10 Live-Action Remakes Disney Should Still Make After Snow White

There are plenty of remakes Disney might focus on in the wake of Snow White failing at the box office, but some ideas deserve more attention than others. There were a lot of unfortunate controversies regarding Snow White’s cast that pretty much overshadowed a lot of the movie’s better qualities. On top of that, a lot of people didn’t appreciate the differences between the Snow White remake and the original, another controversy that managed to get its legs under it before the movie even had a trailer. In short, this movie has had a rough ride.

But with that said, it’s only natural that a remake would make certain changes to Snow White’s story. Remakes are unnecessary if their only goal is to cover already trodden ground. And keeping that in mind, there are several movies that Disney could revisit while revising them for a more modern audience. Some of them are unquestionably classic films, but there are also a few less popular contenders that might benefit from the live-action remake treatment.

10

Tangled (2010)

The Biggest 3-D Animated Classic

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Tangled

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

Musical

Family

Animation

Romance

ScreenRant logo

8/10

11

7.9/10

Release Date

November 24, 2010

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Byron Howard, Nathan Greno

Writers

Dan Fogelman

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Donna Murphy

  • Headshot Of Ron Perlman

    Ron Perlman

An adaptation of the fairytale of Rapunzel, Disney’s Tangled follows the long-haired princess as she journeys to discover her real identity. Kidnapped as a child by the evil Mother Gothel in order to exploit the healing properties of her magical hair, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has lived her whole life isolated in a tower. A chance encounter with a smooth-talking fugitive called Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) sees Rapunzel venture out into the dangerous world to find the kingdom of Corona and unlock the secrets of her past.

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Disney already had plans to remake Tangled, but those plans are looking questionable now that Disney put Tangled on hold in the wake of Snow White’s box office failure. However, there’s every reason to go ahead and push this movie forward. First of all, almost nothing about Tangled’s story or casting would invite the same amount of controversy as Snow White. Second, the movie itself lends fairly well to the concept of a live-action remake.

Zachary Levi as Shazam while Flynn and Rapunzel get excited in Tangled

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It’s actually pretty timely, considering the fan theory that Tangled’s Gothel is secretly Snow White’s Evil Queen. But, more importantly, Tangled tells a character-driven narrative that could easily be expanded with a few Oscar-bait songs and an extended runtime. Almost nothing from Tangled would need to be cut to translate the movie into a new medium, and the dynamic between Flynn and Rapunzel would be a joy to witness. On paper, it should be almost impossible for Disney to fail this remake.

9

Bolt (2008)

Everyone Loves A Good Dog Story

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Bolt

PG

Animation

Family

Adventure

Comedy

10/10

Release Date

November 21, 2008

Runtime

98 minutes

Director

Byron Howard, Chris Williams

Writers

Dan Fogelman

Cast

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  • Headshot Of John Travolta In The TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night

    John Travolta

  • Headshot Of Miley Cyrus

    Miley Cyrus

Bolt, the canine star of a popular TV show, is convinced that his on-screen superpowers are real. When he’s accidentally transported from Hollywood to New York City, Bolt sets off on a daring quest to reunite with his owner, Penny. Accompanied by Mittens, a savvy alley cat, and Rhino, an enthusiastic hamster, Bolt discovers the power of friendship and the hero within, realizing that real courage doesn’t require superpowers.

Main Genre

Animation

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There are a few reasons that a live-action Bolt might be a hard sell, but they can all be summed up by saying that it’s a bit like pitching The Incredible Journey to someone who’s only ever seen Homeward Bound. But the titular Bolt is almost inarguably one of the best movie dogs, and his human’s despair at his disappearance would play incredibly well onscreen. Literally, the only issue is that Disney would have to decide between making another “live-action” cartoon or using real animals, either of which would drastically change the film’s general tone.

Collage of cat heroes from movies.

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One thing the movie has going for it is that it’s often considered one of the best Miley Cyrus movies, which means a remake would definitely warrant a cameo. She might be too old to play Bolt’s human now, but having Miley Cyrus appear as an antagonist could really benefit the film. Miley’s been very open about her disdain for the entertainment industry at large, a theme the movie already rubs up against. Having her appear while hitting that theme a little bit harder could make for both an enjoyable and rather meaningful film narrative.

8

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

An Unexpected Yet Plausible Hit

The Emperor's New Groove - Poster

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The Emperor’s New Groove

G

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

10/10

Release Date

December 15, 2000

Runtime

78 Minutes

Director

Mark Dindal

Writers

Chris Williams, Mark Dindal, David Reynolds, Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall, John Norton

Cast

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  • Headshot of David Spade

    David Spade

  • Headshot Of John Goodman In The 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival - Golden Nymphs Award Ceremony.

