For many viewers, the Disney movies of their youth are untouchable. That makes it hard for Disney to re-cast iconic roles and make them relevant for a new generation. Fortunately, Disney's live-action remakes have been getting better and better over the years. A big reason why is that Disney has done a great job of casting recognizable actors for those key roles.

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Cruella is the latest Disney movie to get a makeover, taking the memorable 101 Dalmatians villain and giving her a compelling backstory. Though the film garnered mixed reviews, most fans agree that Emma Stone did a great job as the titular character. There are many more actors who have nailed their roles in Disney films over the years. Who are the best?

Scarlett Johansson As Kaa - The Jungle Book

Kaa, the snake, hypnotizing Mowgli

Many people know Scarlett Johansson for her many rom-com roles and as Black Widow in the Avengers franchise. Although her appearance in The Jungle Book (2016) was brief, her voice was perfect for the role of Kaa. Johnsson gave the conniving snake a sultry and seductive personality, trying to trick Mowgli into becoming her dinner.

Johansson's take on Kaa was much more sinister and less goofy than the original part (voiced by Sterling Holloway) in Disney's 1967 animated version. Kaa has become one of Johansson’s most iconic roles over the years and her performance proved that she's just as good at voice acting as she is in front of the camera.

Emma Watson As Belle - Beauty And The Beast

Belle twirls in her yellow dress

Harry Potter fans know Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, a brilliant witch who always seemed to outsmart the other characters when she needed to. Watson also plays Belle, one of Disney's most iconic animated characters, in the live-action Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Watson was perfect for the role, originated by Paige O'Hara specifically because of her singing voice, and according to the Daily Mail, she took voice lessons to hone her skills. Watson also had great chemistry with Dan Stevens, who played the Beast.

Johnny Depp As The Mad Hatter - Alice In Wonderland

Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter Alice Through the Looking Glass

Even though Tim Burton's live-action version of Alice In Wonderland (2010) didn't earn rave reviews, many critics agreed that Johnny Depp was a great casting choice for the role of the Mad Hatter. Time and time again, Depp has proven that he's able to play eccentric characters. His roles in Sweeney Todd, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are great examples of this.

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In Alice In Wonderland, Depp gave the character a quirky personality with a hint of mischievous undertones, just like Ed Wynn did in the 1951 original. Some fans cite the Mad Hatter as one of their favorite Disney sidekicks, and Depp did a great job of updating the role for a new audience.

Will Smith As Genie - Aladdin

The Genie in the Cave of Wonders

Will Smith first made a name for himself in the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but he's gone on to do memorable movies like Independence Day, Men In Black, and Bad Boys. He's a good comedic actor, but audiences wondered if he could live up to Robin Williams' version of the Genie. Many Disney fans consider that role untouchable and although Smith didn't live up to the hype, he still did an admirable job.

As the comic relief in Aladdin (2019), Smith let his guard down and allowed himself to be silly. While it's nearly impossible for any actor to fill Williams' shoes, Smith's version stood out in a movie that some viewers felt was a bit slow-paced, at times.

Lily James As Cinderella - Cinderella

Cinderella descends the stairs into the ball

After a fantastic turn in the TV series Downton Abbey, Lily James earned a role as the titular character in Disney's Cinderella (2015). Although some things in the original Cinderella movie don't hold up, James' take on the classic Disney princess, originally voiced by Ilene Woods, is still memorable today. Cinderella was one of Disney's first live-action revivals and some fans still believe it's one of the best.

While Cinderella lacked the colorful songs and Disney magic of the animated original, Lily James carried the movie. James has since taken on roles in Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, to name a few, and always seems to captivate audiences wherever she goes.

Emma Stone As Cruella - Cruella

cruella costumes emma stone

Cruella is Disney's latest live-action remake, premiering both in theatres and on Disney+ at an extra cost "Premier Access" title. While critical reception has been mixed, most agree that Emma Stone's portrayal of the character is fantastic. In fact, Disney fans love her so much that the company has already greenlit a sequel.

RELATED: 8 Things We Want To See In The Cruella Sequel

One thing that jumps out about Cruella is the costumes and Stone's ability to make anything she wears look good. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, her looks were inspired by punk and goth music and Stone seems to be up for trying out any new look that's thrown at her. She gives the character equal amounts of poise and narcissism, which makes viewers love the villain, even though they're not supposed to. Just like Betty Lou Gerson and Glenn Close before her, Stone's take on the villain is destined to become iconic.

Ewan McGregor As Christopher Robin - Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh read the newspaper

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has steadily made headway in Hollywood throughout his career. Many Star Wars fans know him from the prequels of the early 2000s, but he's also had memorable roles in Angels & Demons, Doctor Sleep, and most recently, the Netflix series, Halston.

As he told Inside the Magic, director Marc Forster felt that Ewan McGregor was the perfect fit for the title role in Christopher Robin (2018). Many actors have played Christopher Robin, and McGregor was perfectly cast as the character, now an adult businessman, who recalls his adventures as a child. The film is a great nod to the classic Winnie the Pooh stories that have captured the imagination of so many kids over the years.

Donald Glover As Simba - The Lion King

Nala, Simba, and Zazu in The Lion King 2019

Another role that was hard for Disney fans to picture played by someone else was Simba from The Lion King (2019). Originally voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick in the 1994 animated classic, Simba is one of those characters that requires a strong lead capable of hitting both soft, gentle tones and booming loud lion roars.

Fortunately, Atlanta actor Donald Glover was up for the task. His take on Simba is gentle-hearted yet commanding. Recording music as Childish Gambino helped Glover nail the classic songs, too. He took a character and gave it his own spin, helping to make The Lion King one of the most beloved of the updated Disney remakes.

Bill Murray As Baloo - The Jungle Book

Mowgli sits on a tree and Baloo stands beside him

Bill Murray's range is incredible. Whether it's playing a deadpan B-list actor in Lost In Translation or a bored oceanographer in The Life Aquatic, he always seems to be able to give his characters the right amount of tone and inflection (or lack thereof). He understands comedy and plays up Baloo's lazy, self-centered attitude to maximum effect in The Jungle Book (2016).

As a big goofy bear, Murray gives Baloo human antics, like making Mowgli climb a tree to get him honey in exchange for a favor. He's a loveable character and the fact that he's not as silly as the original character, voiced by Phil Harris, makes him more believable. The Jungle Book had a fantastic cast all around, and that's a big reason why it's often considered the best Disney live-action remake.

Oakes Fegley As Pete - Pete's Dragon

Pete rests on the dragon's tail

A relatively unknown child actor, Oakes Fegley was tasked with the impossible challenge of bringing Pete, originated by Sean Marshall, to life in the live-action version of Pete's Dragon (2016). Fegley made the immersive CGI seem believable as he played the orphaned boy lost in the forest who befriends a dragon.

Bryce Dallas Howard also stars in a perfunctory role as a park ranger, but it's Fegley who carries the story. His sense of curiosity and wonder makes Pete a multi-dimensional character. Pete's Dragon isn't the most memorable film in the Disney canon, but the remake was largely considered better than the original.

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