Jon Favreau set to direct live action Lion King

[mikepizzo]

Who's to say it can't live on the movie screen though? Disney has been and continues to be the gold standard in animation but to keep making remakes is not the Disney I grew to love and I'm 18 years old.

Yes of course times are different than the Disney renaissance but why can't Disney start a new renaissance with new characters. They opened the door for that with frozen being the kick starter, zootopia is another one to add to that list. We will see how Moana does. I was reading comments about this announcement and a lot of people are starting to say why do we need this remake? Or don't we have enough live actions already?

I understand and I don't mind the remakes but maybe there are just too many of them being done at once. I think of frozen as a risk because it was about sisters rather than the typical princess and prince story that most others have.

Moana is definitely a risk but one that could pay off well.

I'm kind of confused. You seem to be having your cake and eating it too, which rarely happens, and that's a good thing. What's the problem with having an animation "renaissance" (Frozen, Zootopia, Big Hero 6, etc) and Disney being profitable in making live action remakes. Again, no one is being forced to see these movies. A remake doesn't take anything away from the original. We aren't talking about Star Wars remasters. You could, in fact, go your entire life without seeing this remake and continue to enjoy the original. You could also go to see the remake and still enjoy the original. They are two completely different entities.

I also think trying to start a legacy with Live Action can be a little tricky. Humans tend to do this thing called aging. And here's where we run into the problem with supposed Indiana Jones 5. Do people really want to watch their grandfather run around punching people in the face? Either pass down the mantle or try to start something new with a completely "different' Doc Savage type character.

People love to connect to a character and the actor they portray (hi Iron Man/Robert Downey Jr.) but eventually there will come a time where the actor cannot play the character as they used to. Typically they'll come back as the "wise sage" who gives advice to the new kid they back the franchise on.

With an animation movie, those character can live forever (oh...hello there Mickey Mouse).

I think it makes more sense trying to build a legacy with their animation as opposed to a single live action franchise (thinking Indy and not Marvel because Marvel is a completely different kind of beast).

EDIT: I also just realized that this is in the News thread. I think this will be my last post on the subject, as not to bog the thread down.

 

[skier_pete]

You can all complain about a Lion King remake - but then in the next post when we see an image of the upcoming live action "Beauty and the Beast" remake everyone goes nuts with "I CAN"T WAIT!" Can't have it both ways.

The fact is, while not all of them succeed - many of these remakes are safe and EXTREMELY Profitable. Really started with Alice in Wonderland making a Billion dollars. Since then Cinderella and especially Jungle Book both big hits. (Jungle Book making near $1 Billion.) Meanwhile - movies with new concepts (Tomorrowland, John Carter, Lone Ranger) fail at the box office. Yes these have in common that they weren't very good - but very good movies are failing at the box office because the consumer doesn't want something risky - at least that's what it appears. Disney (rightly) figures Lion King remake + Jon Favreau of Jungle Book = $1 BILLION minimum.

 

[Moliphino]

You can all complain about a Lion King remake - but then in the next post when we see an image of the upcoming live action "Beauty and the Beast" remake everyone goes nuts with "I CAN"T WAIT!" Can't have it both ways.

It helps that Beauty and the Beast actually has humans in it. A "live action" Lion King doesn't make nearly as much sense since it will have to be mostly CGI.

 

[Roxyfire]

My dear we live in a completely different world than we did during the Disney renaissance. It's apples and oranges, I don't think it's fair to compare the two.

I absolutely understand your desire for innovative content, I totally do. Innovative content seems to live on the internet now, and not as much the movie theater.

In some cases, I know networks only give some tv shows a few weeks to build an audience. Then I see some of these really awful looking movies that come out and wonder how they even get made. At the end of the day, I think you're right in that major networks and studios don't seem to want to take risks. Netflix, HBO and smaller cable channels are hungry for good content and ABC/Disney might get left behind if they don't take those risks.

 

[rteetz]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/entertainment/jon-favreau-set-to-reimagine-the-lion-king/

Since it's a hot topic we probably should have a thread on it.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Yes that is true but look at the Disney renaissance for example. They had so many risks that resulted in success. Maybe the current manangement needs to watch waking sleeping beauty or something. Lately it just seems for every 1 risk movie they make about 5-6 safe movies.

Welcome to Iger and Company.

Under Iger, this company has lost a lot of imagination and personality.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I know some of you are not very happy with this announcement. However, this announcement just made my day. The Lion King is by far my favorite Disney movie. I have seen the musical way to many times, but I love it every time. I haven't looked forward to very many live action films. I have seen Cinderella and the Jungle Book, because none of the others really interested me. I still plan to see Pete's Dragon, but I haven't made it to a movie theater yet. I thought the Jungle Book was excellent. When I was watching the Jungle Book, I kept thinking a Lion King live-actiion film could be possible. This announcement has assured that for me, and now I am really looking forward to this movie being released! Hakuna Matata! I have "no worries" that this movie will be amazing!

