Another day, another live-action reboot in the works over at Disney. The Mouse House is developing a live-action iteration of Snow White, as first reported over at The Hollywood Reporter. This adaptation may be of particular significance as the 1937 animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a touchstone not just for Disney or the animated film genre, but for Hollywood film history in general. The movie – the first animated hit for Disney, the winner of a special honorary Academy Award and one of the highest grossing animated features of all-time (perhaps still if unadjusted for box office inflation) – was and continues to be enduring cultural event.
The story of Snow White takes its roots come from the original Brothers Grimm fairy-tale and have been often adapted, both inside and out of the Disney canon. Recent entries include the Kristen Stewart-headline Snow White and the Huntsman (and it’s Snow-less sequel The Huntsman: Winter’s War released this past spring) as well as Mirror, Mirror starring Lily Collins and Julia Roberts; the character is also featured in the Disney owned television series Once Upon a Time.
For this particular reboot, Erin Cressida Wilson is reportedly in talks to pen the screenplay. Wilson recently adapted The Girl on the Train, which is in theaters now; she previously wrote the Jason Reitman’s film Men, Women and Children. Marc Platt is producing – he is also at work on Mary Poppins Returns, also at Disney. The film will also feature new songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriting duo who contributed to the upcoming La La Land and the Hugh Jackman-headlined The Greatest Showman on Earth. The new Snow White looks to expand the breadth of the tale; fresh takes on the classic soundtrack may be included.
For Disney, this latest project expands on a deepening trend within the studio to mine its animated classics for live-action reboots. The successes of Maleficent, Cinderella and The Jungle Book in recent years have shepherded tons more in various stages of development. Upcoming projects include Bill Condon’s live-action Beauty and the Beast (set for next year) as well as updates on The Lion King (with Jon Favreau in the director’s chair), Aladdin (to be directed by Guy Ritchie) and Mulan.
Stay tuned to the latest developments.
Leave a Comment