Disney Plus has released a new trailer for its forthcoming Peter Pan movie.
Peter Pan & Wendy is a forthcoming live-action reimagining of the 1911 Jm Barrie novel and the 1953 animated classic.
It stars Alexander Molony as the mischievous young boy and Ever Anderson as Wendy Darling.
The new trailer – released on Tuesday (28 February) – begins with a distraught Wendy encountering the famous Lost Boys in Neverland.
Fans also get a good look at Black-ish star Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, and Jude Law as the villainous role of Captain Hook. The trailer teases action scenes, with plenty of sword fighting and flying.
Viewers, however, are complaining that the trailer looks too dark for a kid’s movie.
“Why is the movie so dark? Where are the colours? It’s Peter Pan, not a funeral,” said one person.
Alongside screenshots of some particularly dark scenes in the film, another added: “David Lowry is a solid director.
Peter Pan & Wendy is a forthcoming live-action reimagining of the 1911 Jm Barrie novel and the 1953 animated classic.
It stars Alexander Molony as the mischievous young boy and Ever Anderson as Wendy Darling.
The new trailer – released on Tuesday (28 February) – begins with a distraught Wendy encountering the famous Lost Boys in Neverland.
Fans also get a good look at Black-ish star Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, and Jude Law as the villainous role of Captain Hook. The trailer teases action scenes, with plenty of sword fighting and flying.
Viewers, however, are complaining that the trailer looks too dark for a kid’s movie.
“Why is the movie so dark? Where are the colours? It’s Peter Pan, not a funeral,” said one person.
Alongside screenshots of some particularly dark scenes in the film, another added: “David Lowry is a solid director.
- 3/1/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - Film
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson’s feature debut, the slyly comedic Bottle Rocket, positions its heroes, three young wannabe criminals with an eye for small-scale robberies, as blind innocents, lost in the unfamiliar world of adulthood. As part of his 75-year plan, Dignan (Owen Wilson) forms a gang, consisting of himself, Anthony (Luke Wilson) who’s fresh out of a voluntary psychiatric hospital, and Bob (Robert Musgrave) who...
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson’s feature debut, the slyly comedic Bottle Rocket, positions its heroes, three young wannabe criminals with an eye for small-scale robberies, as blind innocents, lost in the unfamiliar world of adulthood. As part of his 75-year plan, Dignan (Owen Wilson) forms a gang, consisting of himself, Anthony (Luke Wilson) who’s fresh out of a voluntary psychiatric hospital, and Bob (Robert Musgrave) who...
- 9/1/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley announced today that the company has acquired North American and UK rights to Endgame Entertainment’s financed and produced true story Old Man And The Gun. The film, which has just wrapped production in Cincinnati, Ohio, is written and directed by David Lowrey (Pete's Dragon) and based on a short story by David Grann (The... Read More...
- 5/18/2017
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
The growing desire on the part of the House Of Mouse to wring every last remake opportunity from its entire back catalogue is something that sparks a number of debates about the evolution of cinema, and the part we play in that evolution as consumers. With 2015’s Cinderella having come and gone, and Beauty And The Beast now doing well at the box office, we’re currently staring down the barrel of at least a further 15 of these types of projects – featuring live-action re-imaginings of previously animated tales and characters. This being the case, it’s tempting to decry the dearth of new ideas and creations in Disney’s big screen output. But, while there is clearly merit to that argument, is there really no value to be found in these upcoming movies?
Disney’s developing slate of live-action re-imaginings is a mixture of remakes, sequels, and character-focused spinoffs – which...
Disney’s developing slate of live-action re-imaginings is a mixture of remakes, sequels, and character-focused spinoffs – which...
- 3/25/2017
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Back in September, Focus Features introduced Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona’s fantasy fable “A Monster Calls” at the Toronto Film Festival. I was wowed, as I had been by his first English-language film “The Impossible” (2012). This is a gifted filmmaker, as attested by his mentor-producer Guillermo del Toro, who hired him to direct “The Orphanage” and by Steven Spielberg, who hired Bayona to direct Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in “Jurassic World 2,” accompanied by his essential right-arm producer Belen Atienza, the Brian Grazer to his Ron Howard. They’re in prep now.
Bayona is poised to be the next Paul Verhoeven, Baltasar Kormákur, or Denis Villeneuve, someone who becomes a star in their own country and also can bridge the challenging cinematic culture of Hollywood. Bayona knows how to handle, with empathy and without sentimentality, intimate, emotional scenes with adults and children, plus action and VFX. He insisted on...