 

[rteetz]

I know some of you are not very happy with this announcement. However, this announcement just made my day. The Lion King is by far my favorite Disney movie. I have seen the musical way to many times, but I love it every time. I haven't looked forward to very many live action films. I have seen Cinderella and the Jungle Book, because none of the others really interested me. I still plan to see Pete's Dragon, but I haven't made it to a movie theater yet. I thought the Jungle Book was excellent. When I was watching the Jungle Book, I kept thinking a Lion King live-actiion film could be possible. This announcement has assured that for me, and now I am really looking forward to this movie being released! Hakuna Matata! I have "no worries" that this movie will be amazing!

My worry is there won't be much of the original music in the movie. Jungle book wasn't the musical like the original. Lion king has some fantastic music and if they cut that out I won't be happy. It is also my favorite Disney movie.

Also, go see Petes Dragon or rent it, it was great in my opinion and didn't follow the original story line to give it a new spin.

 

[rteetz]

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-...-not-live-action-remake-lion-king-143343.html

 

[Travis B]

My worry is there won't be much of the original music in the movie. Jungle book wasn't the musical like the original. Lion king has some fantastic music and if they cut that out I won't be happy. It is also my favorite Disney movie.

Also, go see Petes Dragon or rent it, it was great in my opinion and didn't follow the original story line to give it a new spin.

The music of Lion King is so iconic they'd be foolish to lose it. I wouldn't worry.

 

[rteetz]

The music of Lion King is so iconic they'd be foolish to lose it. I wouldn't worry.

The live action remakes haven't had a lot of music though. Even jungle book barely had music. That's why I'm worried, I definitely hope I'm wrong though.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

My worry is there won't be much of the original music in the movie. Jungle book wasn't the musical like the original. Lion king has some fantastic music and if they cut that out I won't be happy. It is also my favorite Disney movie.

Also, go see Petes Dragon or rent it, it was great in my opinion and didn't follow the original story line to give it a new spin.

I can see them losing some of the music. Like I don't think they would use "Can You Feel The Love Tonight." But, "Circle of Life," "Hakuna Matata," "Be Prepared," and "Just Can't Wait To be King" I can see them keeping. And actually, I would love it if they incorporated "They Lives In You" or "He Lives in You (Reprise)" from the broadway show! I wish those songs were in the movie!

 

[skier_pete]

I can see them losing some of the music. Like I don't think they would use "Can You Feel The Love Tonight." But, "Circle of Life," "Hakuna Matata," "Be Prepared," and "Just Can't Wait To be King" I can see them keeping. And actually, I would love it if they incorporated "They Lives In You" or "He Lives in You (Reprise)" from the broadway show! I wish those songs were in the movie!

Are you kidding? Yeah - they'll use all of them.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's neither here nor there, but you cannot state that Jungle was wasn't good as if it's fact. By any objective measure it was hugely successful, and very good (if not great). 1 billion dollars, 95% fresh on rotten tomatoes. You can personally not like it, but that doesn't make it bad.

The CGI remakes reinforce classic legacy stories that might fade into the background otherwise.

Frozen, like it or not, was hugely influential and added to Disney's legacy. Moana likely will. Pixar projects have and will. Star Wars has and will. I guess it depends on how one defines legacy (and I suspect it's different for everyone). I don't understand how one can argue that the legacy is not ongoing.

Of course I can...that's what we do here...

Frozen is animated...moana is animated...there's a different feel/expectation with animated. Because they might be made on the same computer doesn't mean they all can be lumped together.

And as far as what jungle book made...I'm gonna go back to one of my favorite wells:

Don't assume the "market" is always right in entertainment. Sometimes it's right in spite of itself. There's timing...there fickle reaction...it doesn't make mathematical sense.

"Good" is not a synonym with "successful". That's a false equivalency. Awful movies sometimes make billions...great movies sometimes make nothing. But awful movies never have a legacy.

I tell people all the time...you can have a "good" hamburger that is also "cheap"...but one isn't guaranteed to mean the other.

The cgi/set in reality/tactile movies are really fakey...jungle book was...the hobbit movies were terribly done while the lord of the rings movies were well done. Same recipe/mixed results.

Why have a "live action" movie about singing animals that don't act like animals?

I get malificent...don't get this one.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Welp, goodbye cruel world

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Welp, goodbye cruel world

DON'T JUMP!!!

...we'll get through this...

 

[PuppyJonathan]

DON'T JUMP!!!

...we'll get through this...

But the running of the wildebeest is conviently located very close by

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But the running of the wildebeest is conviently located very close by

Well played

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Are you kidding? Yeah - they'll use all of them.

Well, of course I would want them to use all of them. However, I'm keeping my expectations low. That is because with the Jungle Book, they either didn't use all of the songs, or they shortened the songs (I can't remember if they did this one or not). The Lion King is my all time favorite Disney movie, and I'll be happy either way.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

After walking around and thinking about my feelings and all that crap here is what my mind came up with:
1. How can this be a live action remake if they use the same production process of the jungle book? The jungle book did not use live action backplates like dinosaur did so this is essentially going to be a cgi re-do
2. With this, how many of the "untouchable" Disney animations are left? Not counting Pixar only because I have some strange feeling John Lasseter has a say in whether or not there can be a live action toy story or nemo. I came up with fantasia, and that was it. Scary thing is now that can be very potentially soon
Other than random nitpicking that is probably best to not post here I came up with this:
3. The only positive thing that I can think of for this is Lion King is getting re-released in Blu-ray soon and my digital copy will be updated and I don't have to pay for the new bonus features