While Disney is showing off footage of their upcoming footage at CineEurope and while we anxiously await D23, we are continuing to take your biggest questions from The Walt Disney Company. In this weeks mailbag we discuss Hercules, Big Hero 6, Elio, and so much more.
Will Disney ever make sequels to any of the following animated films: Wall-E, Soul, Coco, Ratatouille, Big hero 6 ?
I have heard in the past Disney was looking to do something with Big Hero 6. Now, whether that is in collaboration with Marvel Studios or an actual theatrical sequel is unclear to me at this time. I do not believe Pixar has any plans in the immediate future (or at all) in developing sequels to Wall-E, Soul, Coco, or Ratatouille.
Why would the Muses might not be in the Hercules remake? They’re iconic and important characters in the story and what sets Disney’s version apart from other Hercules adaptations.
I never said they were not in it, but at this time Disney has not laid the groundwork for the muses to be in the remake. Just because they were important to the animated film doesn’t automatically mean they will appear in the live-action remake. Look at the Mulan remake, Mushu was a pivotal piece of the original and Mulan’s journey but he wasn’t brought back for the remake.
Will Hercules still be set in modern day and use Tiktok for inspiration as the Russos hinted at before?
No, the Russo’s clarified what they mean by “TikTok-insired”: “We live in a world where most of your audience under 30 is now informed by their social media habits and it changes the way that they consume content and information and storytelling. As the storyteller, you have to be aware of changing habits… I think Matilda was a great example of a movie that, because of TikTok, it became a bit of a sensation with an under-30 audience… I think that’s part of the fun of telling global stories, when people all over the world are suddenly mimicking a dance from a clip from your movie and I got as much enjoyment as anybody out of watching those Matilda clips and that’s what I was speaking to – this idea of understanding what world you live in and how people are communicating and what it is that excites them about new stories.”
I know you said Disney will have a balance of originals and sequels but I’m worried with Inside Out 2’s success compared to Wish, they’ll get the idea that sequels are now top priority and original movies don’t attract people as much.
Disney and Pixar will always develop originals but you said it in your question, the sequels are financial hits. The latest sequels for Disney/Pixar Finding Dory, Toy Story 4, Incredibles 2, and Frozen 3 have all grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office and Inside Out 2 may have the legs to join them.
Not Disney-related, but is a Shrek 5 happening?
Yes.
Are there any news about The Little Mermaid 2 or Aladdin 2?
We are not getting a sequel to The Little Mermaid. A new movie from the world of Aladdin is still on the table, but nothing is confirmed at this time.
How is Zootopia 2 coming along?
Haven’t heard much about this project at all, to be honest. There is an alleged cast leak floating around social media but have since confirmed that it is fake. We likely will not get additional information on the project until D23 in a little over a month.
Any idea or hint as to what Toy Story 5 is about?
Is it true they’re developing a Frozone spinoff, or was this cancelled?
Pixar is not and has never considered or developed a Frozone spinoff. Incredibles 3 would be the next project from this universe.
Awhile back you said Disney’s live action division will have the biggest surprises at D23. Any ideas on what they have in store?
We will be doing a special report and video on this next month, so stay tuned for that.
Have you heard anything good or bad about Elio?
I have said on The DisInsider Show that I heard Elio was pushed back to try and rework the script. I compared the situation to 2016s The Good Dinosaur, where the studio also replaced its director, cast, and retooled the script. Now, that does not mean it is bad, but the film has not test screened and is still in production.
That’s all for this week’s mailbag, stay tuned as every Thursday a new DisInsider Mailbag will drop.