Bayona is poised to be the next Paul Verhoeven, Baltasar Kormákur, or Denis Villeneuve, someone who becomes a star in their own country and also can bridge the challenging cinematic culture of Hollywood. Bayona knows how to handle, with empathy and without sentimentality, intimate, emotional scenes with adults and children, plus action and VFX. He insisted on...
- 12/23/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Back in September, Focus Features introduced Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona’s fantasy fable “A Monster Calls” at the Toronto Film Festival. I was wowed, as I had been by his first English-language film “The Impossible” (2012). This is a gifted filmmaker, as attested by his mentor-producer Guillermo del Toro, who hired him to direct “The Orphanage” and by Steven Spielberg, who hired Bayona to direct Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in “Jurassic World 2,” accompanied by his essential right-arm producer Belen Atienza, the Brian Grazer to his Ron Howard. They’re in prep now.
Bayona is poised to be the next Paul Verhoeven, Baltasar Kormákur, or Denis Villeneuve, someone who becomes a star in their own country and also can bridge the challenging cinematic culture of Hollywood. Bayona knows how to handle, with empathy and without sentimentality, intimate, emotional scenes with adults and children, plus action and VFX. He insisted on...
Bayona is poised to be the next Paul Verhoeven, Baltasar Kormákur, or Denis Villeneuve, someone who becomes a star in their own country and also can bridge the challenging cinematic culture of Hollywood. Bayona knows how to handle, with empathy and without sentimentality, intimate, emotional scenes with adults and children, plus action and VFX. He insisted on...
- 12/23/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Author: Competitions
“Pete’s Dragon,” a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot — who just so happens to be a dragon – is out Now on Digital Download, Blu-ray™ and DVD. You could win this heartwarming adventure on Blu-ray™ to enjoy and just in time to entertain the entire family this Christmas!
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” including the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers/actors and hilarious bloopers.
“Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”) as Grace, a forest ranger in the Pacific Northwest who comes across 10-year- old Pete,...
“Pete’s Dragon,” a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot — who just so happens to be a dragon – is out Now on Digital Download, Blu-ray™ and DVD. You could win this heartwarming adventure on Blu-ray™ to enjoy and just in time to entertain the entire family this Christmas!
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” including the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers/actors and hilarious bloopers.
“Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”) as Grace, a forest ranger in the Pacific Northwest who comes across 10-year- old Pete,...
- 12/12/2016
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Does anybody still care about great movies for small children? If so, here’s a good one. A big, furry green dragon named Elliot is the kind of playmate every lonely kid wants. It’s a non-musical rethinking of the old 1977 movie, made with taste, discretion, and plenty of heart.
Pete’s Dragon
Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Walt Disney Studios
2016 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 103 min. / Street Date November 29, 2016 / 39.99
Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence, Isiah Whitlock Jr. .
Cinematography Bojan Bazelli
Film Editor Lisa Zeno Churgin
Original Music Daniel hart
Written by David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks based on screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein based on a story by Seton I. Miller, S.S. Field
Produced by James Whitaker
Directed by David Lowery
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I think I watched only about four minutes of the old Pete’s Dragon on TV long ago, before ditching out.
Pete’s Dragon
Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Walt Disney Studios
2016 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 103 min. / Street Date November 29, 2016 / 39.99
Starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence, Isiah Whitlock Jr. .
Cinematography Bojan Bazelli
Film Editor Lisa Zeno Churgin
Original Music Daniel hart
Written by David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks based on screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein based on a story by Seton I. Miller, S.S. Field
Produced by James Whitaker
Directed by David Lowery
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
I think I watched only about four minutes of the old Pete’s Dragon on TV long ago, before ditching out.
- 12/3/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The preliminary shortlist of VFX Oscar contenders has been narrowed to 20 by the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee, with Disney’s hybrid frontrunner, “The Jungle Book,” joined by “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and the surprising “Kubo and the Two Strings,” the stop-motion animated feature from Laika, which is uncommon for the category.
Read More: ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’: How Laika Made Their Innovative Moon Beast
Other highlights include six superhero movies from the Marvel and DC universes (including “Doctor Strange,” “Deadpool” and “Suicide Squad”), Denis Villeneuve’s alien contact thriller, “Arrival,” Steven Spielberg’s Roald Dahl adaptation, “The Bfg,” “Star Trek Beyond” and Clint Eastwood’s “Sully.”
