Disney's live-action remakes are motivated by nostalgia, which sells well.

The company develops live-action remakes of animated classics like Pinocchio, Little Mermaid, and Snow White.

Disney's head of distribution credits nostalgia for the success of live-action remakes, like the Little Mermaid, which made $118 million over Memorial Day weekend.

The live-action Little Mermaid is a favorite among older adults driven by nostalgia.

Disney's live-action remakes revive childhood memories and introduce classics to new generations.

The company aims to retell stories without reinforcing stereotypes, as seen in its consultation with the dwarfism community for the live-action Snow White.

Nostalgia drives fan interest in live-action remakes of classic Disney films, recreating childhood memories on screen.

Live-action remakes can spark controversy among fans over casting and story changes.

Disney's live-action remakes update the source material, as seen in the live-action Little Mermaid, which improved Eric's character and the love story.

Films like The Jungle Book and Aladdin feature more diverse casting and storylines, reflecting contemporary social issues like diversity and representation.

Disney incorporates audience feedback and collaborates with executives to align creative and commercial goals.

Disney's live-action remakes have been commercially successful, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, like the 2019 Lion King, which earned nearly $1.6 billion.

The company uses metrics like box office forecasting and audience testing to inform creative decisions and ensure commercial success.

The studio uses test screenings to inform creative decisions, including changing film endings based on audience feedback.

Key stakeholders, including the CEO and market researchers, play a crucial role in balancing filmmakers' creative vision with the studio's commercial goals.

Disney's live-action remakes are motivated by nostalgia, which sells well.

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Back to the old: 9 Disney game remakes that are in development right now
As practice shows, nostalgia sells well.
At the moment, Disney is developing a lot of animated remakes, including with live actors.
This is not surprising given the success of the recent rework of their classic animated films.
It seems that Disney will continue to explore the genre and offer unique interpretations of favorite projects.
Peter Pan and Wendy
Release date: 2022
The remake of the new “Peter Pan ” was directed by David Lowry, who previously worked on the film adaptation of“ Pete and his dragon ” in 2016.
It is reported that the shooting of the project has already been completed, but the exact date has not yet been announced.
It is known that the basis of the film “Peter Pan and Wendy ” is the original story about a boy who did not want to become an adult, and the magical country of Neverland.
The exact date of the premiere of the project has not yet been announced, but is expected in the second half of 2022.
Pinocchio
Release date: September 8, 2022
The animated film “Pinocchio ” with live action was shot by Robert Zemeckis according to his own script in collaboration with Chris Weitz.
The Wooden Boy was originally voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
Its creator, Gepetto, was played by Tom Hanks.
Also in the remake took part Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans and others.
The premiere of the fantasy musical is scheduled for September 8, 2022.
Not only Disney: 8 amazing cartoons that are worthy of a game remake
Little Mermaid
Release date: May 26, 2023
About the rethinking of the “Little Mermaid ” rumors have been around for a long time, and after the announcement of the actress for the main role, dark-skinned Holly Bailey, fierce disputes began.
Nevertheless, the film adaptation decided to finish and announced the premiere date - May 26, 2023.
The plot will tell the original story of a mermaid who fell in love with an earthly prince and asked the witch for legs to please him.
The beloved underwater princess in the film adaptation was played by actor John Hauer-King.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 2023
The exact date of the premiere of the remake of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" has not yet been announced.
The story is taken from the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm, and adapted by screenwriter Greta Gerwig.
The project is directed by Mark Webb.
The role of the beauty of Snow White will be played by Rachel Zegler, and the evil witch will be embodied on the screen by the vander woman Gal Gadot.
The premiere is expected presumably in 2023.
Hercules
Release date: not announced
The director of the film adaptation of “Hercules ” will be the author of“ Gentlemen ” Guy Ritchie.
He will direct a full-length film with live actors based on the 1997 cartoon.
The script was adapted by the author of “Shan-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ” Dave Callham.
The cast of the film about the adventures of Hercules on Olympus has not yet been officially announced.
It is reported that the musical accompaniment of the picture will work Alan Mencken, the author of the compositions “The Little Mermaid ”,“ Aladdin ” and other cartoons.
Bambi
Release date: not announced
The film "Bambi" about a deer who is forced to learn to live independently in the forest after the death of his mother, will be created using computer technology.
The story is taken from the eponymous film adaptation of 1942.
Previously, similar technologies were used in the remake of The Lion King by John Favreau.
Genève Robertson-Dworet and Lindsay Beer will be scripted, and the director will be announced later.
The date of the premiere is not yet known.
Hunchback
Release date: not announced
Work began on a reimagining of the cartoon "Hunchback of Notre Dame" in 1996.
The story, taken as the basis of the original and remake, was written by Victor Hugo in the novel “Notre Dame de Paris ”.
The remake will be playable, but the cast has not yet been announced.
Also, the director ’ s chair is not yet occupied, and David Henry Hwang is already working on the script.
The date of the premiere has not yet been announced.
The Sword in the Stone
Release date: December 13, 2024
The 1963 film adaptation based on the legends of King Arthur will also receive a new adaptation.
Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
The start of production of the new “Sword in the Stone ” started back in 2018, but due to financial problems it had to be suspended.
It is reported that due to the small budget of the picture, the project will be released exclusively for the Disney + streaming service.
There is no information yet about the actors who will take part in the film adaptation.
The project will be released on December 13, 2024.
Robin Hood
Release date: not announced
"Robin Hood" will get a hybrid version with live actors for the Disney + platform.
In development is a remake of the animated classic of 1976 with director Carlos Lopez Estrada at the head.
CGI technologies will be used in the project.
About the casting, the potential release date and other details are not yet known.
The script will be written by Kari Granlund, who previously worked on the remake of Lady and the Tramps.
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Related video

