who wrote a lot of the music for Disney movies in the ‘90s. Hercules is, of course, a loose adaptation of Greek mythology featuring the son of Zeus, who becomes a hero on Earth.

1997's Hercules memorably featured musical muses, who narrate the story through song. Ahead of the live-action movie finding Guy Ritchie, a number of talents have placed their name in the running to be a muse including Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley and Lizzo. Previously when word of the live-action Hercules remake first was announced, fans also got passionate about making sure Danny DeVito reprises the role of Phil

As the live-action Hercules finds momentum behind the scenes, there are a number of other Disney remakes coming our way before we see “Zero To Hero” in live action. Before the end of the year, Pinocchio and Peter Pan & Wendy are expected to join other Disney+ movies, and a live-action The Little Mermaid will hit theaters on May 26, 2023. We’ll keep you posted here on CinemaBlend as we learn more about these nostalgic Disney projects.

YA genre tribute. Horror May Queen. Word webslinger. All her writing should be read in Sarah Connor’s Terminator 2 voice over.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

For example, the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid features a more diverse cast and updates the story with new characters and songs, while the remake of Snow White removes the traditional love story and features a strong female lead.

Title:

Content: Disney Remake Cancels Century-Old Love Story

in Movies

Credit: Disney

From Snow White to Frozen, Disney has been responsible for creating and adapting some of the most enchanting fairytales ever put to screen. While many of their stories are hundreds of years old, the studio’s adaptations are likely the prime example in the mind of the public consciousness.

Reimagining these classic tales has also done wonders for Disney. However, the recent controversy surrounding the upcoming adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has sparked a decidedly volatile reception, especially since the studio has officially abandoned its first and original love story.

No Love for Snow White

Recent coverage of the film’s progress revealed that Disney is officially stepping away from the traditional fairytale elements that make up Snow White’s narrative. Rachel Zegler plays the title role, and her recent quote on the matter has more than a few Disney fans up in arms.

“It’s no longer 1937… She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”

Related: Gal Gadot’s ‘Snow White’ Sabotaged by Media Frenzy

That means no dwarves, prince, or spell broken by love’s first kiss. Although Disney has several strong leading women in many of its other productions, Snow White really isn’t the appropriate story to take that approach, and fans recognize that.

Some viewers, like the creator seen here, are absolutely outraged that Disney would remove the romance and love story element from their original fairytale. While it’s true we no longer live in 1937, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a desire or an audience for a traditional romanticized tale about princesses and magical creatures without some sort of shoe-horned message behind it.

Related: Iconic Dwarf Actor Rips Into Woke ‘Snow White,’ Says Story Is “For Dwarfs”

To put it bluntly, Disney should make a fantasy-themed female-empowerment film, but not at the expense of another established work. At this point, “Snow White” is just a namesake, as any charm or enchantment associated with the story has gone entirely out the window.

Has Disney erased the love in Snow White? Tell Inside the Magic what you think in the comments below!

Be the first to comment!

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

The public reaction to these adaptations has been mixed, with some fans praising the updates and others feeling that they have lost the charm of the original stories.

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

Some positive reactions praising both changes and additions

Disney's live-action remakes have been successful at the box office, with The Little Mermaid grossing over $550 million globally and surpassing the original's box office earnings.

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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
New Update

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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How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

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

The company's commitment to diversity and inclusion has driven the production of live-action remakes, with a focus on promoting representation and diversity in storytelling.

The live-action remakes have also been used to promote Disney's streaming service, with films like The Little Mermaid breaking records on Disney+ after poor cinema performance.

Title:

Content: “Wokeness” Is Driving Disney Movies Away From Cinemas

in Disney, Movies

Credit: D23

With disastrous performances and early releases on streaming platforms, is it time for Disney to consider withdrawing its movies from cinemas?

Disney has been under fire for allegedly promoting a “woke agenda,” with many, including national media representatives, accusing the company of “pushing woke garbage in our faces.” The Walt Disney Company’s stance in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion has caused several problems for the company, the most notorious being the legal and political crusade Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is carrying out against the House of Mouse.

But recent results show that Disney is being severely affected by this “woke crusade,” possibly driving the company away from cinemas for good.

Movies and series being released by the studios that belong to The Walt Disney Company, including Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Walt Disney Studios, have faced severe backlash for promoting “woke” ideologies by including LGBTQIA+ characters in stories and seeking to provide representation for minorities like the Black and Hispanic communities.