    John Goodman

The Emperor’s New Groove is an animated comedy film released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Mark Dindal, it follows the story of Emperor Kuzco, who is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor Yzma. Journeying with a humble villager named Pacha, Kuzco must reclaim his throne while navigating humorous and unexpected challenges. The film features voice work by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton.

Main Genre

Animation

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Outside of The Three Caballeros, there wasn’t much Latin representation in Disney for decades until Coco and Encanto. Now that it appears the studio has realized this deficit, there’s no better time to bring back The Emperor’s New Groove. Latin viewers would likely debate whether this movie counts since it takes place during the Incan empire, but one thing certain is that the original film included virtually no Latin representation whatsoever. David Spade, John Goodman, and the ever-welcome Patrick Warburton helped skyrocket that movie into the zeitgeist. But none of those actors scream “Incan” at first glance.

Setting a live-action remake in a pre-Colombian era and casting appropriate actors would be a good move for Disney. Many of those who have review-bombed their previous remakes over casting issues often claim that their primary issue is historical accuracy. This is a rare case in which race-blind casting would ultimately prove historically accurate, and it wouldn’t hurt the movie whatsoever. The movie might not feel the same without Eartha Kitt and Wendie Malick, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a hit while propelling new talent into the public eye.

7

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Only Controversial Because Of One Word

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Movie Poster

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

g

Musical

Family

ScreenRant logo

8/10

8/10

Release Date

June 21, 1996

Runtime

91minutes

Director

Gary Trousdale

Writers

Tab Murphy

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Tony Jay

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Tom Hulce

Disney’s take on the original novel written in 1831, The Huntchback of Notre Dame is an animated musical drama that sees a kind-hearted, deformed young man named Quasimodo who yearns to see the outside world is forced to live alone in the Notre Dame Cathedral as a bell ringer. When a group of traveling performers arrives in town, Quasimodo takes his chance to head out to see them, and his life is changed forever by a chance encounter with the equally kind-hearted Esmerelda. However, his caretaker, the cruel and iron-fisted Frollo, intends to hunt the Romani people down, jeopardizing the travelers’ lives.

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There’s actually been buzz for a while about a live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but nothing’s come of that thus far. It doesn’t help that language has evolved somewhat since the original film was released, so it’s no longer acceptable to refer to Esmerelda as a gypsy. That puts the movie in a very weird place, since it also likely wasn’t considered a slur at the time the film is set. Ultimately, they can’t acknowledge the word as offensive without breaking the timeline.

Non-Fairytale Disney Movies include Fantasia, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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However, there are still plenty of reasons it would be fun to see a live-action Hunchback movie. Firstly, there are numerous Hunchback fan theories that an extended film could explore, such as the idea that Quasimodo was based on a real person from 19-century Italy. That kind of idea doesn’t work for movies like The Little Mermaid because nobody wants to watch Eric fall in love with a manatee. But for a movie like this, drawing on real life could bring a lot of extra nuance to the film.

6

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Fans Have Wanted To See This For A While

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Atlantis: The Lost Empire

pg

Animation

Adventure

Family

Sci-Fi

8.5/10

Release Date

June 2, 2001

Runtime

95minutes

Director

Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Writers

Tab Murphy, Plato, David Reynolds, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Kirk Wise

Cast

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  • Headshot of Michael J. Fox

    Michael J. Fox

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Corey Burton

The 2D-animated Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire follows a linguist who leads an expedition to find the lost city of Atlantis and unlock its secrets. The 2001 sci-fi movie features an ensemble cast composed of Michael J. Fox as Milo Thatch and Cree Summer as Atlantian Princess Kida, as well as James Garner, Don Novello, Phil Morris, Jacqueline Obradors, Claudia Christian, Florence Stanley, Leonard Nimoy, David Ogden Stiers, John Mahoney, Jim Varney, and Corey Burton in supporting roles.

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One big problem with a lot of recent Disney remakes is that many take place in very few locations, and that’s intrinsically uninteresting to watch with an extended runtime. But while some consider Atlantis: The Lost Empire one of Disney’s weirdest movies, there’s almost no argument that Disney’s Atlantis is a film that takes its viewers on a bona fide adventure. Seeing that play out with real actors could make for one heck of a ride.