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 develops live-action remakes of animated classics like Pinocchio, Little Mermaid, and Snow White.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Disney's head of distribution credits nostalgia for the success of live-action remakes, like the Little Mermaid, which made $118 million over Memorial Day weekend.

Title:

Content: The Little Mermaid has made a splash at the box office. For Memorial Day weekend, the live-action versions of The Little Mermaid brought in $118 million over the holiday weekend. $96 million of that total came in the three-day frame.

Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information

According to Vareity, the film will be the fifth highest Memorial Day opening in history.

“It’s a classic,” said Tony Chambers, Disney’s head of distribution. “You ask a lot of women or men of my age and it’s ‘Little Mermaid’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ that rank as their favorite animated movie. It’s a story that takes them back to their respective childhoods and this movie is the perfect opportunity for a lot of people to pass that love on to the next generation.”

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Following The Little Mermaid was Fast X at $28.7 million and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 at $25.3 million.

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 live-action Little Mermaid is a favorite among older adults driven by nostalgia.

How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Disney's live-action remakes revive childhood memories and introduce classics to new generations.

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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Beauty and the Beast – US Official Final Trailer
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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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Mary Poppins Returns | Official Trailer
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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 Official Trailer
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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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MALEFICENT 2: MISTRESS OF EVIL Official Trailer #2 (2019) Angelina Jolie, Disney Movie HD
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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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Lady and the Tramp | Official Trailer | Disney+ | Streaming November 12
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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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Disney's Cruella | Official Trailer
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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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Pinocchio Trailer #2 (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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Live-Action Moana Announcement
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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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1997 Hercules Official Trailer 1 Walt Disney Pictures
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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

The company aims to retell stories without reinforcing stereotypes, as seen in its consultation with the dwarfism community for the live-action Snow White.

Title:

Content: Disney responds to Peter Dinklage’s criticism of the live-action adaptation

THE disney has been recreating several of its classic animations in live action over the years and, currently, one of the projects developed focuses on telling the story of snow White. Although the project does not have many details disclosed, the film has already become the target of criticism from Peter Dinklagethe Tyrion of game of Thrones. Now, it was the company’s turn to respond to the actor’s speech.

Actor Peter Dinklage.

In his comment, the actor noted that he was shocked that the company was proud to cast a Latin actress in the lead role while also looking to retell a “retrograde history”. THE The Hollywood Reporter contacted a representative of the disneywho offered a response to the actor’s comment, noting that the live action is taking care to avoid stereotypes present in the animated version. The statement says:

“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are handling these seven characters differently and have consulted with members of the dwarfism community. We look forward to sharing more as the film enters production after a long period of development.” the representative said.

The report released by the website further states that the film has been in development for three years, and the dwarf characters are being reimagined from the early stages of development. Furthermore, snow White is not the first live action Disney to have cultural consultants, as this was also the case with Aladdinfor example.

snow White has the direction of Marc Webb (The spectacular Spider Man), having in its list Rachel Zegler (Love sublime love) in the role of the protagonist and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) as the Evil Queen. The production does not yet have a premiere date.

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About Hrishikesh Bhardwaj

Tv specialist. Falls down a lot. Typical troublemaker. Hipster-friendly advocate. Food fan.

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How did Disney respond to criticism from Peter Dinklage regarding stereotypes?