And while most audiences have applauded Disney’s efforts, the company continues to struggle with the box office performance of its most recent releases.

Related: Op-Ed: Disney Needs Johnny Depp to Create Another Hit Franchise

From Pixar’s Lightyear (2022) to Disney’s Strange World (2022), Disney has faced severe backlash and criticism, with audiences promoting boycotts of the company’s latest films, which has inevitably harmed the box office performance of several Disney movies.

And the upcoming premiere of Disney’s live-action adaptation, Snow White, is causing strongly polarized opinions, sparking rumors of the movie’s cancellation.

The latest examples of this have been the live-action adaptation of the beloved Disney movie The Little Mermaid (2023), Pixar’s Elemental (2023), and this year’s Haunted Mansion, inspired by the iconic Disneyland ride.

Related: Disney Star Served $1M Lawsuit Following Box Office Bomb

However, the performance of these films has proven to be wildly different after their premiere on Disney+, Disney’s streaming service, with The Little Mermaid shattering records that had previously changed Disney+.

The recent premiere of Pixar’s Elemental on Disney+ has, once again, proven that Disney movies are having a better performance on the streaming service than in cinemas, as Elemental now holds the title of “most viewed premiere on Disney+ of 2023.

According to Disney, the movie has earned 26.4 million views in its first five days of streaming, becoming the most viewed animated movie premiere since Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red was released in March 2022, as well as the most viewed Disney+ movie premiere of all time in Latin America, ahead of Turning Red.

Related: DeSantis “Woke” Wars Blamed for ‘Elemental’s Box Office Performance

And while it is exciting to hear the news, these results could be driving Disney movies away from cinemas, as the company could analyze new ways to distribute its content, achieving higher revenue.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney adopted Disney+ Premier Access, a pay-per-view-type system, to release movies like Mulan (2020), Cruella (2021) starring Emma Stone, Marvel’s Black Widow (2021) with Scarlett Johansson — resulting in a multi-million-dollar lawsuitRaya and the Last Dragon (2021), and Dwayne Johnson’s Jungle Cruise (2021) on Disney+. However, the system was ditched after The Rock’s Jungle Cruise.

Related: Dwayne Johnson Takes Over the Role of ‘Aladdin’s’ Genie

Following rumors of Disney drafting plans to sell parts of the company, it is possible that Disney could analyze new strategies to release upcoming movies or shows directly on its streaming service at an additional charge. However, as of this article’s publishing, this remains purely speculative.

Disney’s summer blockbuster, Haunted Mansion, struggled at the box officepartly due to its proximity to the premiere of the Barbie movie — and is slated to premiere on Disney+ on October 4, 2023. It is yet to be seen if Haunted Mansion will perform better on the streaming platform, further cementing speculation on the company’s need to seek new strategies for its upcoming movies.

Should Disney consider withdrawing its movies from cinemas? How could the company solve its problems in box office performance? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments below!

in Disney, Movies

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How did The Little Mermaid perform compared to past $1B Disney remakes?

What has been the general critical response to most Disney's live-action remakes?

Overall, Disney's live-action remakes have been a key part of the company's strategy to drive revenue and market share, with the company investing heavily in the production of these remakes.

