Though Disney tried its hand at live-action remakes/re-imaginings within the Nineties, the studio’s been releasing a gradual stream of those sorts of flicks since Maleficent put a brand new spin on Sleeping Magnificence. This components has labored most of the time for the Mouse Home, with each Snow White and Lilo & Sew being launched on the 2025 motion pictures schedule, and Moana, Hercules and numerous others lined up for the approaching years. Nevertheless, the live-action model of The Aristocats is now not on that record, although I can’t say I’m disillusioned by this.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who’d been tapped to direct the remake in 2023, shared this data throughout his look on the Rating: The Podcast., and Variety confirmed its cancellation. Per Questlove, who most not too long ago directed the documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (which will be streamed with each a Hulu subscription and Disney+ subscription), administration shuffles have been the reason for The Aristocats being taken off the record of upcoming Disney motion pictures, identical to Tangled was again in April. It will definitely obtained to a degree the place Questlove was bored with ready round and needed to work on different tasks. In his phrases:
I might have cherished to have carried out that venture, however there’s like 20 others that I can get to. What I don’t do is I don’t make bulletins till it’s prepared, however there’s actually 4 different movies. I’ll be working ’til 2029-2030. So, simply wasn’t meant to occur. Perhaps it should occur sooner or later.
Whereas it’s a disgrace that Questlove didn’t get to make The Aristocats as he envisioned, I’m truthfully glad that this specific live-action remake isn’t shifting ahead. I keep in mind having fun with the 1970 unique after I was a child, so this isn’t me critiquing that film’s high quality. Somewhat, I’m simply not a fan of Disney giving its motion pictures that principally, if not solely characteristic animals as the primary characters the live-action therapy.
I say live-action, however it’s actually photorealistic CGI. Up to now we’ve predominantly seen this with 2016’s The Jungle E book, The Lion King, Woman and the Tramp, in addition to final yr’s Musfasa: The Lion King, which was a simultaneous prequel and sequel to its 2019 predecessor (let’s additionally throw in The Little Mermaid, albeit to a smaller diploma). Now I’ll admit, I used to be a giant fan of The Jungle E book, however most of the time, there’s a scarcity of allure when Disney makes these animals seem like they do in the actual world. Paradoxically, I’d argue they find yourself trying extra lifeless in comparison with the emotiveness we get from characters in an animated product.
That definitely would have occurred with The Aristocats. Like Woman and the Tramp, there are some human characters in. Nevertheless, with the story revolving round a gaggle of cats in 1910 Paris who inherit their rich proprietor’s fortune, a lot to the dismay of her butler, these lovable felines take up the vast majority of display time. So though there is part of me that’s intrigued by what Questlove would have carried out with The Aristocats, that curiosity is outweighed by my disinterest in seeing this story retold with realistic-looking cats.
My fingers are crossed that the live-action Bambi can also be shelved, as that’s a narrative that ought to strictly stay within the animated realm. As for the Disney remakes starring principally human characters, the following one up is Moana, which comes out on July 10, 2026.