Consulted members of the dwarfism community to avoid reinforcing stereotypes

Nostalgia drives fan interest in live-action remakes of classic Disney films, recreating childhood memories on screen.

Title:

Content: Disney pushed the "live-action movie" who is the most popular? "Little Mermaid" won the title of the discussion volume broke table
Journalist Yan Lai / Comprehensive Report
The live-action version of "Little Mermaid" was released in Taiwan, and Disney officially announced the live-action casting of "Snow White" and "Star Baby" recently, which once again sparked a lot of discussion on social platforms.
Although in the past, live-action movie dramas will be different from the original animation, and the positive and negative reviews of fans are not the same, but most of the movies can still pay a brilliant box office, and the people are curious and even expectant about their childhood memories being moved to the screen and real-life, and the charm is unstoppable.
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Social Lab tracks the online voice performance of the topic of "Disney live-action movies" in the past three months through the OpView Community Word of mouth database, and leads readers to understand the Disney live-action movie ranking that netizens are passionate about.
The film is the most popular film in the world. It is the most popular film in the world. It is the most popular film in the world. It is the most popular film in the world. It is the most popular film in the world. It is also the most popular film in the world. But more can reflect that love can cross race, gender, region ", more people praised the English version of the film" The underwater special effects are beautiful, I almost think I want to drown in the movie theater, very shocking ", and the play's villain role Ursula is also loved by many fans, superb acting skills are impressive.
"Tiger Lily is very good", "The most handsome Little Flying Man ever", "Captain Hook by Jude Law", "Hook's character curve is complete, the plot is strong", think that apart from the difference between the animation and the live-action version, the actor's high value is very high. However, many viewers felt that the whole show was a bit of a pity, stating that "the big adaptation is very interesting, but it feels that the story is a little bit less, more will be better", "this is the original witty, entertaining part of the whole cut down", feeling that the new version of the Little Flying Scotsman is slightly darker than the previous version of Robin Williams.
"Aladdin" is the most complete version of the film series, saying that "the casting is very good, and Will Smith, the woman is also super beautiful", "really good looking, the male and female protagonists have sparks, elves have a sense of joy", not only the actor is suitable, the plot adaptation is also quite successful, praise "Aladdin is one of the few let me want to go to brush The film is a two-part, three-part series of films that people would like to see.
In addition, Emma Watson played the heroine Belle's "Beauty and the Beast", the show's beauty fascinated a large number of netizens, have praised "beauty and the Beast is a real beauty", "the role of the image are perfect restore", "Beauty and the Beast and is my favorite live-action version, the protagonist is beautiful and good fit", is considered to be Disney's live-action film.
And Disney launched the villain series of the film "Fashion Bad Girl: Kuyla", because the clothing design in the film has attracted a lot of attention, netizens said that "adding fashion film elements has succeeded in making it have an attractive theme", "For clothes and hair, so I am super satisfied!"
That half black and half white hair color, I can't move the whole line of sight, and then there are a lot of super wonderful costumes, I feel very happy ", is one of the eye-catching movies, after the release also attracted a lot of fashion magazines report analysis.
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How has Disney leveraged nostalgia in recent years?

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

Live-action remakes can spark controversy among fans over casting and story changes.

Title:

Content: 54.5 F
Davis

Davis, California

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Commentary: Unpacking the meaning behind ‘Tangled’ and the Grimm tale it’s based on

Recent casting rumors spark conversation over the popular children’s story

By LORENA ALVAREZ — arts@theaggie.org

Disney holds a track record as one of the leading brands worldwide, but that does not shield the company from backlash. While they are known for their children-oriented animations, their live-action remakes appeal to their older audience. This childhood nostalgia can often lead to an uproar over casting decisions.

While Disney has yet to confirm plans for a live-action “Tangled,” let alone casting decisions, the rumors of a remake have been met with criticism, with some fans voicing their (dis)approval of the fan-casting of Avantika Vandanapu as Rapunzel. In light of the recent controversy, the following is a commentary discussing the meaning behind the Grimm brothers’ original tale and Disney’s “Tangled.”

Although Disney fans picture Rapunzel as a young girl with long golden locks, Rapunzel’s hair and race are not key factors in the overarching message of the story. The original version does not even emphasize her hair color, only mentioning it once in passing. Here, what is of importance is the fairytale’s cautionary tale.

Grimm’s 1812 “Children and Household Tales” version follows a couple who is punished for trespassing into the garden of Frau Gothel, a powerful sorceress. The text warns of the dangers of greed and temptation as a man steals in response to his wife’s “longing” for an edible purple wildflower “belonging to a sorceress who possessed great power and was feared by everyone.”

