Disney Remakes: Yes or No?

Guanyi Cao '21, Features Editor|December 20, 2019

Walt Disney Studios is pushing some ambitious plans in place.

This past year has been prominently marked with the release and announcements of live-remakes for some of the public’s favorite Disney classics of all time. There are four live-action remakes scheduled this year, with three already released: Dumbo (released March 2019), Aladdin (released May 2019), and The Lion King (released July 2019). The fourth remake, Lady and the Tramp, was released on November 12, 2019.

Overall, the three remakes this year have raked in significant profits, garnering positive responses and praise, particularly Aladdin and The Lion King, both setting records at the box office. Aladdin was the sixth highest-grossing film of 2019, and the 34th highest-grossing of all time. The Lion King was even more impressive- it surpassed Frozen as the highest-grossing animated film, the second highest-grossing film of 2019 and the seventh highest-grossing of all time. Dumbo yielded more disappointing results, failing to meet expectations at the box office- but it was offset by the overwhelming successes of the two other movies. There is also much anticipation on Lady and the Tramp, though it’s surprisingly not getting a theatrical release- instead, it will be premiering on Disney+, a subscription service by Disney that is set to launch on the same day as Lady and the Tramp.

What has been receiving a lot of attention though, are the movies that are coming after 2019, some of which include: Mulan, Cruella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Godmothered (based on Cinderella). Some have been attracting a bit of controversy as well, such as Mulan, which will be released in March 2020.

Directed by Niki Caro, Mulan has been receiving an overwhelming amount of criticism due to its significant alterations in plot compared to the original Mulan (1998). It has been widely assumed that Mushu, the hilarious and endearing dragon from the original (based on rumors and hints from the cast) will be replaced by a red phoenix. This alone has shocked many fans, many stating that it will just not be the same without Mushu! To make it worse, Disney has confirmed that there will be no Li Shang in the remake- instead, he will be replaced by a new love interest. Lastly, there have been some confusion about music- Hans Gregson-Williams is set to score the film, but it’s likely that there will not be hits like “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” “Reflection,” etc.

Amidst these criticisms, some have praised Disney’s liberal plot changes for the movie. The original simply wasn’t historically accurate, and through the remake, the studio is trying to stick to a more authentic version of “The Ballad of Mulan,” which was what the original was based on. Additionally, Disney is presumably trying to appeal to the East Asian audience, many of whom weren’t impressed with the original Mulan, with many criticizing its westernization. Through these changes, there is a hope that it will resonate better with Asian audiences.

With the announcements of so many live-action remakes, Disney has also come under scrutiny for its lack of originality- merely reimagining its beloved classics. Many pointed out that Disney will eventually run out of classics to remake, which would force them to go back to concentrating on original material instead. Disney itself has acknowledged this as well, with Disney’s CCO Alan Horn conceding that animated movies are a “finite universe,” and that Disney studios are already beginning to focus their attention away from remakes.

However, it’s also important to realize that not all the live remakes were straight retellings of the original classics. Maleficent, released in 2014, definitely revealed some alterations, instead focusing on the “villain,” Maleficent. Its sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which came out in mid-October, delved deeper into Maleficent’s backstory, unveiling a more complex and new twist to the story, which was no longer just the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. The upcoming film, Cruella, is actually a prequel about a young Cruella de Vil (which, by the way, will be played by Emma Stone) instead of the original 101 Dalmations.

Amongst these controversies, it can’t be denied that there is much anticipation for these live-action remakes. In a way, it’s a bit like going back to one’s childhood, but seeing the story through a different window. It’s interesting to see our favorite Disney characters played by actors and actresses and taking on a new look. The live action, merged with new technology, presents the story in a world that’s much more tangible. Despite some anti-sentiments about live-remakes, there is still some intrigue about what new angle Disney will approach to recreate some of our beloved classics.

FYI: List of Upcoming Live Action Disney Remakes