Last year, Robert Stromberg's Maleficent provided a strongly feminist, post-modern interpretation of one of Disney's most enduring classics. Barely passing a reverse Bechdel Test, the film reimagined Maleficent from a two-dimensional traditional villain to a complex character with a rich and affecting back story. With many praising Angelina Jolie's performance as outshining even the film's vast special effects, it became clear that Disney fairytales, despite their timeless quality and enduring appeal, could benefit from some tasteful updating.
However, it is becoming clear that not all will be able to pull it off. After the phenomenal box office success of 2010's Alice in Wonderland, it should come as no surprise that Tim Burton has once again been appointed to helm the bringing to life of another Disney classic. His interpretation of the Lewis Carroll novel turned innocent Alice into a sword-wielding action heroine among a world of eye-popping special effects, and was extremely popular among audiences. But a live-action version of Dumbo, with it's trippy dream sequences, racist caricatures and the unpopular, animal cruelty-ridden setting of the circus may not ingratiate itself so well to modern audiences. Already the thought of a CGI, anthropomorphic baby elephant soaring through the air under the volition of his own ears is causing toes to curl among film critics.
Much more hopeful, however, appears to be the fate of next year's Tarzan movie, tentatively titled Tarzan Untamed. Wisely avoiding too much vine-swinging loincloth action, Harry Potter director David Yates will reportedly have Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, in his first role as a Hollywood leading man, embroiled in a dangerous political conspiracy upon his return to the Congo several years after the events of the Disney classic. An extremely strong supporting cast which includes Samuel L Jackson, Christoph Waltz and John Hurt means that this Pirates of the Caribbean-style adventure will hopefully avoid the ludicrousness which other adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs' character have fallen victim to.
Many other Disney adaptations also lurk on the horizon in an era which, from Jurassic World to the nth Star Wars, is already saturated with sequels and remakes. Emma Watson has been confirmed to star as Belle of Beauty and the Beast, another premise which must undergo a careful reinterpretation if it is to hold up to the standards of today. Glenn Close is hoping to reproduce the success of Maleficent with the similar Cruella. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson will bring a subtle touch of the USA to a new version of The Jungle Book. With all this only one thing is certain: that Hollywood's drive to make money with safe, bankable products is crippling the production of anything remotely risky, innovative or original.
