In the age of ultra-polished reboots and CGI spectacle, it’s strange that no studio has tackled The Land Before Time (1988) in the same way Disney brought The Lion King (1994) to life in “live action” in 2019. But that might be changing—at least unofficially.
British filmmaker Joey Lever is taking matters into his own hands. His upcoming fan-made film, simply titled Littlefoot, aims to retell the story of the beloved 1988 animated classic with a new generation of voice talent and, presumably, more modern visuals.
While it’s not backed by Universal Pictures or Amblin Entertainment, the project will undoubtedly stir some curiosity—particularly among longtime fans wondering why this franchise has remained untouched by the current wave of live-action reimaginings.
Watch Lever’s casting call from last year on YouTube below, where he asks for a male or female voice actor between 8 and 15 with an American accent, adding that the voice for Littlefoot must have a “youthful exuberance, sincerity, and emotional depth”:
Related: ‘The Lion King’: All 6 Movies, 2 TV Shows, and More Ranked
Since then, Lever has found his lead. Per the BBC in April, 11-year-old Brit Summer-Joules, who hails from Chester in the U.K., recently won the role of Littlefoot after a memorable audition involving pencils in her mouth to mimic chewing like a dinosaur.
The original 1988 film was directed and produced by Don Bluth and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park) and George Lucas (Star Wars). It follows the young dinosaur Littlefoot and his friends as they search for the Great Valley after being separated from their families during a cataclysmic event.
The Land Before Time Left a Huge Impression on ’80s Kids
Its emotional depth and visual artistry left a huge impression on a generation of kids—and spawned 13 direct-to-video sequels. Yet Hollywood has let the IP sit idle for years.
The photorealistic remake of The Lion King (dubbed “live action” despite being 3D-animated) earned over $1.6 billion at the box office. Surely a name like The Land Before Time, with its Spielberg-Lucas pedigree and instantly recognizable dinosaur cast, could capture at least a slice of that audience. And yet Hollywood has let the property sit idle.
Lever’s fan project, however, while not be the official remake fans are hoping for, could act as a proof of concept—showing there’s still real affection for Littlefoot and the gang. For now, you can follow the project on Lever’s YouTube channel.
Would you like to see a remake of The Land Before Time? Let us know!