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Content: Art & Celebrity
Disney is making more money.
The new Taylor Swift movie.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Disney began 2024 with better-than-expected profits, fewer streaming losses, an announcement to invest in Epic Games (Fortnite publisher), and the decision to screen Taylor Swift ’ s musical tour on its Disney + platform.
The group generated revenues of $23.55 billion between October and December, with a net profit of $2.15 billion, a result that exceeded expectations.
Disney managed to reduce the operating losses of its streaming platforms (Disney +, Hulu, ESPN +) to $138 million, from $984 million a year ago, according to a press release presenting its results, published Wednesday.
Disney announced a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, the publisher of the popular game Fortnite.
Disney President Bob Iger said the group wants to create “a new world of games and entertainment, ” noting that“ Disney World can be integrated into Fortnite, so users can play and create their own games, watch videos, and maybe interact with each other and shop. ”
He hoped to find new fans for Disney brands and company franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel superheroes.
“When I realized that kids, teens and young people spend as much time playing video games as they do watching TV or movies, I thought to myself, ‘ We have to get into this space quickly. ’ ”
“Next month, Disney + will become the exclusive venue for Taylor Swift ’ s historic tour. ”
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which will be available on the platform on March 15, has grossed $261 million worldwide.
The film ’ s release is good news for Disney +, which is struggling to recover from early success.
The streaming platform, launched at the end of 2019, lost 1.3 million subscribers during the holiday season due to the rise in prices.
It currently has 111.3 million subscribers, not counting those in its Indian version of Disney + Hot Star, and Disney aims to make Disney + profitable this year.
Mike Brooks, Forrester ’ s research director, said: “A large part of this equation depends on the growth of its advertising business.
At the end of 2022, Netflix and Disney launched a new subscription format that includes ads to attract more viewers and diversify their sources of income.
Disney also plans to follow suit by tackling the issue of sharing the same account among a user group, a strategy that has allowed Netflix to gain millions of additional subscribers in 2023.
Netflix currently has more than 260 million subscribers.
Insider Intelligence ’ s Paul Verna said: “Disney ’ s streaming business is still losing ground, while investors are looking to see if initiatives related to password sharing at Disney + and Hulu will raise revenue and put these services on a path to profitability by the end of the year, similar to what the company is looking for. ”
For 2024, Disney is looking to release a new part of its animated film Moana.
On Tuesday, Disney ’ s ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the launch of a new streaming platform related to the events, marking a significant convergence between the competitors on the back of the issue of the large costs of broadcasting rights.
Bob Eiger faces attacks from activist investors.
Blackwells Capital said on Tuesday that Disney had failed to live up to the expectations of its shareholders over the past few years.
In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Eiger said, “The last thing we need right now is to be distracted in terms of our energy and time, by one or more activists who don ’ t understand our company, its origins, or even its essence. ”
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How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

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

The company's focus on diversity and inclusion, as well as its use of nostalgia in driving the production of live-action remakes, has been key to the success of these films.

Title:

Content: What’s Disney’s legacy as it turns 100? It’s not just Mickey

The brand’s knack for innovation and reinvention has taken it far.

“100 Years of Wonder” is the theme for Disney’s year-long promotion of the company’s centenary. From special Disney on Ice events to a retrospective at the British Film Institute and limited edition Disney100 merchandise, Disney’s celebration is big business.

The wonder and magic of Disney are consistently promoted. And yet I would argue that Disney’s greatest legacy is not its animated stories or characters, but the more mundane history of its mergers, acquisitions and intellectual property rights.

The business acumen of those behind the scenes at Disney has been central to the peaks and troughs of the company’s enduring presence in the film industry and popular culture at large.

Early Disney

The Walt Disney Company was founded in Hollywood by brothers Walt and Roy Disney in 1923.

Before this, along with friend and animator Ub Iwerks, the brothers had founded Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City, Missouri. They then moved west with their successful silent Alice Comedies series, which featured both animation and live action.

Animation is what the Disney studio became known for. First with its shorts, which included Mickey Mouse’s third outing in the studio’s first sound film, Steamboat Willie, and the Silly Symphony series. And then in its feature length films, beginning with Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in 1937.

The first two decades of the studio established Disney’s desire for innovation and profit. This was illustrated through its early adoption of merchandising (Mickey Mouse merchandise was profitable in the mid-1930s) and various technologies, such as Technicolour and sound.

Sinking most of its profits back into its expensive animated ventures led Disney to find ways to cut costs. This included making live-action nature series, television shows and opening Disneyland, its first amusement park, in Los Angeles, California, in 1955.

While its animated products were no longer as groundbreaking as they once were, its adoption of television in the 1950s was lucrative and popular, especially The Mickey Mouse Club (1955) and Davy Crockett (1954).

Furthermore, television afforded the company the opportunity to promote its products and authenticate Disney’s position at the forefront of animation. However, live-action films – quicker to make and less expensive than animation – dominated its releases in the 1960s, with stars Haley Mills, Fred MacMurray and Dean Jones appearing in multiple Disney films.

In 1966, Walt died. Roy then passed in 1971 and Walt Disney World opened in Florida the same year. In many ways, the Disney Company was never the same after the loss of the founding brothers.

Disney without Walt

The template was established for how the company would function for the next 50 years. Disney animation innovated again in the late 1980s and early 1990s through computer animation. A renaissance took place with the releases of The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty And The Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994).

The company also expanded into cable television with The Disney Channel and founded a distribution label, Touchstone Pictures, that focused on films for adults.

