What will Disney ruin next? From Bambi to Hercules, all the beloved animated film classics set for a modern reboot amid backlash over ‘woke-a-thons’ Snow White and the Little Mermaid

It has been almost 15 years since Disney began turning its much-loved animated classics into live-action movies.

From blockbusters like the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, to the iconic Cinderella and the Little Mermaid, a host of its most famous works have been reimagined for modern audiences.

But if millions of fans thought the remakes would help them rediscover their love for some of their favourite characters, they have undoubtedly been left feeling disenchanted.

In efforts to promote diversity, the global entertainment giant has been at the centre of a ‘woke’ backlash, with accusations they’re losing the heart-warming essence of the original films by butchering traditional plot lines.

And Disney’s latest venture, a musical retelling of 1937’s Snow White, has also failed to escape the controversy with bosses cancelling a London premiere over fears of an inevitable pile-on.

The $300million reboot has been criticised for dumping the traditional ‘sexist’ romance plot and reimagining the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse group of ‘magical creatures’. 

Rachel Zegler, who is starring in the film alongside Gal Gadot, also came under fire for condemning David Hand’s original animated film as ‘extremely outdated’.

Moreover, Disney was accused of slipping ‘wokery’ into its 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid. 

Scuttle, a male seagull in the 1989 film became a female gannet and in the new version King Triton, played by Javier Bardem, developed environmentalist leanings.

Now MailOnline takes a look at some of the much-loved classics in consideration for a Disney remake – and could be next in line for barrage of criticism.

Disney’s latest venture, a musical retelling of 1937’s ‘Snow White’ has been marred with controversy before even hitting the theatres

Disney was accused of slipping ‘wokery’ into its 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid. Pictured: Halle Bailey playing Ariel 

Bambi

Family favourite Bambi is one of the live-action remakes Disney is rumoured to be planning a live-action remake of. 

While no release date has been set, critics already fear that any new version of the 1942 classic will be too ‘woke’. 

It was previously reported that the movie might back off from its famously sad scene— the death of Bambi’s mother. 

Piers Morgan branded the film the ‘latest victim of woke war culture’ on his show Piers Morgan Uncesnored, asking if we ‘are we facing an epidemic of anxiety?’. 

However, journalist and author Ernest Owens, argued that a sensitive take on the death of Bambi’s mother would be a ‘smart move’. 

Variety previously reported that Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Lindsey Beer will write the screenplay. 

Family favourite Bambi is one of the live-action remakes Disney is rumoured to have in the pipeline. Bambi is seen with her mother in the film 

Hercules 

Hercules is another Disney classic, believed to be in the pipeline for a live-action remake. 

Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo will produce the film for Disney, with the pair confirming in April last year they are still waiting on a script. 

The brothers previously said the live-action version of Hercules would be ‘more experimental’ and inspired by TikTok. 

‘I think they’re excited to see what we can all bring to it in a way that isn’t just a reinterpretation of the animated film,’ Russo added in an interview with Variety in 2022. 

However, this approach was criticised by fans of the iconic 1997 film. 

One person fumed on Reddit: The appointed directors have announced that they had the desire to ‘modernize’ the story as much as possible and that they wanted to take inspiration from…TikTok…to make Hercules a musical comedy.

‘They want to ‘take inspiration from Tik Tok’ to make a remake of Hercules? What??? What kind of BRIDGE thinking is that? 

‘What is the link between a social media and a story based on Greek mythology? I don’t know about you but that sounds very worrying: how will this movie turn out to be?’

Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo (pictured) will produce the film for Disney, with the pair confirming in April last year they are still waiting on a script

Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney

Lilo & Stitch 

A live-action reboot of Lilo & Stitch was announced in February 2020 with the film set to hit the cinemas in May this year. 

The trailer was released this week but fans have already hit out at what they say appears to be a ‘lazy rehash’. 

The film, based on the 2002 animated classic, follows the story of a lonely Hawaiian girl called Lilo and her bond with Stitch, a creature originally created to destroy.

One person posted on social media: ‘Disney needs to stop touching classics and make new movies we’re begging.’

Another added: ‘I still don’t understand why this needed to be a thing. The original was PERFECT. What could a remake POSSIBLY improve upon?’

While it is not clear yet what changes have been made to the plot line in the new version, there was outrage over tweaks made when the film moved to Disney+. 

Users online said in one scene Stitch’s hiding place was changed from a tumbling dryer to a pizza box. 

They presumed this decision was made after producers realised it could be dangerous if children started copying what they saw on screen and climbing in dryers.

