Is a Live-Action Remake of ‘Pocahontas’ on the Table?

Recently, a fan shared a petition for Disney to make a live-action Pocahontas film starring Dwayne Johnson and Sofia Crnilovic among a larger cast, and it had us speculating about the possibility of a Pocahontas remake.

Disney’s live-action remakes have been making headlines for months now. From the frustration that many fans have had with the arguable lack of creativity and constant desire to “play it safe” from the Walt Disney Company to the more troubling racist responses to the films, there has been much that was said and done about the Disney live-action remakes.

However, there is one movie that is controversial all on its own, and apparently, some fans would like to see remade in the live-action format.

Fans Petition for a Live-Action Remake of Pocahontas

The movie Pocahontas has drawn a lot of criticism for its problematic portrayal of Native Americans and romanticization of a tragic story for the Powhatan tribe. Pocahontas is more well-known among the Native Americans as Mataoka, and she was captured and held for ransom by the English colonial settlers.

However, many don’t know the true story behind the film because the Disney-fication of the movie worked wonders. Now, some devoted fans have started a Change.org petition to get the Walt Disney Company to green light a live-action remake of the film, featuring Dwayne Johnson as Chief Powhatan, Sofia Crnilovic as Pocahontas, and more.

The petition has currently gotten over 200 signatures and is still live.

Would Disney Ever Make a Live-Action Pocahontas?

The honest answer from where we stand is no; Disney would not greenlight a live-action remake of this movie, especially in today’s environment. The original Native American account of Pocahontas, i.e., Matoaka, is well known, and Disney has already faced a lot of flack for their portrayal of Native Americans in Peter Pan—something they took steps to correct in Peter Pan and Wendy.

Add to this Disney’s treatment of similarly controversial movies like Song of the South and its permanent retheme of Splash Mountain, and the pieces fall into place.

It’s important to note that Disney hasn’t made any official announcements about this movie or officially responded to the petition; however, this writer will be very surprised if the Mouse House does, in fact, go for a live-action film of Pocahontas.

Disney’s Pocahontas

Disney’s Pocahontas was released in 1995 and was supposedly based on the life of a Native-American woman named Pocahontas from the Powhatan tribe and her experiences with the English colonial settlers from the Virginia Company. The film revolves around and romanticizes Pocahontas’s encounter with John Smith and the legend of how she saved his life.

Pocahontas was directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Jim Pentecost. The screenplay was written by Philip LaZebnik, Carl Binder, and Susannah Grant. Irene Bedard voiced Pocahontas, and Mel Gibson voiced Smith. David Ogden Stiers, Russell Means, Christian Bale, Billy Connolly, and Linda Hunt were also part of the voice cast.

The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. At the time of its release, the movie was the fourth highest-grossing film in North America in 1995. However, critically, the film received mixed reviews.