
For almost 90 years, The Walt Disney Company has been reimagining classic stories as beloved animated films. Then, in 1994, Disney took a bold leap by transforming one of its iconic animated classics, The Jungle Book (1967), into a live-action film. The movie exceeded expectations at the box office, and just two years later, the live-action remake of One Hundred and One Dalmatians also proved to be a hit.
Since then, live-action remakes of animated films have become a major part of Disney’s strategy. Movies like Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Lion King (2019), Cruella (2021), and The Little Mermaid (2023) have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the company.
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Not every Disney animated film is suited for a live-action remake, of course. As times change, so do cultural sensibilities, which is part of why Disney decided not to move forward with live-action versions of Pocahontas (1995) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).
Now, a new report has surfaced revealing that Disney has been pouring millions of dollars into a live-action project that may never see the light of day.
According to Forbes, Disney has already spent nearly $5 million on a live-action film centered around the legendary wizard Merlin, who first appeared in The Sword in the Stone (1963).
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At the peak of the remakes’ popularity Disney even planned live action versions of books based on characters which had become famous in its animated fairytales. One was The Merlin Saga, based on author T.A. Barron’s 12-book series about the sorcerer’s early years prior to his appearance in Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.
Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the screenplay for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings series, King Kong and The Hobbit, was appointed to write the script and Disney went on the hunt for an acclaimed director.
In January 2018 Variety claimed that Ridley Scott was deep in discussions with Disney about helming a live action remake of The Sword in the Stone, but opted to make The Merlin Saga for the Mouse instead. In early 2019, a rumor even spread that casting was underway for the blockbuster which would start shooting at the end of the year. It was not to be.
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In 2022, Scott dismissed rumors that he was “deep in discussions” with Disney about a Merlin movie, explaining that he had no interest in making films about wizards.
He said in an interview, “[Disney] wanted me to do a wizard film, but I don’t do wizard films. It just wasn’t a good fit.”
The last update Disney gave fans about the Merlin prequel was back in 2021. While the project never really progressed beyond the concept stage, Forbes revealed that Disney had already invested nearly $5 million into its development. The studio even set up a new production company in the UK, preparing for filming on location.
As of now, it doesn’t seem like Disney is moving forward with the Merlin project. However, since it hasn’t been officially canceled, there’s still a chance it could happen.
Even without the Merlin movie, Disney has plenty of live-action remakes on the horizon.
On March 21, Disney will release one of its most talked-about remakes to date, Snow White. Then, just two months later in May, the live-action version of Lilo & Stitch (2002) will hit theaters nationwide.
Additionally, Disney has live-action remakes of Moana (2016), Hercules (1997), Robin Hood (1973), The Aristocats(1970), Bambi (1942), and Tangled (2010) lined up for the future.
Would you be interested in a prequel about Merlin and how he became the legendary wizard we know? What’s your take on Disney’s live-action remakes overall? Feel free to share your thoughts!