Two glaring omissions, however, were Juan Antonio Bayona’s critically-acclaimed “A Monster Calls” and David Lowery’s delightful “Pete’s Dragon” remake.
Later this month, the committee will select the 10 films that will advance to nominations voting,...
Read More: ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’: How Laika Made Their Innovative Moon Beast
Other highlights include six superhero movies from the Marvel and DC universes (including “Doctor Strange,” “Deadpool” and “Suicide Squad”), Denis Villeneuve’s alien contact thriller, “Arrival,” Steven Spielberg’s Roald Dahl adaptation, “The Bfg,” “Star Trek Beyond” and Clint Eastwood’s “Sully.”
Two glaring omissions, however, were Juan Antonio Bayona’s critically-acclaimed “A Monster Calls” and David Lowery’s delightful “Pete’s Dragon” remake.
Later this month, the committee will select the 10 films that will advance to nominations voting,...
- 12/2/2016
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Always Shine (Sophia Takal)
With the excess of low-budget, retreat-in-the-woods dramas often finding characters hashing out their insecurities through a meta-narrative, a certain initial resistance can occur when presented with such a derivative scenario at virtually every film festival. While Sophia Takal‘s psychological drama Always Shine ultimately stumbles, the chemistry of its leads and a sense of foreboding dread in its formal execution ensures its heightened view of...
Always Shine (Sophia Takal)
With the excess of low-budget, retreat-in-the-woods dramas often finding characters hashing out their insecurities through a meta-narrative, a certain initial resistance can occur when presented with such a derivative scenario at virtually every film festival. While Sophia Takal‘s psychological drama Always Shine ultimately stumbles, the chemistry of its leads and a sense of foreboding dread in its formal execution ensures its heightened view of...
- 12/2/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Kenneth Lonergan’s heartbreaking “Manchester By the Sea” debuted to stellar reviews earlier this year at Sundance, and the Casey Affleck-starrer has so far managed to keep up the momentum as we roll into awards season. The film — inspired by an early idea from Matt Damon and John Krasinski, who are both credited as producers on the feature — is a tragedy told in a way that only Lonergan could truly master.
On the surface, it’s a film about a loner (Affleck) who is forced to return to his small hometown to care for his nephew (breakout Lucas Hedges) after his father (Kyle Chander) passes away. Yet there are many other stories to tell within “Manchester By the Sea,” including the story that explains why Affleck’s Lee Chandler is so distant and removed from, well, just about everything in his life. It’s a story that steadily unfolds throughout the film,...
On the surface, it’s a film about a loner (Affleck) who is forced to return to his small hometown to care for his nephew (breakout Lucas Hedges) after his father (Kyle Chander) passes away. Yet there are many other stories to tell within “Manchester By the Sea,” including the story that explains why Affleck’s Lee Chandler is so distant and removed from, well, just about everything in his life. It’s a story that steadily unfolds throughout the film,...
- 11/28/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Pete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers. Today’s announcement also ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 29; just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season.
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look...
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look...
- 11/23/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
When you first heard that Pete’s Dragon was coming to theaters, you probably expected something that would become one of the biggest films of the year. Of course, the cynical among us probably expected something to ruin their childhood.
Either way, once Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford were attached, you had to take notice. But, in a year that was filled with bizarre disappointments, the movie didn’t take off the way it deserved.
Well, it’s headed home, and if you didn’t catch it in theaters, you really want to mark your calendars, because I know a lot of younger audiences didn’t get a chance to see this, and they’re going to love it. The release is pretty loaded with bonuses too, but in keeping with the current trend, they may not be things that younger viewers are especially interested in.
Take a look at all the info below,...
Either way, once Bryce Dallas Howard and Robert Redford were attached, you had to take notice. But, in a year that was filled with bizarre disappointments, the movie didn’t take off the way it deserved.
Well, it’s headed home, and if you didn’t catch it in theaters, you really want to mark your calendars, because I know a lot of younger audiences didn’t get a chance to see this, and they’re going to love it. The release is pretty loaded with bonuses too, but in keeping with the current trend, they may not be things that younger viewers are especially interested in.
Take a look at all the info below,...
