On the heels of the success of Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, and last year's Cinderella (the best of the bunch), Disney is moving full steam ahead with a lineup of live-action adaptations of their biggest fairytale hits. The Jungle Book just hit big with critics and audiences alike, this week sees the release of Alice Through the Looking Glass in theaters, we just got our first look at Bill Condon's Beauty and the Beast, and the studio recently unveiled a schedule of live action fairy tale release dates through 2019 including Cruella, Dumbo, and Tinker Bell.
Now, Deadline reports that the studio is considering a live action adaptation of one of their most beloved Golden Age classics, The Little Mermaid. Directors Ron Clements and John Muskers 1989 animated musical was a tremendous hit for the studio, boasting iconic songs from the legendary Alan Menken, taking home two Oscars, and ushering a new golden age of Disney Animated Classics that included Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Which is all to say that The Little Mermaid is a natural choice for the studio's lineup of live action adaptations.
It is, perhaps, one of the most challenging films to make -- underwater isn't easy work, and even with CGI how people move (especially their hair) can't be easily replicated, but ultimately it could be one of their most rewarding. While pretty much all Disney movies are met with an eager audience, the film's that came out in the 80s and 90s are deeply beloved and highkey childhood highlights for a key demographic of moviegoers. Case and point, the Beauty and the Beast trailer racked up 92 million views in the first day alone.
However, if Disney chooses to movie forward with the project, they'll have a bit of competition in Universal's live action adaptation, which is set to star Chloe Grace Moretz in the title role with Rebecca Thomas (Electrik Children) slated to direct. However, the Warner Bros. adaptation of The Jungle Book did nothing to deter Disney from making their own version, and Universal's is certain to have a different tone as it is set to hew closer to Hans Christian Anderson's original tale, which is distinctly darker than its Disney counterpart.
For now, we can look forward to the studio's impressive slate of already announced fairy tale adaptations. Click here for Dave's detailed breakdown of Disney's upcoming live action lineup, or check it out in brief below.
Cruella with Emma Stone set for the title role and Kelly Marcel writing
A Wrinkle in Time with Ava DuVernay attached to direct and Jennifer Lee writing
Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson set to star and John Requa and Glenn Ficarra writing
Dumbo with director Tim Burton and writer Ehren Kruger
A sequel to Mary Poppins with director Rob Marshall, starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Maleficent 2 with Angelia Jolie set to return in the title role and Linda Woolverton writing
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms with director Lasse Hallstrom and writer Ashleigh Powell
The Jungle Book 2 with both director Jon Favreau and writer Justin Marks returning
A Tinker Bell project with Reese Witherspoon set to star and Victoria Strouse writing