A live-action reboot of Lilo & Stitch was announced in February 2020 with the film set to hit the cinemas in May this year

Aladdin 2 

In February 2020, it was announced that Disney was considering a sequel to their live-action remake of Aladdin released the previous year. 

It is believed the film will take on a totally new story and not draw any inspiration from sequels of the original; Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves.

The 2019 version of Aladdin was a box office hit and was directed by Guy Ritchie. 

However, there have been rumours that the latest remake might have been cancelled. 

Original star Mena Massoud said in 2023: ‘I know they were trying to get it off the ground for a long time but I have no idea where it’s at.’

‘It’s been six years now since we shot and wrapped up the project. To me, at a certain point, life just goes on.’  

Global success: The reboot of the 1992 animated classic, directed by Guy Ritchie, became the highest-grossing movie in star Will Smith’s long Hollywood career

Love story: In the 2019 film, Smith starred as the wise-cracking Genie conjured up by Aladdin, played by Massoud, to help him woo the beautiful Princess Jasmine, played by Naomi Scott

Moana 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will star in a live-action remake of Moana, due to be released in July next year. 

The Red One actor, 52, plays Maui, a Polynesian demigod in the film – which is an adaptation of the 2016 animation. 

Production for Moana began in August with exclusive photos shared by MailOnline in November giving a first glimpse into the remake. 

Johnson was joined by his leading co-star, Catherine Laga’aia, 17, who is portraying the role of Moana in the fantasy musical. 

He further got into character by wearing a green, traditional Ti leaf skirt and went shirtless to show off his muscular frame and various tattoos. 

Moana is a passion project of sorts for The Rock, considering he has Samoan citizenship due to his mother being Samoan, according to IMDb.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson attends the UK Premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ‘Moana 2’ in November 

The Rock memorably sang You’re Welcome in the 2016 animated classic 

‘This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul,’ he said of Moana.

‘There is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.’

The Hunchback of Notre Dame  

A live-action remake of 1996 classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame was announced back in 2019. 

Actor Josh Gad revealed that he was helming the new projection and had travelled to Paris to research the film. 

The original, starring Kevin Kline as Phoebus and Demi Moore as Esmeralda, was notoriously dark for a Disney animated feature. 

It was also one of their more controversial releases. 

While possible cast members have been teased and a release date floated, when the film will actually come out remains far from certain.  

Disney is moving forward with a live-action adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with Josh Gad being eyed for the title role

The original, starring Kevin Kline as Phoebus and Demi Moore as Esmeralda, was notoriously dark for a Disney animated feature

Tangled

A live-action remake of the 2010’s musical hit Tangled was said to be in the works in December last year. 

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is reportedly writing the script, who previously penned Thor: Love and Thunder and the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot.

The original 2010 cartoon starred Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi as Flynn Rider, and Donna Murphy and Mother Gothel.

After it was revealed that a new version was coming, fans called for Sabrina Carpenter to be cast as the blonde-haired princess.

Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel, a princess with magical hair that can provide eternal youth.

She was kidnapped as a baby by an old hag named Mother Gothel, who keeps her locked away in a tower so she could use her powers to stay young.

But when a man named Flynn Rider accidentally comes across her, he and Rapunzel set out on an adventure together, and learn her true identity along the way.

A live-action remake of the 2010’s musical hit Tangled (pictured) was said to be in the works in December last year

US actress Mandy Moore arrives the 39th Annual Paleyfest an evening with ‘This is us’ at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California

Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel, a princess with magical hair that can provide eternal youth

Star Wars

Five years after the last Star Wars movie hit the big screen, Disney is believed to be ready to return to that beloved galaxy far, far away with a remake.

Disney has set writer and producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men, Deadpool) to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy, according to Deadline.

That report featured sources claiming that this trilogy will comprise Episodes 10-12 of the flagship Skywalker Saga that dates back to the original 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

While Disney has been active in producing Star Wars content for its Disney Plus streaming service, there hasn’t been a big screen film since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

The studio had set a brand new film trilogy from Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi writer and producer Rian Johnson, though there has been little known about that project since it was announced in 2017.

Five years after the last Star Wars movie hit the big screen, Disney is believed to be ready to return to that beloved galaxy far, far away with a remake. Image from Star Wars: Episode IX

Disney has set writer and producer Simon Kinberg (pictured) to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy, according to Deadline

There hasn’t been a big screen film since 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (pictured)

Many believe that it is no longer in development, especially with the news that Johnson and his producing partner Ram Bergman signed a two-picture deal with Warner Bros. back in March.

The next Star Wars movie to hit the big screen will be The Mandalorian & Grogu, slated for release on May 22, 2026, which continues The Mandalorian TV series starring Pedro Pascal as the title character.

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