As of the time of writing, there have been eighteen films released by Disney that are considered live-action reimaginings. The first was 1994's The Jungle Book (yes, there was another before Jon Favreau's 2016 adaptation), and the most recent was Cruella. Those films, and the sixteen between them, have an average Metacritic score of 55.83. Most of the criticism lobbed at these reimagining is that they bring nothing new to the table. For example, while visually stunning, 2019's The Lion King felt soulless and ultimately pointless. It seems that Disney might be so fearful of fan backlash that it does the absolute least when adapting these classic films. Ironically, that choice might be what's shooting them in the foot.
Certain criteria should be met when a studio is deciding to adapt a beloved animated film: Is there an audience? Is there room to take the story to different places, and would a live-action take enhance the visual language of the original? Disney cult classics like Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet and The Black Cauldron check every single one of those boxes. Yet, all are sadly being left in the vault, continuing to collect dust.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire may be the best animated Disney film that hardly anyone talks about. While the story of an outsider finding family in an un-discovered culture has been done countless times, this cartoon might do it the best. With a cast of incredible characters, stunning visuals, a malleable story and a contingent of hardcore fans, this film has it all. Imagine watching the launching of the Ulysses submarine on an IMAX screen. When pondering that image, the potential scope of a live-action adaptation becomes clearer.
In terms of how the story matches up to modern-day standards, there are plenty of relevant themes which a new take on the film could explore. From the toxicity of greed to the celebration of a lost culture, Atlantis does a great job of forcing audiences to contemplate their values. In addition, seeing a vibrant culture untouched by the muddied hands of the modern industry can be incredibly inspiring for young viewers. From the start, the Walt Disney Company has attempted to produce material that inspires adults and children alike -- and an adaptation of Atlantis would absolutely do just that.
The Black Cauldron is the perfect example of a movie that could use another shot. The original film had a lot of potentials but struggled to find a following in 1985, with many feeling it was too dark for children. Looking back on the film now, audiences may be more receptive to the tone of the Welsh middle ages tale.
There is plenty of room to shift the story around in a potential Black Cauldron remake -- most notably, with the character of Gurgi, an odd, dog-like creature that the hero, Taran, meets along the way. Upon rewatch, this character holds up the least, mostly due to the annoying line readings and poor integration into the plot. If touched up, Gurgi could be a loveable character, and highly-profitable plush toy, which young audience members would cling to. Along with that, Taran could easily be gender-swapped. Women in medieval fantasy fare are vastly underrepresented, and this would be a great opportunity to combat that.
Thank goodness the world has finally given Treasure Planet the recognition it deserves. In November of 2002, Disney did a dismal job at promoting its 43rd animated feature film. However, in recent years, the movie has found itself back in the public consciousness, drawing in viewers both old and new. While the cartoon is already an adaptation of the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, a live-action take on this cult classic would undoubtedly do gangbusters at the box office. When looking at these adaptations from a marketability standpoint, Treasure Planet is rather close to the combination of two of Disney's most profitable franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars.
The blending of 16th-century visuals and futuristic space-faring technology is a striking concept that could lure audiences from all four quadrants. Not only that, but any production designer would be ecstatic to play in that visual sandbox. Screenwriters could have a field day with writing new material, having great characters and deep emotional relationships to draw on. If everything panned out, Disney could easily ignite a new franchise featuring a galaxy trotting treasure hunter.
Disney currently has eleven live-action adaptations of classic cartoons in the works. Nearly all of them are already perfect films that simply don't need to be touched. But alas, name recognition is what brings in the big bucks. However, some of the greatest rewards come from the greatest risks.