Imagery-from-Atlantis-The-Lost-Empire,-Tangled-and-The-Little-Mermaid

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The remake could even include some plot points from Disney’s canceled Atlantis sequel if it needs to hit some original story beats. The original already stands on its own, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one of few Disney movies besides Bolt and Toy Story to receive a decent video game adaptation. Drawing from extra content could only make the newer version that much better by association.

5

Treasure Planet (2002)

It’s Almost Impossible To Do This One Wrong

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Treasure Planet

pg

Adventure

8.4/10

Release Date

November 27, 2002

Runtime

95minutes

Director

John Musker

Writers

John Musker

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Joseph Gordon-Levitt In The Hollywood Critics Association's 2023 HCA Film Awards

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt

  • Headshot Of Martin Short

    Martin Short

Treasure Planet is a 2002 animated adventure and Fantasy film from Walt Disney studios. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the story follows a young boy named Jim Hawkins as he attempts to find a fabled treasure and mend ways with his father who abandoned him.

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There aren’t technically a lot of similarities between Atlantis and Treasure Planet, but the two movies often get lumped together by fans of Disney’s more obscure offerings. Treasure Planet is a unique take on a literary classic, and there are almost no scenes in the movie that wouldn’t translate well to a live-action adaptation. If Disney were to remake it, hordes of loving fans would rush to the theater to relive the joy of watching Arrow’s horrific murder. There are also a number of fans who’d love to see a live-action Amelia.

Hercules and Meg looking at each other and MEgamind looking at Roxanne

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Interestingly enough, there actually have been occasional rumors about a potential live-action Treasure Planet remake. Unfortunately, rumors are exactly what they’ve always been. As of now, Disney themselves have never actually addressed the idea of remaking Treasure Planet. But it’s worth noting that the bulk of their misfires have largely centered on their princess movies. A swarthy, space-faring adventure might be just the antidote they need.

4

The Princess And The Frog (2009)

Silence Disney’s Haters For Once And Forever

The Princess and the Frog Movie Poster

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The Princess and the Frog

g

Family

Musical

ScreenRant logo

9/10

10/10

Release Date

December 10, 2009

Runtime

97minutes

Director

John Musker

Writers

John Musker

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Anika Noni Rose

    Anika Noni Rose

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    John Musker

Based on the classic fairytale, The Princess and the Frog follow Tiana, a hardworking New Orleans waitress in the 1920s who has big dreams of opening her own restaurant. When she becomes involved in a curse set upon a foreign prince by a witch doctor, however, Tiana must figure out a way to help the prince break the curse before time runs out. The film features the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Cody, and John Goodman. 

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It’s been a sad reality for years that 90% of online references to The Princess and the Frog are made by people who’ve decided to fume over Disney hiring non-white actors for their live-action films. And because The Princess and the Frog takes subtle digs at segregation, those people are technically right that it’s pretty much impossible to make the movie as powerful if they change the races of the characters. But that’s also a very unique situation. Either way, Disney’s haters lose the ability to make theoretical arguments if the movie’s already been released in real life.

Tiana and Tangled's Rapunzel

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But this isn’t just about winning a petty war against review bombers. Disney kind of owes Tiana some love at this point, especially after Disney+ canceled Tiana’s sequel series. Tiana’s essentially become the most underrepresented Disney princess since Pocahontas, and the fact that hordes of Redditors keep mocking her specifically for her race just serves to underline why that’s a problem. And considering she spends enough time out of her own skin that you could cut a trailer without showing that she’s Black at all, it seems even more egregious that Disney hasn’t taken more chances on her.

3

Meet The Robinsons (2007)

A Great Family Film With Some Excellent Sci-Fi

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Meet the Robinsons

G

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Sci-Fi

8.8/10

Release Date

March 30, 2007

Runtime

95 Minutes

Director

Stephen J. Anderson

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Angela Bassett In The 2024 Disney Upfront

    Angela Bassett

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Daniel Hansen

Meet The Robinsons follows Lewis, a young inventor determined to find his birth mother. His journey takes a turn when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks him away to the future. Together, they face adventures and challenges that ultimately lead Lewis to uncover the significance of family and his place in the world. This animated film explores themes of innovation, belonging, and the importance of moving forward.

Main Genre

Animation

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There’s been a pretty large clamoring for a Meet the Robinsons sequel for years since the movie was first released, and it’s been long enough that we can probably assume that isn’t going to happen. But a live-action remake would be just as good, if not better. And the best part is that a Meet the Robinsons remake could likely get away with using a lot of the same cast. Adam West sadly couldn’t be included, but many others could.