There was unhappiness among animators at the studio towards the company’s bureaucracy and the perception that profits always went back into the films and not to improving working conditions or salaries (one major strike against Disney took place in 1941).

The list of former Disney animators that went on to work elsewhere or open their own animated studios is long and diverse.

Walt had learned the importance of owning rights early in his career, after he lost the intellectual property to his first successful animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The imperative to retain proprietorship and diversify the corporation can be witnessed in many of Disney’s deals and mergers.

In 1991, Disney agreed to make films with Pixar, which has gone on to be regarded as an innovative animated studio. It later acquired Pixar in 2006.

Disney Today

In 1995, Disney acquired the ABC television network, which also owned the cable sports network, ESPN. In April 2004, Disney purchased the Muppets franchise. In 2009, Marvel Entertainment was acquired and Lucasfilm was bought in 2012.

Through these purchases, Disney has become one of the most significant entertainment companies in the world and one of the few early Hollywood studios that still maintains name recognition (Disney bought out 20th Century Fox in 2019).

Whereas for earlier generations Disney stood for Mickey Mouse, animated fairy-tale features and family entertainment, for younger generations, Disney is a streaming service, amusement park brand and the creator of the Star Wars universe television programming.

Traces of Walt, Roy and the pioneering animation established in the early days of the studio can be seen in its animated releases, such as Encanto (2021), and company legacy through the “reimagining” of its animated films, such as the recently released live action The Little Mermaid.

The commercial landscape of the entertainment business is always in flux. While many companies are operating their own streaming services, the long-term success of these services is questionable. This is most evident in the recent writers’ and actors’ strike in Hollywood that was mainly focused on outdated royalty models that do not account for streaming media content.

Disney’s last few releases were not as successful as it had anticipated at the box office, and it has lost a significant amount of Disney+ subscribers in 2023. However, this is a trend taking place throughout Hollywood and, while Disney is struggling, it remains a significant brand in the global media market.

And there is no question that its theme parks continue to be popular with families who want to immerse themselves in all things Disney.

The magic of Disney’s animation and the memories created at its theme parks are part of its “100 Years of Wonder”. But so is its successful business model that has continually adapted to changes in the entertainment business and its persistent cultural relevance.

  • Julie Lobalzo Wright is assistant professor in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick.
  • This article was first published in The Conversation.

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How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Disney's live-action remakes have been a successful strategy for the company, allowing them to appeal to new audiences while still honoring the original stories and characters.

Title:

Content: Skip to Content

A Definitive List of All the Disney Live-Action Films

From Halle Bailey’s Little Mermaid to the live-action Moana to sequels galore.

By Delia Paunescu and Amy Mackelden

Most of us grew up watching Disney movies, and for better or worse, we wondered what it might be like to be a Disney princess. In recent years, Disney has cleverly played into that nostalgia by transforming its classic animations into live-action movies filled with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Following the success of big-budget adaptations like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, Disney has committed to turning the majority of its animated catalog into cinematic treats. From Angelina Jolie’s star turn in Maleficent to the upcoming live-action version of Moana, fans will be spoiled for choice. Here, we round up all of Disney’s live-action movie adaptations to date, as well as some of the rumors about what’s to come.

1

Maleficent (2014)

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Loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, Angelina Jolie’s wicked witch arrived when lots of evil queens were getting their own feature films (Remember Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman?). Elle Fanning’s turn as Princess Aurora put her on the map as an A-lister to watch. The film even launched a Maleficent makeup collaboration with M.A.C., which we adored.

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2

Cinderella (2015)

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Disney’s dreamy live action remake of Cinderella cast Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother, with Bodyguard star Richard Madden playing the Prince. When she landed the title role, Lily James’ most significant part had been as a rebellious cousin on Downton Abbey. Naturally, the fairytale brought James worldwide recognition (and she went on to play young Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia 2).

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3

The Jungle Book (2016)

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The original Jungle Book features some of the best music in Disney’s catalog, so director Jon Favreau’s 2016 live-action remake had a lot to live up to. Newcomer Neel Sethi masterfully took on the part of the boy trying to stay alive with a vengeful Shere Khan hunting him down.

