Live-action retellings are currently taking the film industry by storm and dominating global box offices – and let’s face it, Disney is leading the revolution right now.
Despite, its mixed reviews no one can argue that the live-action The Lion King isn’t roaring all the way to the bank as we type this. Jon Favreau’s visual delight earned $543.6 million in its first ten days and is expected to pass the $1 billion mark next month; a mark that Aladdin just passed, by the way.
CNBC reports that in less than a decade, Walt Disney Studios has made more than £7 billion thanks to successful live-action retellings of Disney classics like Aladdin, The Lion King and Cinderella. And with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (October 2019) and Mulan (March 2020) set to be released over the next few months, that number is only set to soar and soar.
In other words, don’t expect this industry “trend” to fizzle out any time soon. In fact, we should all sit back, make ourselves comfy and get used to it.
In some ways, when it comes to live-action remakes Disney is only warming up. Dozens of forthcoming titles – some officially announced and some top-secret – are in the works at the House of Mouse right now.
In no particular order, upcoming live-action reimaginings include Cruella, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Tink, Pinocchio, Snow White, Prince Charming, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sword in the Stone and Lilo and Stitch to name but a few.
Anyone else picturing Scrooge McDuck diving into a giant pool of money right now?
