Disney Has Moana And More Live-Action Remakes On The Way, But One Just Got Cancelled That I’m Frankly Glad About

by

Disney dabbled in live-action adaptations or reinterpretations back in the 1990s, but they’ve been consistently producing such films since Maleficent breathed new life into Sleeping Beauty. This strategy has generally paid off for Disney, as evidenced by Snow White and Lilo & Stitch being scheduled for release in 2025, and Moana, Hercules, and numerous others slated for the near future. However, The Aristocats’ live-action remake is no longer on that list, a development I can’t say I’m disheartened about.

Ahmir Thompson, known as Questlove, announced that the remake he was set to direct in 2023 is no longer happening. He revealed this during an interview on the podcast Score: The Podcast, and Variety has since confirmed its cancellation. According to Questlove, who recently directed the documentary ‘Sly Lives! (also known as The Burden of Black Genius)’, which can be streamed with subscriptions to both Hulu and Disney+, administrative changes led to the removal of The Aristocats from the lineup of upcoming Disney movies, much like Tangled was in April. After waiting for some time, Questlove decided he wanted to focus on other projects instead. In his own words:

Regrettably, I couldn’t take on that project because I have around 20 others lined up. I prefer not to make promises until something is fully ready, but at the moment, there are approximately four other projects on my plate. I’ll be busy till around 2029-2030, so it simply didn’t work out this time. However, with a bit of luck, the opportunity might arise in the future.

Although it’s unfortunate that Questlove didn’t get to create his version of The Aristocats, I must admit I’m relieved that the planned live-action remake isn’t progressing. As a child, I found joy in the 1970 animated film, but my reservations about Disney transforming animal-centric movies into live-action aren’t due to the original movie’s quality. Instead, it’s more about my personal preference against this specific adaptation approach.

Related Stories

I Can’t Be The Only One Who Thinks Disney’s New Approach To Animal Characters Is Creepy AF

I Escorted My Daughter to Watch Snow White, and Now I Get the Hype Surrounding Disney’s Live-Action Redos

Or

My Daughter and I Attended a Screening of Snow White, and It’s Easier to See Why Disney is Embracing Live-Action Revamps

Or

I Witnessed Snow White with My Daughter, and Now I Can Appreciate the Allure of Disney’s Modernized Remakes

Instead of live-action, I’m referring to photorealistic computer-generated imagery (CGI). So far, this style has been predominantly used in films like The Jungle Book (2016), The Lion King (2019), Lady and the Tramp, and Musfasa: The Lion King. Last year’s The Little Mermaid also falls into this category, although to a lesser extent. While I appreciated The Jungle Book, I often find that these realistic animal depictions lack the charm found in their animated counterparts. Interestingly, in animated films, characters seem to exhibit more emotion compared to their photorealistic versions.

In essence, just like the movie “Lady and the Tramp,” there are human characters present in “The Aristocats.” However, unlike the previous film, the main focus of “The Aristocats” is a group of feline characters living in 1910 Paris who come into their wealthy owner’s fortune, causing distress for her butler. While I’m curious to imagine how Questlove might have reimagined “The Aristocats,” my fascination is overshadowed by the idea of watching a retelling featuring realistic-looking cats on screen.

I certainly hope the live-action version of Bambi doesn’t come to fruition, as that tale is best kept within the realm of animation. Regarding Disney remakes featuring primarily human characters, the next one set for release is Moana, which is scheduled for July 10, 2026.

Read More

2025-08-30 05:08