Disney’s commitment to repackaging their older films into shiny new, hollow husks of their former selves in order to bring in more box office dollars has left many wanting more from the once revolutionary company. However, this seemingly endless cycle does not have to stay the cash-grabbing monster that Disney has created. I believe that by following a few, simple rules, it is completely possible to recreate the classic Disney magic for new generations without making a soulless piece of trash.
1) The original work must already be lacking in some way. There are many classic Disney films that I would consider pinnacles of animation and film. The Lion King (1994) is one of those films. Nothing about its 2019 remake elevated the original film. Because the original was already so perfect and beloved, it was practically guaranteed that any remake would disappoint. The option to remake any of Disney’s older films should mean a second chance for the original story. A remake should fix any aspect of the original that already didn’t work or hasn’t aged well. It should breathe new life into its plot and characters, and if it can’t top the original, then it shouldn’t be made.
2) Offer a new perspective on a classic story. One of my favorite Disney live-action remakes is Maleficent (2014). The film retells the Sleeping Beauty story from the perspective of the villain. With Maleficent as the lead, we grow to sympathize with her, experiencing her life along with her as we watch the events that lead to her cursing baby Aurora in the first place. While many of Disney’s remakes seem to simply rehash the original film scene for scene, a complete retelling from the villain’s perspective brought new intrigue and heart to a previously predictable classic.
3) Don’t be afraid of change. A word-for-word, scene-for-scene recreation of the original movie is not what I want from a live-action adaptation. When you adapt any form of media to live-action, you are adapting the story into an entirely different medium! This decision has already changed everything. If the characters are now being portrayed by real people, that must be used! Ground the stories in their characters. Write more in-depth, complex arcs. Take the time to develop their relationships to one another. Update the text to resonate with the audience of the time! An exact remake is useless in every way. Don’t be afraid to help the story’s heart find a new beat.
Going forward, I would love to see Disney remake some of their films that didn’t receive as much love as the Disney renaissance classics. Treasure Planet (2002), one of my all-time favorite Disney films, isn’t necessarily perfect. But it is an incredibly unique sci-fi story with a solid heart at its center that I think could translate really well into a live-action film. I feel similarly about Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and Meet The Robinsons (2007). And although I don’t see the live-action remake cycle stopping anything soon, I do hope that they begin to improve sooner rather than later. It will never not be disheartening to see Disney churn out another soulless remake. But I don’t believe a worthwhile live-action adaptation is too far out of reach.
