18 Live-Action Disney Movies You Didn't Know Were Coming Soon
From the heart wrenching moments of The Lion King to the dazzling singalongs in The Little Mermaid, it seems like everyone has a soft spot when it comes to Disney classics. While many of Disney's animated classics are considered to be beloved childhood staples of the past, Disney is currently planning several major reboots in store for the next few years. While many of these movies do not have an official release date set, expect to hear more about these upcoming projects at Disney's D23 Expo in July. Interestingly enough, some of these live-action film adaptations range from the more obscure, like Fantasia, to some of the most beloved Disney classics of all time. We look forward to learning more about these projects in the months to come. Start revisiting some of those childhood favorites while we wait for more updates regarding these hotly anticipated films. How exciting will it be to finally see Ariel and Mulan in live-action on-screen? If you've ever wondered what it would be like to hear more about Mary Poppins, or to explore more of Cruella De Vil's intriguing backstory, get ready for some of these thrilling live action Disney films in the works.
18 Aladdin (TBA)
Although the release date is yet to be announced, Disney plans to move forward with a live-action adaptation of the animated classic, Aladdin. Director Guy Ritchie will take the helm, and the script will be written by John August. Ritchie is known for his action-packed films, including Sherlock Holmes, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and classics like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is currently casting lead roles for Aladdin and Jasmine. Eager to avoid a whitewashing controversy, the casting call emphasizes that both characters are Middle Eastern, and they are seeking actors between 18-25 years old. Other requirements include being able to sing, and having a previous dance background is an additional plus. Rehearsals began last month, and the film will begin shooting in July. Last month, Entertainment Weekly reported that Disney is eyeing Will Smith for the role of Genie.
17 The Little Mermaid (TBA)
Recently, Disney just announced that Ariel will be part of a new world soon, and we're not only talking about an upcoming live action movie. According to Entertainment Weekly, ABC will release a live musical with The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live. Produced by Hamish Hamilton, Ian Stewart, David Jammy, Katy Mullan, and Richard Kraft, the television special will follow the 1989 animated classic. The television event is an exciting prospect for fans of Ariel and her adventures under the sea. Last fall, there were reports circulating that Lin-Manuel Miranda will be working on Disney's upcoming live-action Little Mermaid film. Miranda is known for his recent work on the hit film Moana, and of course, his Broadway sensation called "Hamilton". According to the report, Miranda is working closely alongside the original composer from The Little Mermaid, Alan Menken, in order to create new music for the upcoming live action film.
16 Mary Poppins Returns (December 25, 2018)
Between 1934 and 1988, author P. L. Travers brought Mary Poppins to life through a series of novels. A classic tale of imagination and discovery, the books follow the adventures of the Banks children and their British nanny, Mary Poppins. Disney's 1964 on-screen musical starred the great Julie Andrew and Dick Van Dyke, and the movie is often considered a childhood classic by many all over the world. In 2004, Disney created a theatrical production of Mary Poppins, and the musical was performed for several years on Broadway and London's West End theater. Directed by Robert Stevenson, Mary Poppins is cited as a beloved childhood classic. The film actually received thirteen Academy Award nominations, and took home a total of five awards, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews and Best Original Song for "Chim Chim Cher-ee". Mary Poppins is often remembered because it was the only film to receive a Best Picture nomination while Walt Disney was still alive. Next year, Disney is lined up to release a new live-action sequel entitled Mary Poppins Returns. Directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee, the film will be set over twenty years after the original 1964 film. Emily Blunt will take the lead as Mary Poppins, while Lin-Manuel Miranda will play Jack. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer will play Michael and Jane Banks. The cast will also include Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Dick Van Dyke. Last month, Variety revealed a first look at Emily Blunt in the iconic costume, and it's supercalifragilisiticexpealidocious!
15 Tink (TBA)
Two years ago, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Reese Witherspoon would be taking the lead in an upcoming live-action Disney movie about Tinker Bell. The project includes writer Victoria Strouse, who also wrote the script for Finding Dory. Although there hasn't been any official release date to be announced, many feel that it will share similarities to Angelina Jolie's smash hit, Maleficent. Known to everyone as the sassy and lovable fairy from Peter Pan, Tinkerbell first started as a minor character from J. M. Barrie's classic story. Since then, Tinker Bell has charmed fans for decades after her role in Disney's 1953 animated version of Peter Pan, and several spinoff cartoons. We look forward to hearing more about Reese Witherspoon and her role in Tink sometime soon!
14 Snow White (TBA)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Audiences first fell in love with Snow White when Disney released the animated tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs back in 1937. The story was based on the original Brother's Grimm fairytale, and it soon became a massive success for the Mouse House. Over the years, there have been variations of the story on the silver screen. In 2012, Julia Roberts and Lily Collins starred in Mirror Mirror. More recently, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth have starred in another variation of the story called Snow White and the Huntsman. According to Disney, writer Erin Cressida will work on the script. Cressida's film credits also include "The Girl on the Train" and other work such as "Men, Women & Children" and helping to produce the television series "Vinyl". To date, there hasn't been any official announcement on when this live-action version will be released. There have also been other reports that Disney is also set to create another project based off of Snow White's sister. The story will purportedly follow Rose Red, another character that originally appeared in the Brother's Grimm fairy tales.
