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Credit: Inside the MagicThe Walt Disney Company has halted the live-action movie production of one of its upcoming films.
Disney’s live-action machine is an ever-present, ever-growing entity, reimagining the back catalog of classic animated movies into new experiences for audiences. Over the last few years, the stream of live-action adaptations has been divisive amongst fans. If it’s not the casting choices (read: Halle Bailey), it’s the lack of original storytelling (read: Moana), but complaints aren’t slowing down the House of Mouse’s ongoing slate.
In the near future, Disney’s Snow White (2025) will eventually debut. The controversial remake starring Rachel Zegler as the titular Disney princess has been at the center of discourse in the last 12 months, and its box office chances may be hurt because of it. Then there is the seemingly fast-tracked live-action version of Moana (2016). The not-even-a-decade-old animated movie is being remade by Disney and Dwayne Johnson’s outfit, Seven Bucks Productions. Moana is scheduled to be released next year, but the surprise arrival of a Moana animated sequel, in the form of Moana 2 (2024), may alter those plans.
From there, there is Lilo & Stitch, Hercules, Bambi, Hunchback, Maleficent 3–the list goes on. One future project, though, has been halted.
As confirmed by the once-attached director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Disney’s live-action remake of The Sword in the Stone (1963) has been halted. The 1963 animated classic was announced as having a live-action adaptation back in 2015, with Fresnadillo–director of 28 Weeks Later (2007) and the upcoming Damsel (2024)–attached to helm in 2018. It’s been all quiet on The Sword in the Stone front since then, but now, Fresnadillo has spoken out on the production.
“That was a project that I was attached to years ago, but it was put on hold. From this day, to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s gonna happen,” the director told ScreenRant. “I think it’s a great project and a great story that needs to be told, but I don’t know what is gonna happen. Let’s see; fingers crossed.”
Fresnadillo said he really hopes that the Mouse House moves forward with this live-action remake of The Sword in the Stone, as his recent experience on the fantasy epic Damsel, starring Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, would be good to incorporate. The Sword in the Stone follows the young King Arthur and his encounter with the wizard Merlin.
Related: Disney Buries Live-Action ‘Snow White’ With New Princess
“As you can imagine, with all these movies, you never know when it’s going to happen,” he added. “I really hope that Disney greenlights the movie, but right now, I don’t know anything about it. Also, the experience that I have now after [Damsel] would be would be fantastic to apply to The Sword in the Stone, for sure.”
Just because production on this live-action movie is halted does not mean it has been entirely canceled. That said, ever since Bob Iger returned as Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company in late 2022, he has continually reassessed Disney’s spending and performed aggressive budget cuts, including the removal and cancellation of a number of films and TV shows.
Presently, Disney’s live-action remakes include the aforementioned Disney’s Snow White and Moana from Marc Webb and Thomas Kail, respectively. This Christmas, Barry Jenkins will bring audiences back to Africa with Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), a prequel to Jon Favreau’s The Lion King (2019).
Further ahead, Dean Fleischer Camp will direct the Disney remake of Lilo & Stitch, and Guy Ritchie will lead Hercules (which is said to be looking for a person of color to play the leading Greek god). Sarah Polley was previously attached to direct the live-action remake of Bambi but has since departed the project. Robin Hood and The Aristocats from Carlos López Estrada and Questlove, respectively, are also on the cards, as is the third installment in the Maleficent franchise–announced by Angelina Jolie herself.
Related: Fans Can’t Believe New ‘Moana’ Look With Zendaya and Dwayne Johnson
If and when The Sword in the Stone does get back on track, then initial plans had it releasing on Disney+ and not in theaters.
Are you disappointed that The Sword in the Stone live-action might not see the light of day? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!