Disney has announced release dates for some of its upcoming films over the next few years. Jon Favreau’s live action adaptation of The Jungle Book has been pushed back to April 15, 2016. The Finest Hours, coast guard drama starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, and Eric Bana, had been scheduled for that date, and will instead release on October 9, 2016. Disney will handle distribution for Dreamworks’ live action Ghost in the Shell film, which will arrive on April 17, 2017. Finally, a remake of 1977’s Pete’s Dragon will appear on August 12, 2016.
Disney’s The Jungle Book is one of two planned new adaptations of Rudyard Kipling’s novel. Disney’s adaptation will star Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, and Scarlett Johansson. Warner Bros has its own planned adaptation, Jungle Book: Origins, scheduled for 2017.
Pete’s Dragon (1977) followed Pete as he ran away from a home of abusive caretakers and searched for a new home with the help of Elliot the dragon. Elliot, a friend to all children in need, would disappear whenever anyone besides Pete saw him. The film was notable for having live actors appear alongside Elliot, an animated character.
Finally, Disney is taking auditions for its next princess, Moana. 19 year old Makamae Kailani Auwae, a native of the island Maui in Hawaii, submitted a video hoping to land the title role as Disney’s first Polynesian princess. After posting the video in December, Auwae received a call back from Disney on January 6. Moana will arrive in theaters on November 26, 2016.
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