Disney’s adaptation of The Sword in the Stone has the distinction of being the studio’s final animated film that was released within Walt Disney‘s lifetime. For the last few years, Walt Disney Pictures has been circling a live-action remake of The Sword in the Stone after enlisting Game of Thrones scribe Bryan Cogman to write the script. Now, a director has finally been found to update Disney’s take on the Arthurian legend.
Via The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Weeks Later‘s Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is in negotiations with Disney to direct The Sword in the Stone remake. Like the original, this film is based upon the novel of the same name by T.H. White. The story will explore King Arthur‘s life as a boy known as “Wart,” and his mentor Merlin.
THR‘s report speculates that Disney’s decision to hire Fresnadillo indicates a darker direction for this remake, which may even be in line with White’s revision of his own novel. The animated film took many of the lighter aspects from the first version of the book, including Merlin transforming himself and Wart into various animals that made it a whimsical and comedic take on the legend.
This live-action take could also see sequels if the studio adapts White’s The Once and Future King series: The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Made Knight, and The Candle in the Wind. Those books are more somber than Sword in the Stone, but there should be room to juggle the tone of the first film with the darker sequels (read: the Harry Potter franchise.) Disney hasn’t yet set a release date for The Sword in the Stone, but with a director on board, then casting should begin soon.
Should Disney’s remake of Sword in the Stone keep its comedic tone or go darker? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Images: Walt Disney Pictures
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH DISNEY NEWS!
- Cakeworthy makes some amazing accessories worthy of Walt.
- A new Disney park is coming to Tokyo.
- 9 things you may not know about Disney’s Aladdin.
