We are weeks away from Fantastic Four: The First Steps and Freakier Friday, and while the excitement for what Disney still has in store for 2025, we are eager for the future. This week we discuss everything from remakes, reboots, and sequels.
Will Disney start working on Hercules only post Secret Wars because of the Russos? It has been in development for lots of years and they never actually announce it…
As of right now, there’s really no concrete details on Hercules production schedule. It should be noted that the Russo‘s are only attached to the project as producers. Guy Ritchie just departed directing duties on Road House 2, so he may circle back to direct as originally intended.
What other movies from the 2000s could you see being remade in live action? Brother Bear perhaps?
Brother Bear would be a wild one for them to do, if Disney wants to remake their 2000s animated catalog Atlantis: The Lost Empire would be the obvious choice. It remains to be seen what is really next after Moana and Lilo & Stitch 2 but I’d imagine Disney will focus on Tangled and Hercules next.
If Descendants Wicked Wonderland will be a success, will they make a Descendants 6?
The short and sweet answer here is yes.
Who are the top candidates right now to replace Kathleen Kennedy? I hope we get someone like Emma Watts or Emma Watts herself and not Dave Filoni.
Well, I hate to disappoint you but as of now Dave Filoni and likely another Lucasfilm exec are the front-runners.
Could Maleficent 3 and Aladdin 2 move forward?
Maleficent 3 has the better chance, as a draft of the script has been completed. I had heard rumors a few years ago (that I definitely couldn’t confirm) that Disney wanted Guillermo Del Toro to direct but zero talks had happen. Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning are also eager to return. As for Aladdin 2, I believe that ship has sailed.
What is going on with the new Pirates movie(s)? I feel like it has been forever since we had updates (I remember there were rumors of a Karen Gillsn movie and a Margot Robbie one). When will Disney officially announce it?
The Margot Robbie-led Pirates movie, which had Bumblebee write Christina Hobson attached to write, is on hold and likely won’t ever move forward. As of now, the only project in development is in the form of sequel/reboot, which would see key returning characters including Will Turner, Elizabeth Swan, and yes, Captain Jack Sparrow (in a reduced role) as the movie would chart course in a new direction with new characters. There is no director attached at this time and when one does sign I’d expect the script to be retooled. Disney’s D23 Expo would likely be the time we see an official announcement on a new movie.
Hypothetically, if Pixar were to do a live action remake, which movie do you think would likely be the front runner to be the first?
While I still believe Disney/Pixar have no interest in taking Pixar’s films and giving them the live-action treatment, I believe the only films that could work would be Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Coco, Turning Red, and Brave.
Any idea of the cast of Tangled Live action? I know it’s still paused but any news on potential actors? I heard that Scarlett Johanson might get Mother Gothel role…
No, this one is completely on hold at the moment. While Johansson isn’t a name I heard, I did hear at some point the studio had eyes on Kathryn Hahn and Susan Surandon but that obviously never confirmed.
Will Jumba be (hopefully) recast for Lilo and Stitch 2? And can we expect other aliens to appear like Gantu, Angel, and the cousins with an actual theatrical budget now?
Gantu was originally apart of early scripts but written out due to costs but you can bet he will be back and if I’m a betting man, I’d say we will definitely see Angel as well. Like Stitch, Angel merchandise sells well. As for a Jumba recast, don’t count on it. Lilo & Stitch 2 begins filming early next year.
Does Disney regret firing James Gunn and John Lasseter?
James Gunn was fired post-Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2, when he went on to direct The Suicide Squad, Disney Studios exec Alan Horn liked how Gunn handled himself and brought him back to direct Guardians Vol. 3. He then left on his own terms to go run DC Studios.
As for Lasseter, we know what happened there and while I believe there are some folks at Pixar that didn’t want to see him gone, he needed to go and I don’t think the studio regrets that.
Moana live action teaser when?
We are still quite a ways away from Moana, we will likely see some teaser in front of Tron: Ares or Zootopia 2.
Quick news notes you may have missed
- Night at the Museum reboot in the works at 20th Century Studios.
- Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, and Simone Ashley amongst new additions to The Devil Wears Prada 2.
- Amy Sedaris joins Disney+ Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series.
That’s all for this week’s mailbag. Stay tuned as every week, a new DisInsider Mailbag will drop.
