7th March 2017 - Eva Green in Talks to Star in Live-Action Adaptation
EXCLUSIVE: Eva Green is in talks to star in Tim Burton’s Dumbo, the live-action adaptation of the 1941 animated classic for Disney. Sources tell me she’s being eyed for one of the three main adult roles in the title, which is edging closer and closer towards a production start.
A Green-Burton reunion would make a lot of sense given the sizzling actress seems to be the director’s new muse, and Burton has a habit of working again and again with actors he likes. Green played the title character in Burton’s family fantasy Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, based on the novel by Ransom Riggs. It grossed $297.4M worldwide last year. She also starred in Burton’s vampire comedy Dark Shadows alongside Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer, which generated $254.5M worldwide in 2012.
Source:
Deadline
10th February 2017 - Will Smith No Longer Attached
Talks between Will Smith and Disney have broken off, and he will not be starring in Dumbo, the Tim Burton-directed live-action adaptation of the classic 1941 animated film. The studio continues to move aggressively toward a production start with a script by Ehren Kruger about the big-eared, lovable elephant.
This was an intriguing family film option for Smith, but he had not committed and it didn’t work out for the usual reasons, including salary and scheduling.
Source:
Deadline
11th January 2017 - Disney Eyes Will Smith to Star
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say that one thing the new version does is expand and deepen the circus aspect of the story. The character that Smith would play, if a deal is made, is that of a father who works at the big top and whose children develop a relationship with the pachyderm.
No offer has been made, but conversations have taken place.
Source:
The Hollywood Reporter
EXCLUSIVE: Disney is circling with Will Smith to star for director Tim Burton in Dumbo, the live-action adaptation of the classic 1941 animated film. The studio is moving aggressively toward a production start with a script by Ehren Kruger about the big-eared, lovable elephant. This is an intriguing family film option for Smith, who is also working toward a start date with Sony Pictures on Bad Boys For Life, a reteam with Martin Lawrence which has Joe Carnahan directing his script.
A number of hurdles would have to be overcome here, but the Disney live-action transfer of its animation library has generated the kind of hits that are good for any star’s resume. Smith, whose latest film, Collateral Beauty, opened in the holiday onslaught and didn’t connect with audiences, would be joining Burton, whose last fairy tale adaptation Alice In Wonderland grossed $1.02 billion (Burton didn’t direct the sequel misfire)
Smith would join a parade of big stars who’ve starred in these Disney films, who have included Angelina Jolie in Maleficent, Johnny Depp in Alice, with Emma Stone to star as 101 Dalmations villainess Cruella De Ville and Dwayne Johnson aligned with Jungle Cruise. Stay tuned on this.
Source:
Deadline
10th March 2016 - Tim Burton to Direct Live-Action Disney Adaptation
Tim Burton is planning to direct a live-action version of the 1941 animated classic Dumbo for Walt Disney Pictures. Various sources are confirming; the news was broken today in The Wall Street Journal. Pic will be a mix of CG and live-action. Ehren Kruger is writing the script and sharing producing credit with Justin Springer (Oblivion, Tron: Legacy). Burton’s most recent film was the Weinstein Co. biopic Big Eyes, about pop painter Margaret Keane whose husband claimed credit for her work. It earned Amy Adams a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
Source:
Deadline