The acknowledgment that people were not welcome to take from the sorceress’ garden suggests that the couple, although driven by great desire, are in the wrong as they deliberately go behind the sorceress’ back to steal from her.

When the sorceress catches the man trespassing for the second time, she is angered that the man steals from her rather than asking if she could spare some rampion for his pregnant wife.

“How dare you climb over into my garden like a thief, and steal my rampion! It shall be the worse for you!” Gothel said in the story.

The message encouraging people to be truthful as well as grateful is further emphasized at the end of the tale, where Gothel cuts Rapunzel’s beautiful locks after discovering that her “daughter” has also betrayed her.

“I thought I had hidden thee from all the world, and thou hast betrayed me!” Gothel said.

As the story concludes with Rapunzel reuniting with the king’s son after living “in great woe and misery” as their punishment, the household tale warns children against disobeying their guardians and giving into temptation.

While Grimm’s version teaches children to be loyal and ask before taking things from people, Disney’s adaptation is a modernized take exploring the good that can come from taking risks and believing in oneself.

“Tangled” follows Rapunzel as she takes agency over her life that has been stolen from her by Mother Gothel and helps Flynn Rider, a thief, redeem himself by helping her leave the tower. For those unfamiliar with the story, Rapunzel dreams of leaving the tower in hopes of seeing the yearly lanterns that cover the sky on her birthday.

The iconic song “When Will My Life Begin? (Reprise 2)” depicts Rapunzel’s struggle to overcome her fears and explore the scary world that she believes Gothel has been protecting her from.

“Look at the world so close and I’m halfway to it,” Rapunzel sings. “Look at it all, so big, do I even dare? Look at me, there at last, I just have to do it […] here I go.”

The animation pairs these lyrics with a scene of Rapunzel cautiously pausing before stepping on the grass, and leaving her tower’s safety (and isolation). Through this, the scene highlights the fear and anxiety she must overcome to make her dream of leaving the tower a reality.

As she demands that Rider take her to see the lights, the script stresses the importance of taking an active role in the direction of one’s own life.

“You will act as my guide, take me to these lanterns, and return me home safely,” Rapunzel said. “Then, and only then, will I return your satchel to you.”.

Thus, classics like Rapunzel’s story play an important role in teaching young impressionable people valuable life lessons — both Grimm’s and Disney’s versions warn against theft, but the latter’s version adapts the story to encourage agency and bravery. While there is a lot of controversy over whether adaptations are better than the originals, taking a popular story and adapting it to meet modern audiences can oftentimes do more good than harm.

Written by: Lorena Alvarez — arts@theaggie.org

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

Debate over both Ariel's casting and racial representation.

Disney's live-action remakes update the source material, as seen in the live-action Little Mermaid, which improved Eric's character and the love story.

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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According to John Musker, what should Disney prioritize in its remakes?

Films like The Jungle Book and Aladdin feature more diverse casting and storylines, reflecting contemporary social issues like diversity and representation.

Title:

Content: Walt Disney Animation Head Jennifer Lee On Setting Up The Next Generation Of Artists [Exclusive Interview]

We're technically in the middle of Disney's centennial celebration, but for the iconic animation studio, the party is just getting started. After news came out earlier this month that nearly 30 restored animated shorts from the Walt Disney Animation Studios vault will be released on Disney+, the studio had a triumphant presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to reminisce on the past while also looking at the future.

First, the studio presented their latest animated short, "Once Upon a Studio," directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy, possibly the most magical thing they've done in years and a short that pays homage to the studio's 100-year-old history, the characters, and the animators that made the studio what it is. Then, audiences were treated to about 20 minutes of "Wish," the upcoming Disney animated musical feature which brings back the Disney villain, and does some cool things with its visuals. That film is directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature directorial debut), and written by Allison Moore and Jennifer Lee, the latter of whom also wrote and co-directed "Frozen" and serves as chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

/Film caught up with Lee shortly after the footage presentation of "Wish," where she talked about the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios, bringing back an actual villain for "Wish," and why animation is so special.

Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

'Technology and the artistry are merging'

The short film "Once Upon a Studio" includes a lot of different animation styles, while "Wish" looks different than many Disney films. What sort of experimentation is in store for the studio going into its second century?

