Disney’s attempts at live-action remakes have been mixed. While some, like the recent Snow White and Mulan, have been clear failures, even the financially successful ones—such as The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast—haven’t resonated with audiences the way the original animated films did. These remakes attract viewers, but it’s the animation that remains memorable years later.
Despite past disappointments with live-action remakes, Disney is still planning more. Confirmed projects include live-action versions of Moana and Tangled, and a sequel is in the works for the Lilo & Stitch remake. Whether these new films will be more successful remains to be seen, but it’s a positive sign, especially considering Disney has nine other projects that have been cancelled or put on hold.
7) The Jungle Book 2
Disney’s 2016 live-action version of The Jungle Book is considered one of their most successful adaptations of an animated classic. Building on Rudyard Kipling’s original stories and the beloved 1967 film, it received high praise from critics (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned nearly $966 million worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo). Because of this success, plans were made for director Jon Favreau and writer Justin Marks to team up for a sequel. However, ten years have passed since the first film, and The Jungle Book 2 still hasn’t been made. While there was some encouraging news about the project in the years following the initial release, updates have stopped recently, and rumors of cancellation have surfaced. Although not officially cancelled, the sequel remains uncertain. Considering how difficult it is to recreate a hit film, this might be for the best, even though the 2016 movie set the stage for more adventures.
6) The Aristocats
Disney’s animated film The Aristocats is a beloved classic, but many thought it wouldn’t work well as a live-action movie, even with today’s special effects. Surprisingly, in 2023, director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson was announced to be leading a live-action adaptation (according to The Hollywood Reporter). However, Disney canceled the project just two years later. Thompson hinted on Score: The Podcast that changes within the company likely led to the cancellation. Ultimately, it might be for the best that the live-action version isn’t being made. It would be a challenging film to pull off successfully, and a poor adaptation could damage the reputation of the original.
5) Bambi
Similar to the difficulties faced with the live-action Aristocats film, a live-action Bambi movie presents challenges due to its animal characters and, notably, its sad storyline. Disney first announced plans for a live-action Bambi in 2020 (according to Variety), intending to use the same realistic CGI technology as The Lion King. Sarah Polley was initially set to direct, with Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Lindsey Beer writing the screenplay. However, there hasn’t been much positive news about the project since. Robertson-Dworet recently told The Direct she hasn’t received an update on the Bambi movie in at least five years. While Disney hasn’t officially cancelled the film, reports suggest it’s been put on hold indefinitely.
4) Aladdin 2
Guy Ritchie’s 2019 remake of Aladdin was a huge hit for Disney, earning over $1 billion worldwide. Because of this success, Disney announced plans for a sequel, but development has stalled, especially due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many now believe the sequel is unlikely to happen, and the actors involved don’t seem hopeful either. In 2023, Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin, admitted he hadn’t heard any updates and suggested it was time to move on. Naomi Scott, who played Jasmine, also confirmed that production hadn’t begun. While Disney hasn’t officially cancelled Aladdin 2, it doesn’t look promising.
3) Robin Hood
Disney has cancelled its planned live-action remake of Robin Hood. Given how many times the story has been told, it was proving difficult to find a fresh take. The project was initially announced in 2020, and the cancellation was confirmed earlier this month by director Carlos López Estrada in a Reddit Q&A. He stated the film is “sadly, dead,” but shared that they had a “really special” vision for it, including a carefully curated soundtrack. Despite the team’s enthusiasm, fans won’t be able to see their version of the classic tale come to life.
2) The Sword in the Stone (Should Still Happen)
Many fans consider Disney’s The Sword in the Stone to be one of the studio’s most overlooked animated films, and a live-action remake seemed like a perfect idea. Unfortunately, Disney cancelled those plans, losing a great opportunity. The project was initially approved in 2015, with Bryan Cogman, a writer from Game of Thrones and a fantasy expert, chosen to write the screenplay. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was set to direct, but he recently told Collider that Disney put the project on hold. While it’s unclear if the movie is cancelled for good or simply delayed, it’s a real shame. A live-action version could have finally brought The Sword in the Stone the recognition it deserves, as it’s one of the few Disney animated films well-suited for a live-action treatment.
1) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Should Still Happen)
Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the last of the live-action remakes currently stalled in development, and it’s arguably the most frustrating. This story has a lot of potential for a fresh take, with its compelling characters, meaningful themes, and fantastic music all lending themselves well to a live-action format. It could even be made darker than the animated version, depending on the target audience. Sadly, there’s been no movement on the project, and it appears unlikely to happen. It’s a missed opportunity, as Disney could really do something special with The Hunchback of Notre Dame, particularly if they didn’t try to recreate the original scene-for-scene.
What Disney movie that was planned to be filmed with real actors are you sad never happened? Share your thoughts in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-03-25 02:11