Oncoming Diz Co. Titles

Now with ADD On.

You will note that the animated library of the House of Mouse continues to play a role in unreleased (and unmade) Disney live action features.

... Disney has staked out a number of primetime release dates for its upcoming live-action fairy tales, even if the studio has yet to say which movie will open when. ...

Studio insiders say one of the release dates announced Monday will go to The Jungle Book 2, which is already in the works, even as Warner Bros. preps its own Jungle Book for Oct. 19, 2018. Disney won't comment, but it's possible Favreau's sequel could be ready in time for the August or November 2018 slot, putting it in the direct path of the rival Jungle Book, directed by Andy Serkis.

Other Disney titles that will fill the slots include Cruella, starring Emma Stone; A Wrinkle in Time, directed by Ava DuVernay; Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson; director Tim Burton's Dumbo; a Mary Poppins sequel from helmer Rob Marshall that is set to star Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda; Maleficent 2 with Angelina Jolie; and a Tinker Bell film starring Reese Witherspoon. ...

What's striking about this lineup of films is: If there wasn't an abundant orchard of hand-drawn animated features -- 101 Dalmations, Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book and Peter Pan -- the pickings would be slim.

But you can hardly blame Diz Co. for re-imagining the old classics in newer CG/live action versions. Most of the titles already created have made piles of cash. And when you have a profitable catalogue, you exploit the catalogue. It would be very uncorporate not to.

Add On: But of course, there are MORE animated feature do-overs than are listed above. To wit:

... Disney is moving full steam ahead with adaptations that pull from its classic annimations. New live-action fodder is coming from princesses, villains, supporting characters and fairies, alike. ...

Some exec in an office at 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California is (this very minute) saying: "Why didn't Walt make MORE animated features?! Why?! WHY??!!"