Following several Disney classics that have already been given the live-action treatment (see Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, etc.), we now know that there are plenty more to come. Over the next few years, Disney fans, adult and child alike, have lots to look forward to. The kids who have never seen the 2D animated versions will be introduced to classics that have been beloved by generations before them. These are the Disney live action remakes that we can expect through 2020. Which one are you most excited for?
Aladdin
Disney’s 1992 classic Aladdin has been reimagined into a live action film that features Will Smith as the Genie and is directed by Guy Ritchie. The title character will be played by Mena Massoud, Jasmine will be portrayed by Naomi Scott, and villain Jafar will be played by Marwan Kenzari. The film will be released on May 24th, 2019.
Aladdin
The Lion King
A new version of Disney favorite, The Lion King, will hit theaters July 19, 2019, and features a star-studded cast. Directed by Jon Favreau, the familiar characters will be voiced by Beyonce, Donald Glover, John Oliver, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. For those who loved the original, James Earl Jones will be reprising his voice role as Mufasa for this remake!
The Lion King
Mulan
Come March 21st, 2020, fans of this Disney classic will be able to watch a live action remake of Mulan, with one caveat. Despite the original film’s classic songs making it into a fan-favorite musical film, this new version will not be a musical, which may be disappointing to fans who were waiting for a live version of “Reflection” and “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You.” However, fans can expect an action-packed martial arts heavy film.
Mulan
Maleficent 2
After the wild success that the original Maleficent film saw (it drew in a whopping $758 million globally), it didn’t take long for the studio to announce that a sequel is in the making. On May 29th, 2020, Angelina Jolie will reprise the titular role and will be joined by Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein, Juno Temple, and Harris Dickinson for the second installment of the villain’s story.
Maleficent 2
Cruella
In another retelling of a favorite, this time, 101 Dalmatian‘s villain Cruella de Ville will be receiving her very own origin story. Director Craig GIllespie will bring the story to life, and Emma Stone will take on the titular role. Fans may remember another live-action portrayal of Cruella from the 1996 live action 101 Dalmations, played by the magnificent Glenn Close. We’ll have to wait and see if this new take can live up to both of its predecessors.
Cruella
In addition to these, we also know that there are several more films that have been announced but have yet to receive a final release date. These include a remake of Peter Pan as well as a film focusing entirely on Tinker Bell, aptly named Tink. There will also be a reimagining of The Sword in the Stone, Pinocchio, and new alternate point of view stories like Red Rose, who is Snow White’s sister, and Prince Charming — though it’s unclear which Prince Charming will be featured: Snow White’s or Cinderella’s? We’ll just have to wait and see!
