Disney’s continuing to pump out remakes of its animated classics, and while not every one has been met with glowing reviews, we’re ready to see what comes next. More specifically, we’re ready to find out what some of our favorite characters look and sound like in their new live-action worlds.
Disney’s announced several re-imagined films, and while some characters have are yet to be cast, others are headed straight for the big screen in a matter of days. Truthfully, we’re interested in all the characters set to star in Disney’s live-action remakes, but here are the ones we’re most excited about.
Mulan: Commander Tung
When Disney first announced that Mulan would be remade into a live-action adventure, fans were concerned to learn that General Li Shang would not be returning as Mulan’s love interest and army leader. Although Shang won’t be entertaining us, Commander Tung will.
This new character, portrayed by Donnie Yen, will lead the Imperial Regiment in Shang’s place. While we don’t know much about him, we do know that he is both a teacher and a mentor to Mulan. We’re ready to see this happen.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel
Although we already learned that Halle Bailey will be cast as Ariel in the upcoming Little Mermaid remake, we’re excited to see her in costume on-screen as Disney’s beautiful mermaid princess.
Will she have Ariel’s signature red hair? Will she still have a green tail and purple top? Although we don’t know how she’s going to be dressed, we’re confident that she’ll look magical and ocean-ready. We’re excited to see the rest of her mythical sea family as well.
The Sword In The Stone: Merlin
The Sword in the Stone is getting a live-action musical remake that will debut on the forthcoming Disney+ streaming service. Although we don’t know much about the cast at this time, we do know that it’s set to film in Ireland this summer. We’re particularly interested in seeing how whimsical Merlin turns out to be in this new rendition.
The eccentric wizard will be guiding Arthur through the narrative, and we’re hoping he’s as enchanting as we know he can be.
Peter Pan: Tinkerbell
Very little is known about Disney’s Peter Pan remake. We don’t know when it will release, who is in the cast, or what it will look like. We do know that a script is in the works.
While the boy who never grows up has been brought to the big screen many times, we’ve never seen Disney pull out its own live-action version. We’re particularly interested in what Tinkerbell will look like, assuming she’ll be in the new film. Will she be portrayed by a live actress? Will she be created using photo-realistic computer animation? We won’t know for a while, but we’re ready to see it happen.
Cruella: Emma Thompson’s Character
Cruella de Vil is getting her own film, and we’re tired of being teased with casting rumors. We want a trailer badly. While we know that Emma Stone will be playing the villainous lead, we don’t know who Emma Thompson will be playing — but she’s in it, and that’s enough for us.
Cruella will be a prequel that develops the rich, fur-coat-wearing villain of One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Will Thompson act as Stone’s mentor? Will she instead be a family member? We need to know now.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Prince
Disney is putting together a live-action Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and while details are still scarce, we can’t help but be fascinated by the idea. Who will play Snow White? Who will play the dwarfs? Who will play the prince?
In the original Snow White, the titular princess’s lover gets few lines and remains a largely undeveloped character. We’re hopeful that in any remake, he’s going to be given greater depth and a name that’s actually mentioned in the movie.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Esmerelda
Josh Gad is producing a musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see Disney’s darkest tale come to new life. While we’re interested to find out who will be playing Quasimodo and Frollo, we’re also excited to see the spunky Esmerelda dance onto the big screen.
We’ve been told that the live-action Hunchback release will feature lots of new songs, so whoever is cast as Esmerelda will have to be a talented actress, dancer, and vocalist. We’re sure whoever she is will bring the charm Esmerelda is known for.
Lady and the Tramp: Jim Dear
This doggy Disney classic was made into a live-action film in the early 2000s. Now, it’s getting another update. We know what the dogs will look like, but we’re still curious to find out what Jim and his wife Darling will look like.
Jim is being played by Thomas Mann, who is best known for his roles in films like Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Kong: Skull Island. Darling is being portrayed by Kiersey Clemons, who appears in films including Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and Dope. Lady and the Tramp will release to the Disney+ streaming service on Nov. 12.
Lilo & Stitch: Stitch
Okay, maybe it’s obvious that we’d be excited about a titular character’s film appearance. Really, though — do you know how long we’ve been waiting for Stitch to transition from the 2D space to the photo-realistic one?
The film is still in early development, but we bet Stitch will be even cuter and naughtier in a new, freshly animated form. We love his friendship with Lilo and can only imagine how cute they’ll be together.
The Lion King: Nala
While Beyoncé’s Nala is being met with mixed reviews, we’re still excited to see Queen Bey take on The Lion King’s leading lady. Even though audiences will have to wait a few more days to judge her voice-acting skills, we can already tell by the soundtrack that her singing doesn’t disappoint.
Beyoncé’s vocals are fierce as ever, and we’re looking forward to seeing the chemistry between Nala and Simba. Can you feel the love tonight?