A sequel has reportedly been in the works since Jungle Book was released, with Favreau rumored to be returning as director, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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4

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

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Few Disney remakes were more anticipated than Beauty and the Beast. It was lavish in its production, starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as an all-too-human Beast. Supporting cast members like Stanley Tucci, Emma Thompson, Audra McDonald, and Ewan McGregor were exceptional as the castle staff.

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5

Christopher Robin (2018)

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Honestly, it feels like this movie came and went without anyone, besides die-hard Winnie the Pooh fans, paying much attention. It’s a shame, really, because Ewan McGregor is endearing in the grown-up title role and the Hundred Acre Woods’ animal pals are as warmly fuzzy as you’d hope.

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6

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

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Emily Blunt steps into Julie Andrews’ cape and brings the magical nanny to life once more. The Devil Wears Prada darling did a terrific job, and was nominated for a Golden Globe as a result. Anyone who grew up loving the cheerily psychedelic musical numbers is bound to appreciate Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda as lamplighter Jack. As if Mary Poppins Returns couldn't get any better, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke, Julie Walters, and Angela Lansbury are also all in the film.

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7

Dumbo (2019)

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Dumbo remains one of the most upsetting stories in Disney’s roster, and 2019’s live-action remake will give you all of the feels. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito, Dumbo re-tells the emotional story of a young elephant with the gift of flight, who finds himself embroiled in some circus drama.

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8

Aladdin (2019)

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Fans were desperate to find out who had been cast in the live-action Aladdin, no doubt because the original movie is so beloved. While Mena Massoud took on the title role, Power Rangers star Naomi Scott transformed into Princess Jasmine. And of course, Will freaking Smith did his very best to fill Robin Williams’ iconic lamp as the Genie.

In 2020, it was revealed that a sequel is in the works, via Deadline. Plus, a spin-off featuring Prince Anders is also in development.

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9

The Lion King (2019)

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The all-star remake of The Lion King might be the most important thing the house of the mouse has done since they released the original Lion King in 1994. This live-action version cast none other than Beyoncé herself as Nala. She stars alongside Donald Glover as Simba, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa, with James Earl Jones reprising his original role as Mufasa. A sequel (or prequel) is on the way.

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10

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

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Angela Jolie and Elle Fanning returned for the follow-up to 2014’s Maleficent. Jolie’s character continues to wrestle with people’s perception of her as a villain, while Princess Aurora receives a marriage proposal, much to Maleficent’s chagrin. Meanwhile, an endangered species known as the Dark Fae start to rise up.

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11

Lady and the Tramp (2019)

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1955’s canine couple du jour were given a live-action/animation hybrid update, which debuted on Disney+ in 2019. Justin Theroux voiced the scampy Tramp and Tessa Thompson played the elegant Lady in this animal romance. Thompson’s BFF Janelle Monáe, and Kiersey Clemons round out the cast of this cute remake.

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12

Mulan (2020)

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Disney casting directors had their job cut out for them with Mulan, reportedly spending a year auditioning nearly 1,000 actresses for the lead. The part ultimately went to Chinese superstar Liu Yifei. Fans finally saw the 31-year-old in full character thanks to this arresting first image. Director Niki Caro told the Hollywood Reporter: “It’s a big, girly martial arts epic. It will be extremely muscular and thrilling and entertaining and moving.” What more do you need to know?

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13

Cruella (2021)

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Anyone else think Cruella was woefully misunderstood? Enter 2021’s Cruella, which tells the story of 101 Dalmatians’ villainous diva before she became, well, fully evil. The inimitable Emma Stone won the lead role, infusing the tale with ’80s punk chic. From the eye-catching costumes to the super cute puppies, Disney’s origin story has everything. A sequel is reportedly in the works.

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14

Pinocchio (2022)

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Tom Hanks as Geppetto? Say no more. It may be 80 years later, but this live-action remake is just as relevant today as the original was upon its release. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a heartfelt performance as Jiminy Cricket, and Pinnochio’s journey to becoming a real boy is brought to life in stunning visuals.

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15

Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

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There have been numerous adaptations of J. M. Barrie’s iconic story, but Disney promises to delight fans of its 1953 animated classic with the live-action Peter Pan & Wendy. After meeting Peter Pan, Wendy (Ever Anderson) embarks on an adventure to Neverland, where she faces up to Captain Hook. A story that truly never gets old.

