April 9, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seems most of what Disney has been doing these days is releasing live-action remakes, creating a phenomenon where every other film they churn out flops at the box office. So why is the studio so hit-or-miss with these remakes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, for one, these films used to be a novelty. Every so often, Disney would remake one of their classic films, dedicating their time to create a film that honored the original film while also carving its own place in the studio\u2019s catalog. They were never meant to be a one-to-one recreation, but rather an homage to what came before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Live-action remakes are not a new thing, either. Most people associate the era of these movies with recent times, starting in the 2010s and continuing production today. After all, most adults today grew up with Tim Burton\u2019s 2010 live-action \u201cAlice in Wonderland\u201d remake; however, the first Disney live-action remake was released in 1994, being a live-action remake of \u201cThe Jungle Book.\u201d The next two came in 1996 and 2000, in \u201c101 Dalmatians\u201d and \u201c102 Dalmatians.\u201d Most reviews of these three films are split, but most people can point to them being cult classics and staples in their childhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, as more of these films are created and they become commonplace, they lose the camp and nostalgia they once had. Burton\u2019s \u201cAlice in Wonderland\u201d \u2014 and the box office bomb \u201cThe Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentice,\u201d which was based on \u201cFantasia\u201d \u2014 created a domino effect of classic animated films being turned into live-action versions of themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of these remakes come from four of Disney\u2019s seven eras of animation: the golden, silver, bronze and renaissance eras. Most of these films adjust their tale for modern audiences, removing racist and sexist subtext that many classic films tend to have, and Disney executives have agreed that some movies simply cannot be adapted due to their nature \u2014 \u201cPocahontas\u201d and \u201cThe Hunchback of Notre Dame\u201d are two that have been delayed indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, while writers, directors and producers have the right to make necessary changes, there are some that just don\u2019t land with fans. Enter \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d \u201cMulan\u201d and \u201cCruella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While their original iterations are still widely popular, \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d and \u201cMulan\u201d seemed to fail among audiences. Their subtle changes and casting choices left fans dissatisfied and upset that more thought from the original films wasn\u2019t put into consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCruella\u201d wasn\u2019t welcomed as a film, not because it was a live-action remake, but rather because it was a villain origin story for the villain of \u201c101 Dalmatians.\u201d I mean, the lady wants to make puppies into a fur coat. Why should anyone care about why she\u2019s a villain? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, the film had hoped to market off the success of \u201cMaleficent\u201d and \u201cMaleficent: Mistress of Evil,\u201d films that explored Maleficent\u2019s backstory and were remakes of the silver-era movie \u201cSleeping Beauty.\u201d But where these movies succeeded, \u201cCruella\u201d failed. To reiterate what I said earlier \u2014 she quite literally wants to kill puppies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there’s a third reason these live-action remakes often flop: they try to translate talking animals into a film style that only works if executed flawlessly. So far, none of the five recent animal-focused films \u2014 \u201cThe Jungle Book,\u201d \u201cDumbo,\u201d \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d \u201cLady and the Tramp\u201d and \u201cMufasa: The Lion King\u201d \u2014 have met this mark, something \u201cAlvin and the Chipmunks\u201d did in 2007, when computer-generated imagery was still developing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversies surrounding the newly released \u201cSnow White\u201d remake have only discouraged fans from enjoying these films. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first controversy arose when actor Rachel Zegler was cast in the titular role, with many stating that the connection between the character\u2019s name and racial identity was crucial to the film \u2014 an attempt to justify racism towards Zegler. It was later explained in the film that Snow White\u2019s name came from surviving a snowstorm, a callback to another iteration of the original tale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second controversy arose when Peter Dinklage, a well-known actor with dwarfism, criticized the film and dismissed it as a backward story. In response to this, Disney stated that they would be taking a different approach to the film\u2019s dwarfs, following this criticism and conversations with those part of the dwarfism community. The seven dwarfs in the film were created by CGI, a decision that has further isolated the dwarfism community from the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zegler\u2019s criticism of the original 1937 film pushed away more viewers as well, especially following her statements at the 2022 D23 Expo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. Weird. So we didn’t do that this time. We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie, Andrew Burnap, great dude,\u201d said Zegler. \u201cBut it’s really not about her love story at all, which is really, really wonderful. All of Andrew’s scenes could get cut, who knows? It’s Hollywood, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most current controversy to arise from this project comes from the political views of the actors themselves. Zegler is a very vocal supporter of Palestine in the ongoing conflict, frequently using her platform to advocate for Palestinian rights and call attention to humanitarian issues in the region. Her co-star, Gal Gadot, who is Israeli and served in the Israeli Defense Forces, has been extremely open in her support of Israel. Their open stances on opposing views have isolated movie-goers from both political parties, with the actors receiving death threats in August of 2024 ahead of the film\u2019s release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These controversies have even affected the production of Disney\u2019s next few live-action films. While remakes of \u201cLilo and Stitch\u201d and \u201cMoana\u201d have been confirmed and have release dates, four others on Disney\u2019s list have been delayed \u2014 \u201cHercules,\u201d \u201cRobin Hood,\u201d \u201cThe Aristocats\u201d and \u201cBambi\u201d \u2014 while the live-action remake of \u201cTangled\u201d has been canceled wholly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite what has been happening with these films, fans actually feel excitement for \u201cLilo and Stitch,\u201d which is set to release May 23. Reactions to trailers for the film have been positive, with many expressing a refreshed feeling at seeing the live-action depiction of Stitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether Disney continues to follow this route of adapting beloved classics remains to be seen, but with such negative reviews and fan reactions, one can only hope they will decide to pull the plug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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