Well, what I think particularly with the short and "Wish" is, and I think it's happening across animation, we're finally arriving at that place where technology and the artistry are merging in a way that I think is everyone's dream. I think of the incredible production designer, Lisa Keen, and the painting she did for "Frozen," but then they'd be translated into CG and they'd sort of be degrees away. But now, those paintings, that look, can make it onto the screen. And we've all been working on this for a long time. It's mattered. And with us, we were able to build it on a short scale, but to build it for a feature, we started, I think, when we met with the design team, the dream they said would be to be able to honor those watercolors from "Sleeping Beauty." "Sleeping Beauty" was such an inspiration for "Frozen" in terms of framing, but to get to do it, and we said, "Well, it's our hundredth, we have to have that goal, and they've been working on the technology for years."

I was saying just a couple months ago, we bumped into an issue where we didn't have it lined up to do water. So we had to brainstorm and work together and they figured it out because the scene was too important and they wanted to earn it, and there's nothing like a challenge for a technologist. That's what they want. "What's the next challenge?" So now we're hitting this place, we're going, "Okay, the look can go in many directions. That is so exciting," and it's really going to come down to the identity of the artists themselves coming through more. I think that is the best case scenario.

Building foundations

You talked during the studio presentation about the pairing of fresh talent with veterans, and you yourself were mentored by a veteran of the studio. Why is that important not just at an animator level, but on a key role like a director?

Well, I mean, all of these films are hard. Every one of them is hard to make. One of the things that our veteran filmmakers have is, they've been through it. They've been through a lot. They've had to redo things a lot. They felt the pain of failure, they felt the joy of success, and they have the layers of life. The new generation has talent. I mean, more and more talent out there. And they come in, and to go through your first film, I always say it's going to break your heart a little bit, over and over again, because it's not enough to dream. We all have dreams that we think, "Oh, if we could only make that." You look back at Walt and what it took for him to make "Snow White," and how it almost failed and it was a fight for every frame. There's never a shortcut in every movie.

So with our veteran filmmakers — and obviously you have someone like Eric [Goldberg, veteran Disney animator] who is everything, he is the talent and the years and the fight in him, and we've got an apprentice program that we've formed for the new generation of hand-drawn. And he's not just bringing skill this way, he's bringing those layers of life. To me, none of this is for the faint of heart. I think being creative, you are always vulnerable. So what we can do is build a good foundation and it's just important. For me, that's the big focus of where I want to go from here, is getting those voices that I'm finding so fresh and exciting, but how do you help them succeed? Because that takes more than just talent. [laughs] We all know, it's a fight. So I think that's what I'm most excited about.

'We've wanted to really celebrate a delicious villain for a while'

One thing that was really exciting about the footage was the villain. Why was that important to have in the film, and from your perspective, what makes a great Disney villain?

Yeah. We've wanted to really celebrate a delicious villain for a while. And we've had fun really straying where, I think in life, for a period of time we were exploring how the villain is not always so clear. Sometimes it's ourselves or thematic. But that idea of those villains, and the song, and we love that deliciousness of their evil. [laughs] So the daunting task of creating one, I think what really worked for us with this is we listened to our story artists, we listened to our audience, and people are saying, "I want him not just to be arch, though, I want to know" what we didn't always do, which was tell you why or how did they make those choices? You sort of meet them fully formed and they could be wonderful, but what makes Magnifico different? So we said, "Okay, from the first frame of the film, you're going to feel the journey of this person from the relatable part of ourselves." You get to see, as you saw in a scene when the villain and the protagonists are completely aligned and then you see as their philosophies diverge, you get to watch ... because we never want to say, "Anyone like this will make this choice." It's that this man makes this choice, this woman makes that choice, and it's so fun to watch. And Chris Pine was big on that and it's part of why we wanted to work with him. He's so smart, he holds the character accountable. So it was just so fun to build Magnifico with him, because you couldn't just take anything for granted. So for me, what's been great is getting ... you only saw the first couple of scenes, but getting to that place with him that we think is delicious, but watching him get there has been such a thrill ride for us.

'That did a lot for us in terms of trust'

From a production standpoint, we're three years into the pandemic. How has that impacted the way the studio looks at new projects? Has anything changed in your approach to either the stories you want to tell or the animation pipeline?

I think, in a good way, what we learned about ourselves during Covid was, we built "Raya" and "Encanto" completely [separately]. No one was together and the whole productions were done from home. So I felt like we showed that we understood each other enough and we could carry the same vision from multiple homes. And that did a lot for us in terms of trust. So what we have now is this place where, as people are coming back and this collaboration that it's kind of like we've been through a lot together, so there's no formality, and that makes, for me, I think that makes for a much more wonderful creative space. But I think the big thing is, it's not even about Covid, it's about, as I say, that new generation. I'm more aware than ever of their power and what they can do, but I'm also more aware of that responsibility.