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16

The Little Mermaid (2023)

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Ariel’s story of thirst-trapping Prince Eric, after selling her voice to that glorious diva Ursula in exchange for human legs, is ripe for a remake, especially given the 1998 original’s fishy gender dynamics. Halle Bailey wows in the lead role, with Melissa McCarthy embodying sea witch Ursula. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote new songs for the flick, alongside Disney musical genius Alan Menken.

The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26, 2023.

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17

Snow White (2024)

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Disney is bringing its live-action magic to 1937 animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. While Rachel Zegler will take the lead as Snow White, Gal Gadot has been cast as the Evil Queen. With Greta Gerwig tapped to write the screenplay, we can expect Snow White to be all kinds of wonderful.

Snow White is set to hit theaters on March 22, 2024, per Deadline.

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18

Moana (TBD)

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In April 2023, it was announced that Moana (which was just released in 2016) would be getting the live-action treatment, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as demigod Maui. The original voice of Moana, Auli‘i Cravalho, has signed on as an executive producer. Johnson said in a statement, “This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength.” The release date is currently unknown.

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19

Lilo & Stitch (TBD)

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A live-action/CG hybrid remake of the supremely adorable 2002 film about a Hawaiian girl and the alien who befriends her was first announced in October 2018. It is being produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who were also tasked with the Aladdin remake. A release date is up in the air but it’s possible this will debut on Disney’s upcoming streaming service. The cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, and newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo, per The Hollywood Reporter.

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20

Hercules (TBD)

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In June 2022, Deadline reported that Aladdin director Guy Ritchie had signed on to direct the live-action remake of Hercules. The 1997 animate feature retold the legend of demigod Hercules, who was voiced by Tate Donovan. While details on the remake remain scarce, Hercules is certainly one to watch for Disney fans.

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Delia Paunescu

Delia Paunescu is a writer, producer, and social media consultant based in New York City. She's written for Vulture, Racked, Brooklyn Magazine, New York Post, and amNewYork, among others. Delia also spent two years leading NowThis Entertainment. She'd very much like to shout at you about why Jane the Virgin is the greatest show of all time over on Twitter.

Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

How successful was the 2019 live-action version of The Lion King?

Worldwide revenues exceeded one billion dollars

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

The company's approach to live-action remakes is likely to continue to evolve and adapt to changing audience tastes and preferences, with a focus on creating films that are both faithful to the original stories and fresh and innovative in their approach.

Title:

Content: We live in a world of remakes.

Recently, the fourth installment of the Matrix franchise, The Matrix Resurrections was released in theaters. With the natural hype that surrounds the return of a 20-year gone film that has been a reference bearing mecha for years. (How long has it been since you last heard someone jokingly quip, "It's a glitch in the Matrix?")

While producers can count on the profit of a reliable fanbase and commodified nostalgia, the film itself was met with some less-than-rave reviews. It has received a 63% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes which, while still keeping the film far from any worst-movie lists, pales in comparison to the original film's 85% audience score.

(Photo : Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

While The Matrix Resurrections is the fourth installment of the franchise and not a remake, it incontrovertibly falls under the same umbrella.

One of the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes, Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal, mercilessly tore the film apart, saying,

"The Matrix Resurrections is a recycling dump of murky effects, indifferent action and a crazily cluttered, relentlessly repetitive narrative. It's Groundhog Day in cyberpunk."

While the harsh language of a critic always needs to be taken with a substantial grain of salt, the crux of the criticism is the exact same sentiment there is behind the re-make problem as a whole.

(Photo : AMAZON)

Remakes are not inherently bad. There are many movies that are successfully remade time and time again. Greta Gergwig's Little Women adaptation from back in 2019 was a smash hit, receiving a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

While the 1994 film, which was already a remake from the 1949, which was a remake of the 1933 (you get the idea), focused more on relationships, specifically Jo's, while Gerwig's 2019 adaptation focused on the role of women in society. With these two unique vantage points, each film serves a fresh and unique purpose in the world's cinematic catalog.

Meanwhile, the remake of Heathers, the cult-classic 1989 film which was met with a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, performed dismally, with only a 27% score on the site.

The mistake comes in assuming that remakes are easy: they capitalize on a pre-existing fan base who will come to spend money on the product regardless of its quality. What they neglect to consider is how a bad remake can tarnish a well beloved cinematic masterpiece, alienating true fans from the work.

If a remake is being made, there needs to be a reason for it beyond "It's-been-a-while." A successful and necessary remake can only be created when the new adaptation is able to stand apart from the original with a unique and necessary message that answers, on its own, the critical artist's question, "Why now?"

