Disney remakes: 21 movies getting remade for the big screen, from Aladdin to The Lion King and Dumbo

Disney fans should prepare for some serious nostalgia over the next few years, with dozens of films set to be remade or rebooted by the studio.

While the original animations seem to stand the test of time perfectly well, the appeal of the studio’s live-action remakes is showing no signs of abating — 2017’s Beauty and the Beast remake took over $1 billion at the box office, with The Jungle Book proving almost as successful. Recent reboot Mary Poppins Returns has also fared well, taking over £260m worldwide since its release in December.

Disney now seems fully focused on making-over its back catalogue, with upwards of 21 remakes and reboots in the works. In fact, there are just two confirmed films set to be released over the next two years that aren’t remakes or sequels — the new Artemis Fowl adaptation and Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson, based on the theme park ride.

Here are the Disney remakes in the works, both confirmed and rumoured, that fans can look forward to.

Dumbo, March 29 2019

Tim Burton is directing an upcoming reboot of the classic animation from 1941. The films focuses once again on the circus elephant with the extraordinary power of flight, and looks to follow the plot of the original pretty closely. Colin Farrell plays Dumbo’s handler Holt Farrier, Eva Green stars as trapeze artist Colette Marchant and Michael Keaton plays the exploitative entrepreneur V. A. Vandemere.

Aladdin, May 24 2019

Will Smith is stepping into the shoes of the late Robin Williams in Aladdin, playing the Genie in the upcoming live-action reboot. Director Guy Ritchie is swapping the East End for Agrabah, with Mena Massoud set to star in the title role, Power Rangers star Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine and The Mummy actor Marwan Kenzari as Jafar.

The Lion King, July 19 2019

Disney has assembled one of its most impressive voice casts ever for the upcoming Lion King remake, with Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver and James Earl Jones all attached. The first trailer for the film set pulses racing back in November, with director Jon Favreau already seeming to have captured the imaginations of fans 25 years on from the original animation.

Mulan, March 27 2020

Chinese star Yifei Liu is set to appear in the upcoming remake of Mulan, after being picked from more than 1,000 candidates for the role. Gong Li is set to play a villainous witch in the film – in a role that didn't exist in the 1998 original – while YouTube star Jimmy Wong will play the role of Ling. The Hollywood Reporter also alleged that martial arts expert Jet Li had joined the project back in 2018, though this has yet to be confirmed.

Lady and the Tramp, in development

A live action/CGI remake of 1955’s Lady and the Tramp is coming to Disney’s new streaming service in 2019, with Justin Theroux providing the voice for the Tramp. Disney have appointed Brigham Taylor, one of the creative team behind The Jungle Book remake, as producer on the film.

Cruella, in development

One of Disney’s most iconic villains is the subject of a new origin story, with Emma Stone confirmed to star as a young Cruella De Vil in Cruella. Craig Gillespie, director of I, Tonya, is set to direct the film, which is set in the 80s. The film has yet to receive a release date.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, in development

Family-friendly Rick Moranis vehicle Honey, I Shrunk Kids proved great fun back in 1989, and if the Hollywood Reporter is to be believed the project will be available on the studio’s streaming service following its launch later this year.

Inspector Gadget, in development

It’s fair to say Matthew Broderick’s take on Inspector Gadget didn’t prove to be a classic in 1999, but Disney are reportedly developing a new movie 20 years on. It was announced back in 2015 that a live-action sequel was in the works, after aceshowbiz.com broke the news. However, there have been no developments since then and fans perhaps shouldn’t pin their hopes on the project too highly.

James & The Giant Peach, in development

Disney is preparing a new take on Roald Dahl’s classic, after teaming up with director Henry Selick for a memorable live-action/animation hybrid in 1996. The upcoming remake was first announced in 2016, with Sam Mendes in talks to direct and Nick Hornby to write the screenplay. However, no further information has been released since then.

Lilo & Stitch, in development

Unlikely duo Lilo and Stitch are teaming up again in a new live-action/CGI hybrid, which is being overseen by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich — the team behind the new Aladdin. However, it has not yet been revealed whether the film will receive a theatrical release, or be made available on Disney’s streaming service, which arrives later this year.

The Little Mermaid, in development

Disney fans can expect to hear songs from Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken in the upcoming Little Mermaid reboot, which is not to be confused with the film of the same name from 2018. Zendaya is rumoured to be starring in the lead role, while Disney has purportedly signed up Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall to oversee the film.

Oliver Twist, in development

Back in January 2018 it was announced that Ice Cube and Empire’s co-creator Danny Strong were planning to tell the story of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist in an update of 1968 classic Oliver! Hamilton director Thomas Kail will oversee the film, which marks his Hollywood debut. In some of the most incredible casting news of recent times, Ice Cube will also play Fagin in the upcoming movie. Consider yourself intrigued.

Peter Pan, in development

Film fans can expect to a return to Never Land soon, with another live-action Peter Pan movie in the works — the first take on the classic story since Hugh Jackman’s notorious flop Pan. Pete’s Dragon and A Ghost Story director David Lowery is in charge.

Pinocchio, in development

One of the darkest early Disney animations is being remade by the studio, with a Pinocchio reboot arriving nearly 80 years after the original. Tom Hanks is being lined up to play adoptive father Geppetto in a new live-action remake, with further details yet to be announced.

The Second Jungle Book, in development

Jon Favreau will return to direct The Second Jungle Book, after helming the successful first reboot in 2016. The film was originally intended to be shot back-to-back with The Lion King, although it was delayed due to scheduling conflicts. The project will draw on interesting subject material, including an unused 60s screenplay submitted for the original animation by writer Bill Peet, as well as the follow-up Jungle Book novel written by Rudyard Kipling.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in development

One of the earliest animated Disney classics is getting a reboot, with 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the subject of a new live-action musical. New music is being composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who worked together on the La La Land soundtrack.

Splash, in development

Ron Howard’s romantic classic Splash is getting a gender-swap reboot, with an upcoming remake set to see Channing Tatum play the mermaid originally brought to life by Daryl Hannah. Jillian Bell is set to star alongside him in the film. The reboot was first confirmed in 2016, but a release date for the project has yet to be announced.

The Sword in the Stone, in development

Game of Thrones writer and producer Bryan Cogman is working with 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo on an upcoming reboot of the Sword in the Stone, with the pair acting as writers and directors. A release date for the project has yet to be revealed, although fans could expect to see the film later this year.

Tink, in development

A live-action film centered around Peter Pan’s fairy friend Tinkerbell has been in development for some years, after The Hollywood Reporter first reported the film would star Reese Witherspoon back in 2015. Witherspoon is also acting as producer.

Three Men and a Baby, in development

The classic comedy Three Men and a Baby, itself a remake of a French movie Trois Hommes Et Un Couffin, starred Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson and proved one of the most memorable comedies of the late 80s. Deadline broke the news of an upcoming rebook in 2018, although no star names have yet been announced for the project. The report also stated that the film would be available through Disney’s streaming service, and not receive a theatrical release.

Tron, in development

Disney’s upcoming Tron reboot is set to be the latest take on the franchise since 2010’s Tron: Legacy, starring Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde, which was itself a reboot of the classic 1982 sci-fi film. Jared Leto revealed that he was attached to the project during an interview with Collider in 2017, but conceded that the project was in its “early days”. The movie has yet to be officially given the green light, but fans can still be hopeful.