So where I look at is what excites people about storytelling evolves and it's hard when you're getting old to look to yourself. I have certain things I can bring, but it's my job to make sure that I'm spotting that talent and giving them that platform and support and then letting them take it. And I think that's how Eric is helping new generations. That's what we've done that keeps us Disney, is continuing to let that new generation help us evolve, but setting them up for success. So I feel like that has less to do with Covid and just more to do with, here we are. I mean, I've been in this role five years. I've been in the studio 12 years. I came in under 40 and now I'm over 50. So it's time. I think of that. And you hear them banging on the door and they challenge the storytelling, and it's great.

'They're artists. They're not Disney artists. They do work for Disney, but they bring their soul and their tastes come with them'

Serving as both a writer and a producer on "Wish," what was the key element that made this right for the hundredth year celebration?

Well, what I love though is we all started talking as a group, all the directors would get together and we'd meet with story artists and just leave it open and talk about all these fantastical fun ideas. But what kept coming back were certain things — yes, the villain, but this idea of the wishing on stars. That little clip we showed [a montage of Disney characters throughout the years looking at the stars], that was put together before we had the film. Someone just put it together who was inspired to say, "This is something that's a part of us." And you felt it come. Then Chris, he didn't set out to direct it originally, but it spoke to him so clearly. And Fawn, she was such a powerhouse right away.

Then what happened with us is as we were developing the character, Star changed quite a bit. Star originally could talk and took different forms, sometimes human form. And it was really saying, "But that's not what Star is. Star is hope, possibility, wonder — those things don't have the power, they have the power to inspire you." And then I started watching panda bears and how ridiculously funny they were and felt that curious innocence and we said, "What if Star is just that?" And then they said, "You can see this. I think you need to write a draft." And luckily Allison Moore was there in the room every day, but I could come in. But it didn't happen where it was no moment of an order. It was more of, as people were drawn to it and they got it, they just formed the team. And I felt very lucky that, when they asked me to write it and I had no time, but how could I not? It was such an honor.

Disney has always been a studio strong in its traditions, and its recognizability. I'm curious, with something like "Wish," where do you look for pushing boundaries while also keeping those traditions?

All our artists are looking all the time. They're artists. They're not Disney artists. They do work for Disney, but they bring their soul and their tastes come with them, and what they see in the world inspires them. That's great about this industry. Every day there's always buzzes of what's going on. But I think if I look at "Tangled" as a good example of understanding the fairytale, our first sort of CG princess and this nod to the past, but this embracing of this technology, which was a little scary, I'm sure. I wasn't there, so I can only guess. But to say, the approach they took, it kind of showed us where we could go and be more playful. If there hadn't been "Tangled," there would not have been "Frozen." So I'm very grateful that we took some bold steps.

'It's the greatest form of flattery, I guess'

There's been a lot of live-action remakes of Disney movies, both classics and newer ones. From an animation standpoint, does that push you to make visuals more distinct or even just "easier" to adapt? Does it at all affect the mentality going into a new project?

No, I mean, very, very politely, we completely build these independently. We don't think ahead of the live-action. We're honored if it happens. It's the greatest form of flattery, I guess. But I do think, one of the things I love — to me, what defines animation is it is truly transportive in a way that it speaks to your imagination, not to your reality. And so I think in terms of, personally, the looks that I'm inspired by, of where I do feel I'm in a believable world and it feels alive, but it is wholly nothing of our world. It's a place that I can truly escape to. I think that means a lot to a lot of us. So to me, the easy part of it is, if the goal is reality, the technology can go that way. But animation is not about that. What I love about animation is, it starts with a dream and everything is built and the more we can be transported to something we've never seen, the more excited I get.

Lastly, when it comes to "Wish" or any future projects as you are working through development, especially just that first brainstorming phase, what is the balance or even just your personal feelings in terms of wanting to look back at the history of Disney versus looking at what is possible now with new technology and new ideas?

Yeah, yeah. For me, there's not an overall philosophy about it. I do think it's director and artist by artist. And so what we'll do on one film, we won't do on another, and we'll try a whole different ... "Zootopia" and "Wreck-It-Ralph" are nothing like "Frozen." And I think that we'll do that for everything where we take it one film at a time. I think what I always have to trust is what inspires those artists. But I do think when we think about the legacy, to me, there are certain things that I think are wholly Disney, which are films that give hope. Films where you can escape, where you feel like you belong, that you feel that it can become yours. And there's always an element, hopefully, of joy. But we're not afraid to go into deep, dark places. All fairytales do.

