Walt Disney Studios is making it clear that it is on a mission beyond entertainment regarding its recent live-action remake of an animated classic, Peter Pan & Wendy (2023).
Our return to Neverland comes directed by David Lowery and brought a plethora of changes to the story Disney fans grew up with.
Starring Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, and Ever Anderson as Wendy Darling, this film not only sets out to add diversity through the addition of “Lost Boys” who aren’t all boys, but Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell but also sets out to do some “correcting” of the Native American stereotypes portrayed in the 1953 animated classic that has drawn significant criticism since being added to Disney+.
[Lowery updates it] in a way that feels like it adds to the canon of Peter Pan and also subtly corrects the kinds of stereotypes that are unfortunately passed along through those fairy tales. Correcting the indigenous representation that was mistaken in the animated and in some of the past versions.”
And so, the iconic role of Princess Tiger Lily will be played by Alyssa Wapanatâhk whose trailer clips appeared to promise a more authentic version of the Neverland Natives.
“I think remakes have to be prove why they are worth being remade in the first place, and having had a chance to watch the film,” Shahidi added. “I think [David Lowery] updates it in a such a natural way.”
Lowery’s Peter Pan & Wendy also starred Jude Law as Captain Hook, Jim Gaffigan as Mr. Smee, Joshua Pickering as John Darling, and Jacobi Jupe as Michael Darling.
Molly Parker plays Wendy’s mother, Mary Darling, and a Peter Pan tradition will be broken as a separate actor to Law, Alan Tudyk, steps into the role of Wendy’s father, George Darling.
Peter Pan & Wendy debuted exclusively on Disney+ on April 28, 2023 (an entire year and then some already?!).
Here is the trailer if you have not seen it already (or want to see it again):
Did you watch Peter Pan & Wendy? Did you enjoy it? Tell us about it in the comments below!