13 Dumbo (TBA)
Ah, Dumbo. Few can forget the tragic story of the young circus elephant from Disney's animated classic. Variety has reported that director Tim Burton will take the lead for the upcoming live-action adaptation of Dumbo. In March, it was reported that actor Danny DeVito is set to join the film as the ringmaster. Disney is still finalizing their picks for other roles, but they have been rumored to be speaking with Will Smith and possibly Chris Pine. Director Tim Burton and Danny DeVito have worked together in the past. Burton directed "Batman Returns" back in 1992, and DeVito starred in the sinister role as The Penguin. So far, Michael Keaton has been cast as Vandemere, Colin Farrell as Holt, and Eva Green supposedly as Colette.
12 Pinocchio (TBA)
It's no surprise that Disney is currently on a roll with live-action adaptations, and it looks like Pinocchio is another project in the works. According to Deadline, director Peter Hedges is set to write the script for a live-action Pinocchio film. Hedges is also known for his work on films like What's Eating Gilbert Grape and About a Boy. The original animated Pinocchio film was first released back in 1940. Since then, Disney has recreated the iconic character in various cartoons and other variations. While there's no official release date set, we're bound to be hearing more about the beloved puppet who wants to become a real boy soon. This year alone, Disney has already cashed in over $1 billion from the release of their recent live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
11 Peter Pan (TBA)
Earlier, we already reported that starlet Reese Witherspoon is set to appear in a live-action Tinker Bell movie. However, it seems like Disney isn't quite finished with the world of Neverland. In 1953, Disney charmed audiences with the animated tale of Peter Pan. Based off of author J. M. Barrie's children's novel, Disney's animated film is known for being the most successful version of Peter Pan to date. Other variations, like Hook in 1991 and Pan in 2015 have both received less than stellar reviews. Last year, Variety has noted that director David Lowery is on board to direct a new, live-action version of Peter Pan. Most recently, Lowery has worked with Disney on the live-action adaptation of Pete's Dragon in 2016. Lowery's other directing credits include Ain't Them Bodies Saints in 2013 and St. Nick in 2009. Writer Toby Halbrooks, who also worked on Pete's Dragon and Ain't Them Bodies Saints, is set to write the script for the upcoming Peter Pan adaptation.
10 Maleficent 2 (TBA)
In 2014, Disney made a bold movie by creating Maleficent, which surprised audiences for being a dark twist on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. In contrast to their animated film, the 2014 film focused on telling a reimagined version of the story from Maleficent's perspective. Despite having received mediocre reviews, actress Angelina Jolie smoldered as the leading lady. In an interview with The Movie Network, Jolie said that she wanted to play the role because she loved Sleeping Beauty and the character of Maleficent when she was a young girl. Box Office Mojo reports that Maleficent cashed in with a worldwide total of $758 million and over $240 million domestically. Eager to recreate the magic, Disney has announced that they will be working on a sequel to the 2014 film, with a release date to be announced. At this time, there has been no official title announced, but you can hear more about the project under the working title of Maleficent 2. Linda Woolverton, who helped write the script for the first film, is slated to return for the sequel. Woolverton also worked on classics like The Lion King.
9 Oliver Twist / Oliver and Company (TBA)
Last Fall, Disney announced an intriguing new project involving Ice Cube and Oliver Twist. Yeah, you read that right. The team over at Slash Film reports that actor Ice Cube will play Fagin, and the film will be directed by Hamilton director Thomas Kail. Kail is known for being the director of Lin-Manuel Miranda's incredible Broadway sensation, Hamilton, and also In the Heights. The director also was awarded an Emmy for his work with Grease: Live. The story will be an adaptation of the iconic story from Charles Dickens, which was first published in the early 1800's. It might seem like Disney's first foray into the world of Oliver Twist, but they actually made their own animated version of the story in the eighties. In 1988, Disney released Oliver and Company, a modern version of the tale involving animals in New York City.
8 The Sword in the Stone (TBA)
Following the story of a young King Arthur, Disney's animated version of The Sword in the Stone was first released back in 1963. In July 2015, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Disney is set to begin creating a live-action adaptation of the classic tale. According to the report, Bryan Cogman, who is also a writer for HBO's hit Game of Thrones series, will also help write the script for the upcoming King Arthur film. Unlike classics like The Lion King, The Little Mermaid or Aladdin, The Sword in the Stone might not have the same appeal to millennial audiences. However, Game of Thrones has become a widespread success over the years, so it will be interesting to see how The Sword in the Stone is received in a live-action form.