The cast of Meet The Robinsons smile for a picture.

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Actors like Treasure Planet’s Laurie Metcalf, Nicole Sullivan, Harland Williams, Tom Selleck, and Angela Bassett could all appear, even if some have to take new roles. And there’s an argument to be made that Meet the Robinsons reusing actors wouldn’t feel as gimmicky as it did in The Lion King, solely because the movie’s a little less iconic. Not yet, anyway. Give us a live-action sci-fi adventure with a host of memorable characters, and that movie will become iconic overnight. Plus, since Meet the Robinsons is full of hidden details, a live-action expansion could make room to add even more.

2

Hercules (1997)

It Can Succeed Where Mulan Failed

Hercules Disney Movie Poster

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Hercules

G

Animation

Fantasy

Adventure

Comedy

Romance

10/10

Release Date

June 13, 1997

Runtime

93 Minutes

Director

John Musker, Ron Clements

Writers

John Musker, Ron Clements, Irene Mecchi, Don McEnery, Bob Shaw

Producers

Alice Dewey

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tate Donovan In The The John Ritter Foundation For Aortic

    Tate Donovan

    Hercules

  • Headshot Of Josh Keaton

    Josh Keaton

    Young Hercules

Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.

Main Genre

Animation

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After years of audiences complaining that Disney’s live-action remakes felt too similar to the original movies, Mulan flopped like a dead fish because it didn’t feel similar enough to the original movie. But if you want to remake a Disney classic while paying tribute to the original myth, Hercules is the way to go. Between the original myth and the little-known Disney Hercules sequel, a live-action Hercules remake has almost endless material from which to build an engaging story. Show him becoming an Argonaut, and that alone buys the obligatory extended runtime for a live-action remake.

Phil measuring Hercules' muscles in Hercules (1997)

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It would also be fun for the sake of casting alone. Although Meg isn’t an official Disney princess, she’s certainly a bombshell of a character. Does Disney cast someone who looks like her animated counterpart, or do they appease those complaining about historical accuracy by casting someone who looks more Mediterranean? And there’s a long list of men who could arguably play Herc, which would make for a fun casting choice of its own. Disney remakes are sometimes criticized as feeling soulless, but they’d really have to pull out all the stops to make that a complaint for Hercules.

1

The Black Cauldron (1985)

Disney Might Benefit From A Bit Of Darkness

The Black Cauldron 1985 Film Poster

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The Black Cauldron

PG

Animation

Adventure

Fantasy

8.9/10

Release Date

July 24, 1985

Runtime

80 Minutes

Director

Ted Berman, Richard Rich

Writers

Lloyd Alexander, David Jonas, Vance Gerry, Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Al Wilson

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Grant Bardsley

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Susan Sheridan

The Black Cauldron is an animated fantasy film from Walt Disney Studios, directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich. Released in 1985, it follows the young hero Taran and his quest to prevent the evil Horned King from obtaining a powerful magical relic known as the Black Cauldron. Featuring the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, and John Hurt, the film combines elements of adventure, mystery, and dark fantasy.

Main Genre

Animation

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Disney has one movie so obscure that its princess has become a heroine among hipsters, probably due in part to the fact that The Black Cauldron nearly killed Disney with how badly it tanked. It gained something of a cult following and an objectively awesome Sierra game, but The Black Cauldron didn’t even make half its production budget at the box office, making it one of the worst flops in Disney history.

Ariel from the little mermaid in front of skeletons

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That said, the movie also contains one of the best Disney villains and a rather unique story about a boy who really loves his pig and slightly loves saving the world from everlasting doom. And up-and-coming Kathryn Newton is pretty much a shoo-in to play Eilonwy and solidify her as a real Disney princess. While some might criticize movies like Snow White for allegedly not respecting the classics, Disney could do great things by revisiting movies that performed poorly. The Black Cauldron, as dark as it is, would be the perfect place to start.

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Snow White

PG

Family

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

5/10

259

3.3/10

Release Date

March 21, 2025

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Marc Webb

Writers

Erin Cressida Wilson, Wilhelm Grimm

Producers

Callum McDougall, Marc Platt

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Rachel Zegler

    Rachel Zegler

    Snow White

  • Headshot Of Gal Gadot

    Gal Gadot

    Evil Queen

A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The film follows Snow White as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs to elude her jealous stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is threatened by Snow White’s surpassing beauty.

Main Genre

Fantasy

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