Thank you to everyone who read last week’s mailbag and let me know they are happy to see mailbag return. I love seeing your questions, so let’s get this week rolling. Today, we dive into Tangled, Hocus Pocus 3, and a new Night at the Museum movie?
Are the live-action Tangled casting rumors of the three leads true?
For those unaware, rumors have surfaced that Milo Manheim (ZOMBIES), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Florence Pugh (Thunderbolts*), and Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along) are being eyed for the roles of Flynn Rider, Rapunzel, and Mother Gothel in the live-action Tangled remake. As of now, these are all just rumors. I personally have not seen any casting information on this project; however, it is not uncommon for Disney to have actors listed for the type of actors they want in various roles for their projects, meaning Manheim, Newton, Pugh, and Hahn are the types of actors they want but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who they will cast.
Do you think there’s any possibility we will ever see a live-action Treasure Planet movie? I think it could be one of the coolest live-action Disney movies because it’s a combination of Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars.
While I do agree with you about it being cool it should be kept in mind that Disney is working on a new Treasure Island movie, which if successful could spark some intrigue on Treasure Planet. That said, Treasure Planet was one of the most expensive box office failures of all-time and would Disney believe they could go back to a project that was already a miss the first time around? I am not so sure.
Hi, missed the Mailbags glad it’s back, anyway is Disney still working on the CGI live-action animated hybrid remake of The Aristocats on Disney+ and is Questlove still directing?
As far as I know, the project is still in development with Questlove still attached to direct.
With Wicked being a success, will Disney and Lin Manual Miranda consider doing a big screen movie adaptation of Hamilton?
Will it happen? Yes. How soon? I have no clue, but Wicked definitely helps its chances of it coming sooner rather than later.
Is an Encanto sequel likely?
I think the chances are slim due to the film’s box office performance, but slim doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. Encanto became a cultural phenomenon after its release, with songs like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” achieving record-breaking success on music charts. Also, the film did see pretty good streaming success on Disney+, so Disney knows there is a massive audience for this world.
Any updates on the It’s a Small World movie?
Disney has tried multiple times over the years to get an It’s a Small World movie off the ground. Sadly, their latest attempt, which would have had National Treasure director Jon Turtletaub directing, was scrapped. Disney will attempt to revisit a movie but as of now, there is not a project in development.
I had a feeling Dwayne Johnson would wear a body suit with CGI enhancements for live-action Maui. He’s big but not Maui big. Plus it saves time from covering his real tats every day in the makeup chair.
Nobody is Maui big and the animation process it takes for his tattoos to come to live would be easier to work with on a body suit rather than Johnson’s skin. Also, it takes costume and make-up far less time to work on a body suit during production than using fake tattoo make-up for intricate tattoo designs.
I feel like Disney’s current leadership has no idea what they’re doing. Who do you think the next CEO will be? And do you think we’ll get a CEO like Eisner?
Personally, all signs are pointing to Dana Walden taking over as CEO. She has the background and experience and leadership to navigate this new age of Disney. Eisner had an interesting era as CEO. While he oversaw the best post-Walt Disney era for animated films and parks expansion, he did clash with execs towards the end of his tenure. Eisner-like” CEO would need to be a visionary with a focus on creativity and innovation while navigating the pressures of the streaming age, IP-focused entertainment, and shareholder expectations.
Any updates on when Disney Plus will be releasing the new season of Doctor Who or its spin off miniseries, The War Between the Land and the Sea?
Yes, the series is debuting on Disney+ later this year.
Disney announced Ice Ige 6. Are there any plans for the other 20th Century family-friendly franchises which are Night at the museum, Alvin and the chipmunks and Rio? By the way Disney should consider a Home Alone sequel with Culkin or a reboot. Is that even a possibility?
There are talks of a new live-action Night at the Museum movie, which would be led by a new actor at a new museum but nothing is set in stone yet. As for Alvin/Rio there is not anything in the works at this moment. As for Home Alone, there have been a total of 6 movies and only 2 of them have received praise, the possibility of a new movie is always going to be there as it is a popular IP but with Culkin returning? I do not think so.
Are you looking forward to the Michael Jackson biopic? I feel Jaafar Jackson would be perfect for Naveen in the Princess and the Frog remake.
I am looking forward to it. I had fun with both Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) and Rocket Man (Elton John). Now we are getting a biopic on the King of Pop with multiple iconic tracks, sign me up. As for Jaafar as Naveen, I need to see his perfomance in Michael before I am ready to start fan casting him as a Disney lead.
Who do you like to see to be Rapunzel in Tangled live action?
So this is a personal fan cast, this is not someone Disney is considering. That said, if I am Disney I would cast McKenna Grace, she is the right age the studio is looking for and has a preexisting working relationship with The Walt Disney Company having been in Captain Marvel, Goosebumps, and The Handmaids Tale, as well multiple shows on the Disney Channel.
Have you heard anything about Hocus Pocus 3? Are they still working on it?
As of now, Disney is working out ideas for how to expand this franchise. Last I heard, Disney was playing with an idea of focusing the next movie on Hannah Waddingham’s Mother Witch, which would not include the Sanderson Sisters in a major role, but as of now, it is unknown if the studio will go with that idea.
That’s all for this week’s mailbag, stay tuned as every Thursday a new DisInsider Mailbag will drop.
