The Walt Disney Company has continued to craft their live-action remakes, with the likes of Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, and even the upcoming Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers on the way! These projects appear to be perfectly suited to a longer format and cinematically will benefit from a feature. But some stories are just too big for a movie release.
There are those projects out there, that are either rumored or in development, that would perhaps work far better in a serialized format. While no one is arguing that Snow White's narrative needs to be dragged out, some stories have so many beloved supporting characters, or such a rich world to explore, that they simply need that extra screen time!
Hercules
The live-action Hercules production is currently in the works by the talented Russo brothers. The original 1997 picture was released during an era of renewal for Disney. While not every joke lands, from the character designs to the premise of the story itself, there are so many underrated elements of the film.
The songs continue to be iconic and there appears to be a new appreciation for the production. The world of Olympus, the young hero's training, and even the final conflict with the Titans could all have dedicated episodes. It's a lot to fit into a film and there's plenty of Greek mythology to draw inspiration from to allow a series to thrive!
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Atlantis is arguably one of the best films about the lost city. The 2001 film is an exciting adventure-based piece, with Milo taking his team to the depths of the Earth, uncovering secrets that no outsider had ever seen before. It's a magical experience and would look exquisite in live-action.
Rumors have it that Tom Holland is currently being eyed for the lead protagonist, and Zendaya would be perfect as Princess Kida alongside him. The journey to Atlantis and the complex political situation that those explorers find provide enough material for an ongoing series. Allowing audiences to spend more time with the crew will make that final twist hit even harder.
Lilo & Stitch
It's been a long-time coming, with a live-action Lilo & Stitch adaptation being teased for years. The movie is a genuine cult classic and introduced audiences to a range of hilarious and beautifully designed alien monsters. It's a simple story, but one with a genuine heart.
20 years on from that initial 2002 release and there's still plenty of material to go back and develop further. Multiple sequels and even a TV show all make the case that perhaps a live-action remake could arrive in the form of a few seasons, to take advantage of the vast storytelling potential.
Aladdin 2
The initial 1992 film Aladdin was so popular that it spawned a few animated sequels and TV shows of its own. Fast-forward to 2019 and a live-action iteration proves to be just as beloved. While a TV show was in the works, this has now been canceled. That hasn't stopped a live-action sequel film from getting greenlit though.
The development process appears to be a slow one, but that may be because the direction is unclear. With other suggestions that there might even be a Genie-based spin-off, perhaps all these projects could be combined into a series, that allows for several smaller arcs based around the gorgeous Agrabah.
Treasure Planet
2002 also saw the release of Treasure Planet, a sci-fi spin on a familiar storyline. At the time of its debut, it was considered a flop, but an impressive cast, witty script, tense action, and stunning animation have turned this into a bit of a cult favorite amongst Disney enthusiasts.
Talk of a live-action remake is always on the cards, but it might just be too big to tackle head-on. Jim Hawkins' travels across the stars, as part of a crew and going solo, could fill up hours upon hours of programming. The landscape is just too intriguing not to dive into further, with the galaxy becoming a huge playground for Disney to utilize. The mystery of the treasure planet deserves a miniseries at the very least.
Big Hero 6
The idea of a live-action Big Hero 6 film had begun to take hold but was since been debunked. There is no smoke without fire though and while Baymax might be getting his spin-off from the 2014 hit, a live-action series would be welcomed by fans.
This is quite a different situation, considering the team was previously created by Marvel. Introducing them into the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be a fun change of pace and perhaps even a way for the Multiverse to expand further. Regardless of their universe, just one in-person appearance of these loveable superheroes would surely be well-received. Only a series could contain their countless escapades.
The Sword In The Stone
Based upon Arthurian legend, audiences will be well aware that there are so many stories that could be woven into the fabric of 1963's The Sword In The Stone inspired by that very mythology. There's arguably even a place to combine 1985's Welsh legends of The Black Cauldron with this remake.
With plenty of directions to go in, The Sword In The Stone, which appears to have set its production schedule, would have room to expand into a TV series. The original film is very basic and two-dimensional, but the richness of the characters and the intrigue of the legends themselves could forge something akin to Merlin.
Tink
Tinkerbell has been at the center of TV shows, movies, and other standalone materials. It's no surprise that while Peter Pan is getting a live-action remake, the supporting character from the 1953 animated picture will also be getting her spin-off production.
Early indicators suggest that this will be a series, which is completely the right move. Fans of the Tinkerbell franchise will be thrilled to finally see their hero in live-action once more, but her cast of fun supporting characters would be left out if it was only a film being produced. A movie would have to cut out far too much material that defines the fairy.
Robin Hood
The 1973 classic Robin Hood was a bit of a left-field choice for Disney, but the animal-based legend of the morally good thief has been deemed a favorite amongst Disney lovers. The British mythos that led to the film has plenty of room to expand further.
A live-action Robin Hood film might seem like a shock considering the animal aesthetic is being kept and there's no telling what that may look like. But for fans to get the full adventures of Robin and his merry men, a TV show playing on the tropes of the countless productions based on the character, would be a fun and perhaps even meta avenue to explore.