7 Jungle Book 2 (TBA)
Last year, Disney announced that the studio will be revisiting the recent live-action version of The Jungle Book with an impending sequel in the works. Director Jon Favreau, who also worked on The Lion King and Moana, is set to return, along with screenwriter Justin Marks. Based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book follows the story of a young boy named Mowgli, who was raised in the jungle by wolves. The recent live-action adaptation of the film starred Bill Murray as Baloo, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, and Ben Kingsley as Bagheera. Surprisingly enough, young actor Neel Sethi delivered a powerful performance, despite having to work mostly with green screens due to computer generated imagery. Disney's more recent live-action adaptations, like Alice Through The Looking Glass and Pete's Dragon, have performed moderately well, but The Jungle Book was a smash hit of 2016. While there's still no official release date set in stone, the question on everyone's minds is-will they let the charming Neel Sethi reprise his role as Mowgli?
6 Prince Charming (TBA)
Disney decided to take their live action film adaptations in a bold new direction with Angelina Jolie's stunning work with Maleficent. The story delved into uncharted waters, offering a fresh new perspective on a timeless classic, and it looks like Disney is getting ready to follow suit with the upcoming Prince Charming. The Hollywood Reporter notes that David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Tripp Vinson are set to produce the film, while Matt Fogel will write the script. In recent years, Fogel has worked on movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. While fans are definitely going to enjoy fan casting this movie, it still hasn't been confirmed if this will be Prince Charming from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or the leading man from Cinderella.
5 Fantasia (TBA)
The original animated film of Fantasia initially debuted in 1940, and later, Disney created Fantasia 2000 which was released in 1999. The original 1940 film is often looked at as an experimental project at the time, given that it combined Walt Disney's animated sequences with classical music. In 2015, Disney announced that they will be making a live-action movie inspired by the animated classic. Instead of recreating a scene-by-scene adaptation, Disney intends on creating a film that's merely loosely inspired by one of the stories from Fantasia. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless are lined up to write the script. The film will be based on the "Night on Bald Mountain" scene from Fantasia. There's still no release date as of yet, but we look forward to hearing more about this mysterious new project soon.
4 Winnie the Pooh (TBA)
Few characters have been able to capture the hearts of fans like Winnie the Pooh, and it seems only fitting that Disney would eventually create a live-action film adaptation with the lovable bear. So far, we've learned that Alex Ross Perry will write the adaptation of the classic story. Author A.A. Milne first created Winnie the Pooh for a series of children's stories. Eventually, Disney gained the rights to the beloved character, and created several television shows and movies starring Winnie the Pooh. Earlier this year, Variety reported that Thomas McCarthy will also be on board with the project. McCarthy helped write Pixar's heartbreaking tale, Up. Disney also announced that director Marc Forster will take the lead for the project. Forster also worked on films like Quantum of Solace and World War Z. The upcoming film adaptation will focus on a grown up Christopher Robin, who reunites with Pooh at a later time in his life.
3 Cruella (2018)
With the recent release of other live-action films like The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast, it seems as though Disney has struck gold with it's slew of reboots. Although it's been several decades since the original 101 Dalmatians was first released in 1961, few can forget the chilling villain from the tale, Cruella De Vil. In 1996, Glenn Close starred as Cruella in a live-action Dalmatians film, created by John Hughes. However, it seems like Disney wants to try creating a new spin on the tale with the upcoming film entitled Cruella. Actress Emma Stone is set to star as Cruella, while director Alex Timbers is rumored to direct the film. Writers Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis have been working on writing a script.
2 Mulan (Nov. 2, 2018)
Another one of Disney's highly lauded animated classics, Mulan is also set to get a live-action adaptation next year. Following the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a soldier, the original animated version of Mulan was first released in 1998. In March, director Niki Caro said that there will be no songs in the upcoming Mulan film. However, Caro quickly backtracked on her words after a public outcry in response. According to Screenrant, Caro has said, “The live-action is based on that inspirational Chinese ballad and on the animated Disney classic. We're still exploring the role that music's going to play in it, but for sure there will be music.” Director Niki Caro is best known for her work with the Oscar nominated Whale Rider and her work with The Zookeeper's Wife. Actress Ming-Na Wen, who voiced the original animated character of Mulan, has been hoping to become involved in the new film. While there's still no official statement about who will play the heroine, the film is set to be released on November 2, 2018.
1 The Lion King (July 19, 2019)
With overarching themes about family and remembering who you are, The Lion King is one of the most successful animated Disney classics to date. The film was first released in 1994 and quickly became one of Disney's largest animated hits of all time. Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, The Lion King featured a star cast including Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella. The film won two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Score and another for Best Original Song, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight". Next up, Disney is set to bring back James Earl Jones to star in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Lion King, along with rising star Donald Glover. Seth Rogen has also been cast to voice Pumbaa, while Billy Eichner will voice Timon. Say hakuna matata and get ready for the live-action version of The Lion King, set to hit theaters July 19, 2019.