But I think that's what we do say is a part of who we are. And I think for so many of us there, it's this thing we share, which is for so much of our lives, starting from our first memories to now, Disney was a place for us to go no matter what was happening in the world, and we could feel this escape. And it was an escape that left you feeling things are possible. I do think that's part of who we are, foundationally, that we all think about. How we get there should be very different each time. And obviously the musicals, the musicals, the musicals, because we love them.

"Wish" arrives in theaters on November 22, 2023.

Disney incorporates audience feedback and collaborates with executives to align creative and commercial goals.

Disney's live-action remakes have been commercially successful, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, like the 2019 Lion King, which earned nearly $1.6 billion.

Title:

Content: A new part of The Lion King.
The story of Mufasa as you never knew it.
About five years after the release of The Lion King in 2019, Disney is offering a live-action version of the film, Mufasa: The Lion King, a new story that takes audiences back to the familiar tale of the film, as Simba explores the history of his father, Mufasa, and his father ’ s relationship with his younger brother. Reer Scar.
The film also comes on the 30th anniversary of the original Lion King, released in 1994, as part of Disney ’ s experiments in turning animated films into reality, such as Cinderella, The Mermaid, and Aladdin.
It is a safe strategy to ensure a financially successful product, without risking capital in new experiences that may not generate revenue.
The film is expected to be released on May 5, 2024.
Simba explores the history of Mufasa
The first real-life version of The Lion King in 2019 grossed nearly $1.6 billion worldwide.
The new version of The Lion King is expected to surpass the previous film because it explores an old story never presented before, while retaining all the reasons for the success of the original film, the story of the evil brother "Scar" and his relationship with his brother "Mufasa", a focal point in the main film, and the audience always wondered about the causes of the great evil inherent in the character "Scar".
Disney is looking to make an artistic epic, or a series of films as a result of the film ’ s manifold story, which carries more than one story, especially if its makers can find clues to the stories, because despite the worlds of Disney and its large production of films, it has never produced a major series like Star Wars, for example, and the story of the Lion King can be the beginning of movie series, especially as it moves narrative between the past and present....
Heroes of the New Story
The film was officially announced by Barry Jenkins, and Jeff Nathanson, the screenwriter of The Lion King (2019), completes his role as the writer of the new work "Mufasa".
Genghis said that there are many familiar characters will appear in the next film, and that the version will include new stories about the characters that the audience knew and associated with, and the story will go back in time with the heroes, to know the audience history and how they became what they are in the end, as the film tells how "Mufasa" came out of a modest life to reach the top of power, after he was a young cub roaming alone in life.
The film includes some changes to the voices of the heroes from the previous film, where the voice of young "Mufasa" will be performed by Aaron Pierre, while the voice of Mufasa was provided in the previous film, and in the older film of 1994 James Earl Jones.
Familiar voices that won ’ t change include John Kanye, who will cast Mandrel Reviki, Billy Eichner, who will cast Timon, Seth Rogan, who will cast Pumbaa, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., who will cast Scar, and Beyoncé, who will cast Nala.
Why is Disney bringing back the old stories?
Although audiences on social media complain about reproducing Disney ’ s classics, the box office always favors reproducing the classics, and there are many reasons for audiences to watch animated films in their real-life versions, including the attraction of old fans and the desire of the new generation to explore the modern context of the tale.
From here, such films have a double audience, especially in that story that touches on fatherhood, family, friendship, love and life. Mufasa remains one of the most famous Disney characters, and did not explore his story as befitting his fame and the story of his sad death in the original film, which separated the audiences against their will.
Source: Al Jazeera + Websites

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 uses metrics like box office forecasting and audience testing to inform creative decisions and ensure commercial success.

Title:

Content: As Disney suffers through its latest box office bomb, another flop celebrates 20 years

Image via Walt Disney Pictures
Review of:

Reviewed by:
Rating:
No Rating
On November 28, 2022
Last modified:November 28, 2022

Summary:

What makes the efforts of marketing so interesting is that it often plays a key role in determining how many people end up seeing your movie. As one of the most powerful entertainment corporations on the planet, one can imagine that Disney would be privy to a nuance like this. Why, then, has the Mouse neglected promotion for Strange World?

There could be multiple answers for this, some of them more malicious than others, but the end result is still a disappointing performance for Disney’s latest animated venture, reportedly making a mere $18.6 million in the five days since its release. With a reported budget as high as $180 million, Strange World is in for the fight of its life—a fight that’s projected to result in a $100 million loss.

History is a whimsical little prankster, it seems. As Strange World gasps for breath at the box office, the ghost of another Disney financial flop haunts the halls of cinemas 20 years on.