Here are a few things that a remake does not maketh:

As the technological side of film has increased by leaps and bounds over the years, many seem to believe that higher quality cameras and special effects are enough of a reason to attempt a recreation of a classic film. Oftentimes, when trying to imbue a classic with modern advancements, the product loses some of its heart. Such was the case with Robo-cop.

While the quirky 1987 film was filled with humor and humanity, the 2014 remake was criticized for the lack of, "the humor, the over-the-top violence, and the tongue-in-cheek satire of the 1987 film." As the film had nothing new to say, it relied on the advanced (at that point) technology of 2014 to reignite the fire surrounding the original film. Instead, they stripped it of what made it loveable in the first place.

(Photo : (Photo by Orion/Getty Images))

In this rewatch culture, many older films and television series have returned to the forefront of our societal zeitgeist. Production companies try to take this re-kindled flame and turn it into a profitable remake. In doing so, however, they miss the mark. It is not the concept that is getting a second life; it is the original entity.

Such was the problem with the Heathers television series re-make. In light of the musical Heathers, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2014, the original film was the talk of the proverbial town once again. Mistakenly, the television show tried to ride on the coattails of this renewed popularity, but it fell short, because the plot of the movie is not what people loved about it.

It is not that people became infatuated with the storyline, wanting to see it within a modern context; they were obsessed with the 80s original, in all its dark, twisted, hilarious glory. Simply modernizing it without commenting on anything new is, if anything, more depressing, as it tells the audience that nothing has changed - which is also never true.

(Photo : (Photo by Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images))

Furthermore, also exemplified by the attempt to remake Heathers, there are angles on certain subjects that tackled at the time they were tackled for a reason. The teen murders laced with a very 1980s sense of humor were created within the confines of a cultural context specific to the time period: There were no phones or social media.

Furthermore, DNA technology was not where it is in the modern day; Veronica and JD would not have gotten away with even one murder had forensic technology been where it is in the 21st century.

Heathers' ability to stand the test of time was due largely in part to its timeless life lessons: Getting rid of the people who wrong you will not solve your problems, but accepting people for who they are will at least make life a bit better. This lesson was taught in a ncontextually specific way in the original film, but by changing the context to the modern day in the television series, the message was lost. Therefore, in a desperate attempt to to maintain the film's heart, the throughline lessons had to be forced in.

The Rotten Tomatoes review condemned the series, saying that its "aspirational angst is let down by its blunt, misguided attempts at social commentary."

The biggest mistake a remake can make is relying on loyal fans rather than on fresh content. Little Women has been adapted for film multiple times, each time with a fresh perspective.

A remake is not, as the industry perceives, an easy job for a filmmaker. In fact, it is far more complicated.

In order for a remake to become a marked success, it must also be a reimagination. It must say something fresh and different in a way that, while new, still pays proper tribute to the old. I'm not telling you not to make a remake. I'm just telling you to be careful when you do.

The role of nostalgia plays a significant part in driving Disney's decisions to produce live-action remakes, as it allows the company to tap into the nostalgia of older audiences who are familiar with the original animated films.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Market research also plays a crucial role in the decision-making process, as Disney aims to create films that will appeal to a wide range of audiences, including both old and new fans of the original stories.

Creative input is also essential in the remake process, as filmmakers aim to reimagine the original stories and characters in a way that is fresh and relevant to contemporary audiences.

The live-action remake of Aladdin, for example, was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Disney, with a script that aimed to stay true to the spirit of the original while also introducing new elements and characters.

Title:

Content: Is Disney's Aladdin 2 Still Happening? Star Mena Massoud Remains Hopeful

Disney loves a live-action remake. The House of Mouse has discovered that instead of coming up with new ideas they can simply remake their classic animated flicks into live action. The results have been pretty darn profitable, and the studio shows no signs of stopping — there are currently live-action remakes of "Moana" and "Lilo and Stitch" on the way. One of their successful live-action remakes was the 2019 take on "Aladdin," helmed by — believe it or not — Guy Ritchie. The film was a smash, hauling in over $1 billion worldwide and going on to become the ninth highest-grossing film of 2019.

