Disney is developing a live-action/CGI remake of its classic Robin Hood movie for Disney+. Released in 1973, the Mouse House's animated Robin Hood reimagines the legend as a musical adventure set in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, including Robin as a fox and Little John as a bear. A box office hit back in its day, the film remains a popular one among Disney fans to this day, largely thanks to its portrayal of the dashing archer Robin and memorable tunes like "Oo De Lally". Up until now, though, there's been little to no discussion about the possibility of the movie joining the ever-growing list of Disney animated features-turned live-action tentpoles.
With last year's The Lion King and Aladdin having both grossed north of $1 billion at the box office, the Mouse House's remake train shows few signs of slowing down anytime soon (rare misfires like Dumbo aside). The studio has even more remakes planned for the next couple years (beginning with its delayed Mulan in July), but is also reported to be working on live-action reboots for Disney+. As it turns out, that includes a modernized take on their version of Robin Hood.
According to THR, Disney's Robin Hood remake is currently being developed as a Disney+ exclusive. Kari Granlund, who also wrote the streaming service's live-action Lady and the Tramp, is working on the script, with music video director Carlos López Estrada attached to call the shots. It appears the film will serve as Estrada's followup to his critically-acclaimed feature length debut on the socially-conscious 2018 drama Blindspotting.
THR further reports the Robin Hood remake will be a live-action/CGI musical and once again feature anthropomorphic animal versions of characters like Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, and Prince John. The implication seems to be the animals in Robin Hood will be less realistic and more expressive than the critters in The Lion King and The Jungle Book remakes before it. That ought to come as welcome news to those who're already put-off by the idea of a Robin Hood remake that tries to fully do away with the stylization of the 1973 animated film. In the past, people have even joked on Twitter about the idea of Disney making a "grittier" version of its Robin Hood by using the infamous Chaos Reigns Fox meme birthed by Lars von Trier's 2009 arthouse horror-drama Antichrist.
While many have grown up watching the animated Robin Hood over the decades, it's nowhere near to being a Disney pop cultural touchstone along the lines of The Lion King or Mulan. This explains why the studio is forgoing a theatrical release in favor of sending it straight to streaming, much like it's reportedly planning to do with its developing The Sword in the Stone remake. With Disney+'s subscriber numbers rising rapidly while people self-quaratine at home because of the coronavirus, the demand for exclusive content is only going to grow with it. Whether its users will take to the idea of a live-action/CGI Robin Hood, of course, that remains to be seen.
Source: THR