Indeed, on this day 20 years ago, Treasure Planet was under the very same duress that Strange World is bearing at the moment, with the 2002 sci-fi film having famously lost Disney $30 million at the box office.

Where Strange World seems to have mostly suffered from a lack of marketing, the theories on the heavily-advertised Treasure Planet‘s failure seem to stem from skepticism around its animation to its deviation from the stories that Disney often told. One must also consider, of course, that Treasure Planet is simply not a good movie. To this day, B.E.N.’s presence awakens something quite violent in many a viewer.

Alan Bergman, if you’re reading this, these are the films that you should be focusing your live-action remakes on. We don’t need a reimagining of already inch-perfect films like The Lion King or Aladdin; give those chances to the more lackluster members of your library that are desperately in need of fresh eyes and a second chance. In the case of Strange World, try not to drop the ball on letting people know that it exists next time.

Strange World is currently playing in theaters.

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

The studio uses test screenings to inform creative decisions, including changing film endings based on audience feedback.

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Should we trust test audiences?

Do test audiences ever get it right?

SHARE Should we trust test audiences?

In recent weeks, both Marvel and DC studios have decided to push back some of their next installments in their cinematic universes. The Hollywood Reporter reported that The Marvels had been pushed back from July 28 to November 10, 2023.

On Feb. 26, YouTuber Grace Randolph gave the inside scoop as to why the next Marvel installment was delayed: poor reactions from test audiences.

“The Marvels was pushed from Summer to Winter due to poor audience test scores so Marvel wants to do yet another round of reshoots to avoid, well, another round of this kind of mess,” Randolph said.

Poor audience test scores more often than not get studios to change up the story, but whether or not it’s for the best, well, sometimes the changes work and sometimes they don’t. The following are movies that changed themselves based on test screening.

‘I Am Legend’

The Will Smith-led post-apocalyptic film based on the popular book made some drastic changes, specifically with the ending. Originally, the film was going to end with the Darkseekers tracking down Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, but not because they wanted to kill him, but because he had kidnapped their leader’s girlfriend and experimented on her like he did with a bunch of Darkseekers (who he wound up killing), thus revealing that he’s been the villain the whole time while the Darkseekers were more civilized than we thought.

However, test audiences did not like the twist. Hence, the studio decided instead to have Neville sacrifice himself to save humanity. An ending with a heroic sacrifice, sure, but the film may have been remembered better today had they gone with the more thought-provoking conclusion.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’

While the cult comic book film is revered for its energetic style (and excellent cast), what fans debate tirelessly about is the ending. In the theatrical cut, Scott winds up with the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, thanks to the encouragement of his ex-girlfriend Knives Chau. However, they went with this ending because test audiences did not like how the film was originally supposed to end.

Originally, Scott was supposed to end up with his original girlfriend Knives, but test audiences wanted him to end up with Ramona like the comics, thus creating some division among fans as to who Scott should have dated in the end. Whether or not it was a good decision to end the film like that depends on who you ask.

‘Thor: The Dark World’

As it turns out, Marvel has altered its endings in the past. If they had stuck with their guns for this one, who knows what impact it would have on the MCU today? “Thor: The Dark World” is not among the MCU’s fan favorites, but maybe that wouldn’t be the case had they gone with their original ending — permanently killing off Loki.

According to Tom Hiddleston, Marvel’s original plan was to kill off Thor’s brother, but test audiences weren’t too keen on that, so his death turned out to be yet another one of his tricks. That would have sent off a chain reaction knowing the projects he’s been involved with since. Had they gone with Loki permanently getting the ax, maybe “Thor: The Dark World” would be remembered better than it usually has been among fans.

Sometimes, test audiences get it right

With all this talk about test audiences, we also have to keep in mind that sometimes, the fans get it right. Remember the uproar when the original live-action design of “Sonic the Hedgehog” was released? Studios went back to the drawing board and a much better one was then released.

But other times, test audiences get it wrong. Test audiences did not like the heartbreaking ending of “Seven,” but that didn’t stop studios from going with it, and now it’s remembered for having one of the best endings of all time.

In Marvel’s case, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” suffering significant box office decline following its opening weekend is not welcome news for them. Marvel understandably wants to keep fan interest alive, so if they feel reshoots could keep that going, that’s good thinking. However, if “The Marvels” does not give them the box office return they’re hoping for, and the original ending gets leaked, this could turn into another installment of what could have been.

Key stakeholders, including the CEO and market researchers, play a crucial role in balancing filmmakers' creative vision with the studio's commercial goals.

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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