When you make numbers like that, a sequel can't be far behind. Sure enough, in 2019 the film's producer, Dan Lin, revealed that Disney was in the early stages of developing a sequel. But that's the last we've really heard of the potential follow-up. The live-action "Aladdin" starred Will Smith as the Genie first made popular by the late Robin Williams, while the titular role of Aladdin was played by Mena Massoud. Massoud has seemed to cast doubt about the sequel ever happening at this point. He most recently gave an update on the potential project late last year.

No idea where it's at

Back in March of 2023, Mena Massoud Tweeted that "Aladdin 2" was "Very unlikely at this point." (The Tweet has since been deleted, but the folks at Collider caught it at the time). Then, in December of 2023, Massoud was promoting his horror movie "The Sacrifice Game" when ScreenRant asked him about "Aladdin 2." He replied: "I don't have any updates ... the strike kind of just put everything on hold. I know they were trying to get it off the ground for a long time but I have no idea where it's at." He added:

"Listen, we shot in 2017. It's been six years now since we shot and wrapped the project. So to me, at a certain point, life just goes on. So not really, I'm sure they have their reasons. I know they were trying for a long time. So I don't know what the obstacles exactly were. But maybe now after the strike is over, they'll continue to try to get it off the ground ... But I hope, I hope definitely that it happens in some way."

In other words, it really doesn't sound like this sequel is happening — but you never know.

Other films

A sequel wasn't the only potential "Aladdin" project Disney was said to be working on. In 2019, it was revealed the studio was planning a spin-off film based around Prince Anders, a character played by Billy Magnussen. Disney quickly faced backlash for planning a movie around one of the only white guys in a film filled with people of color, but the studio continued to push forward. In 2022, Magnussen said the project was still in development — but we haven't heard anything about it since.

In 2015, before the live-action "Aladdin" was even made, the studio also announced they were making a prequel movie called "Genies," with the plan being that the film would lead into the live-action "Aladdin." That never happened, and "Genies" was scrapped. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the "Aladdin" sequel or the Prince Anders spin-off were both scrapped as well. Despite the smashing success of the 2019 "Aladdin," it feels like too much time has gone by to strike while the iron is hot.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

The remake of Hercules is another example, with Guy Ritchie set to direct and the Russo brothers producing, and a script that is being finalized by Disney.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

The live-action remake of Snow White has sparked controversy and debate, with Peter Dinklage criticizing the film's approach to the seven dwarfs and Disney responding with a statement aiming to address his concerns.

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Content: Peter Dinklage is calling out Disney's remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Late last year, the House of Mouse revealed that Rachel Zegler would play the eponymous princess in an upcoming live-action remake, making her the first Latina to be cast in such a role. However, Disney's decision to remake the 1937 animated film in the first place is now being condemned by Dinklage, especially given the film's branding as a "progressive" remake thanks to Zegler's casting.

On Monday, the Game of Thrones star, who has a form of dwafism called achondroplasia, appeared on Marc Maron's WTF podcast to take Disney to task for even bothering with the story.

“I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Dinklage said, adding that while it's "all love and respect" to Zegler, he didn't appreciate the hypocrisy he believed was being demonstrated by Disney.

"Take a step back and look at what you're doing there. It makes no sense to me," Dinklage said. "You're progressive in one way and you're still making that fucking backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together. What the fuck are you doing man?"

He went on to lament, "Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I'm not loud enough."

Not only that, but Dinklage also said that he would've been okay with a remake if the studio had put a "progressive spin on it," which Disney itself has now responded to in a new statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters," a spokesperson said, before mentioning that the studio's been "consulting with members of the dwarfism community" and that it's been cognizant of this since the beginning of production.

"We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period,” the rep continued. Dinklage, however, has yet to respond to Disney's statement.

Photo via Getty / Steven Ferdman

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Disney's live-action remakes often involve changes to the original stories and characters, such as the introduction of new characters or the reimagining of classic songs and musical numbers.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

What criticisms did the live-action Little Mermaid face from reviewers?

Adding redundant and uninteresting elements

The public reaction to the live-action remakes has been mixed, with some films receiving widespread critical acclaim and others facing criticism and controversy.

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

Some positive reactions praising both changes and additions

The success of a live-action remake depends on its ability to reimagine the original story and characters in a way that is fresh and relevant to contemporary audiences, rather than simply relying on nostalgia and familiar characters.

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

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

Disney has multiple live-action remakes in production, including Pinocchio and The Little Mermaid, which are expected to be released in the coming years.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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