When I wrote about the planned CGI-remake of Bambi back in January, I wondered when Disney was going to release details about its next remake. A bit over two months later, we know: The studio is planning on a live-action/CGI-remake of 1973’s Robin Hood:
Much like The Lion King, the new version of Robin Hood will “feature the characters as anthropomorphic, this time in a live-action/CG hybrid format,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie will also be a musical. The original version famously portrayed the noble thief of Sherwood Forest as a fox, while his gang of merry men were illustrated as other animals. Little John was a black bear, the Sheriff of Nottingham was a wolf, Friar Tuck was a badger, and perhaps most memorably, Prince John was a thumb-sucking, jewel-encrusted crown-wearing lion.
Carlos López Estrada, best known for directing 2018’s Blindspotting, will take on the Robin Hood remake. Kari Granlund, who wrote Disney’s recent Lady and the Tramp remake, is on board to pen the script. It’s unclear when Disney is looking to start the project, but production around the world has shut down as people social distance to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Disney’s most recent remake was a miss: The studio’s take on Hugh Lofting’s Doctor Dolittle stories, Dolittle, starring Robert Downey Jr., did not do well at the box office. Before that, 2019’s Lady and the Tramp was released directly to Disney+ and not in theaters. I started watching it and got bored (though I really loved the casting of Ashley Jensen as the voice of the excitable Scottish Terrier, Jock, in a gender-switch for the character). Next up is Mulan, which had its March release date pushed back to July. As The Robin Hood Verge article notes, releasing films only to Disney+ is a great way to get new subscribers. And, right now, while it’s a necessity because, releasing movies only on Disney+ also gives current subscribers reasons to keep their subscriptions.
I rewatched the animated Robin Hood for the first time in years a couple of years ago and enjoyed it more than I did when I was younger. I think it gets forgotten by a lot of people because it’s not one of the princess movies of the ’30s or ’50s: Maid Marian isn’t the protagonist, and there’s more focus on the friendship between Robin Hood and Little John. I’ll watch this when it comes out. I thought the CGI of The Lion King was less distracting than some of the CGI in The Jungle Book. (I still haven’t watched Dumbo, because I know it’s going to make me cry, and I don’t want to do that right now!)
we rewatched the animated version a few months back and I remembered how much I always liked it. It’s fun and a good introduction for kids to the legend of Robin Hood before plunging them into Prince of Thieves or something (my kids are nowhere near ready for that one, LOL.)
I’m mixed on the live action remakes. In general, I like the ones that do something different with the story or add something to it – I loved Aladdin, I was meh on Lion King (I liked it, it was gorgeous, and Beyoncé’s song was really good….but it was so similar to the animated version, I wasn’t sure of the point). I was looking forward to Mulan. I haven’t seen Lady and the Tramp or Dumbo. I really liked the Jungle Book remake.
So all that to say….I will probably watch this, I tend to avoid the remakes where the originals were super emotional, and this isn’t like Dumbo LOL.
There is already so many movies about Robin Hood. What is the point of another remake?
Exactly! It was already a cartoon/animal version of a story about humans and now they want to do a remake with humans playing the animals playing humans?!?
Why?
Noooo! My favorite Disney movie of all time. Ugh, I can’t even handle that they’re remaking it.
How about you fix Peter Pan Disney? Fix what’s not working. You don’t mess with perfection.
The best Robin Hood movie of all time, too!
I absolutely loved this movie when I was a kid! We must have rewatched it a hundred times. I still whistle the theme song from time to time! Sad about the remake, though– they are invariably a let-down.
This is concerning because a big part of the charm and humour of animation comes from the expressiveness of the animals. Expressiveness that “realistic” animals just don’t have, hence the flat and duller than dirt Lion King remake.
And come on ladies (and gents) of a certain generation, you know you want to talk about the crush we all had on Fox Robin. This is a safe space. 😉
That’s exactly what I was going to say! Fox Robin had legit sex appeal and oozed charm. Are we having Step Up Channing Tatum playing Robin Hood? No. Then it’s not going to work.
Yep, had a huge crush on Fox Robin
Absence makes the heart grow fonder…Or forgetful.
Love, love, loved this movie as a kid. I’m watching it with my kids tonight.
I do not remember seeing the movie as a child, but I’m aware of of it through pop culture. So, I decided to watch it this morning, and my kids and I are shocked. The opening song, “Whistle-stop” I think, is the Hamster Dance! I had no idea! Mind…Blown! On a side note, I also had no idea the Foxy Robin had an English accent. Can’t wait to see what else I learn.
Loved this movie and Fox Robin was a fox! Not necessary to do a live action.
Meh. Never cared for Disney’s Robin Hood. I do LOVE the Robin Hood legend ever since Michael Praed don the hood and bow and arrows and pranced around the English forests in Robin of Sherwood. Swoon. Be still my heart — Michael Praed still does it for me.
My Lengthy Robin Hood Confession:
Love the 1938 version. Even though we now know Errol Flynn was not a nice man at all, he is still the Prince of Thieves. Kevin Costner and Bryan Adams can disappear forever together in that bourgie forest, but Alan Rickman is amazing. I did not know until Monday that there were two 1991 Robin Hood movies, and although the one starring Uma Thurmin and Patrick Bergin is distinctly mediocre, it is infinitely better than the Costner one. And now that I’ve finally seen it, the gags in Mel Brooks Men in Tights make much more sense. (And Carey Elwes makes a better Robin Hood than Kevin Costner). I missed the tv series somehow, perhaps because the Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood managed to suck the joy out of the story. But the Disney one was my Robin Hood gateway, so here’s a tip of the hat to Brian Bedford and Roger Miller for voice work that is beyond compare … Big boots to fill for the remake!
I’m excited for this! Robin Hood was one of my favourites growing up.
And I feel the same ay Quimby, I want to watch Dumbo, but I know I’ll cry, and I just don’t want to do that right now.
I watched that cartoon so many times. It’s so good
I loved this version as a child and have such vivid memories of it! And I’ve enjoyed a lot of Disney’s remakes so far. But I wish they’d put their money and resources into more new content rather than rehashing several stories every year. It’s great to recreate older stories for new audiences, but doing it to almost EVERY animated film they have is a bit much. I’m a 90s baby and they put out so many great films — most of which were borrowed from fairy tales and such, but at least the stories were new to that medium — during that decade. For all of Disney’s issues, they’re a wonderfully creative company. I hope they remember that!