- 11/10/2016
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Burbank, Calif., Oct. 14, 2016 — Pete’s Dragon, a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot — who just so happens to be a dragon — comes home on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand. And the timing couldn’t be better: Today’s announcement ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season.
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers.
Pete’s Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard...
Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers.
Pete’s Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard...
- 10/15/2016
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
J.A. Bayona nailed the manipulative power of filmmaking with his brilliant debut, the elegant and creepy 2007 horror film “The Orphanage.” He shifted modes, with far less satisfying results, in 2012’s “The Impossible,” a mawkish portrait of white survivors in the Indonesian tsunami.
For his third feature—and the last before he upgrades to the blockbuster arena to tackle the sequel to “Jurassic World”—Bayona finds a satisfying balance between his first two efforts, juggling the elements of a gothic fairy tale with the more straightforward beats of a sentimental cancer drama. “A Monster Calls,” Bayona’s impressive adaptation of Patrick Ness’ novel, finds a 12-year-old British child coping with his mother’s imminent death by envisioning a fantastical creature that guides him through his grief. It’s a touching scenario, and one so well-acted and laced with superb special effects that even its more obvious beats cut deep.
Ness, who...
For his third feature—and the last before he upgrades to the blockbuster arena to tackle the sequel to “Jurassic World”—Bayona finds a satisfying balance between his first two efforts, juggling the elements of a gothic fairy tale with the more straightforward beats of a sentimental cancer drama. “A Monster Calls,” Bayona’s impressive adaptation of Patrick Ness’ novel, finds a 12-year-old British child coping with his mother’s imminent death by envisioning a fantastical creature that guides him through his grief. It’s a touching scenario, and one so well-acted and laced with superb special effects that even its more obvious beats cut deep.
Ness, who...
- 9/9/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Every week, the CriticWire Survey asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday morning. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?” can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: What was the best film of summer 2016?
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Rolling Stone
Gosh, where to start! It’s been a banner summer if, like me, you enjoy submerging yourself in vast unending ocean of incomprehensible bullshit at the movies. There was “Suicide Squad,” which is to plot structure what the Elephant Man is to facial bone structure. Loved me some “X-Men: Apocalypse,” an epic battle between an uncomfortable-looking ensemble of interesting-to-talented actors and a script intent on turning them all into cardboard cutouts. “The Shallows” was fun in the way that completing the maze on the back of a cereal box is fun,...
This week’s question: What was the best film of summer 2016?
Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse), Rolling Stone
Gosh, where to start! It’s been a banner summer if, like me, you enjoy submerging yourself in vast unending ocean of incomprehensible bullshit at the movies. There was “Suicide Squad,” which is to plot structure what the Elephant Man is to facial bone structure. Loved me some “X-Men: Apocalypse,” an epic battle between an uncomfortable-looking ensemble of interesting-to-talented actors and a script intent on turning them all into cardboard cutouts. “The Shallows” was fun in the way that completing the maze on the back of a cereal box is fun,...
- 8/22/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
When 2016 is said and done, Pete’s Dragon will be a pleasant surprise in an otherwise bust-worthy year for blockbusters. With no affinity felt towards Don Chaffey’s 1977 live-action cartoon, Disney had a clean slate with this critic, and boy did they capitalize. Gone are the musical numbers and more unrealistic aspects, in favor of a touching familial dramedy about a boy, his dragon and their tremendous bond.
This has been a year where critics and viewers seem to really be lapping up Disney’s Kool-Aid, but when it tastes this good (think Strawberry Kiwi laced with kid-friendly cocaine), there’s a damn fine reason why. Quiet your conspiracy talk – Disney is riding one of the craziest studio hot-streaks in cinema history (Shhh, Tomorrowland never happened), and that’s not because of bribery or bias.
Director David Lowery and co-writer Toby Halbrooks stay true to Disney’s original dragon tale,...
This has been a year where critics and viewers seem to really be lapping up Disney’s Kool-Aid, but when it tastes this good (think Strawberry Kiwi laced with kid-friendly cocaine), there’s a damn fine reason why. Quiet your conspiracy talk – Disney is riding one of the craziest studio hot-streaks in cinema history (Shhh, Tomorrowland never happened), and that’s not because of bribery or bias.
Director David Lowery and co-writer Toby Halbrooks stay true to Disney’s original dragon tale,...
- 8/10/2016
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
More like a pleasant walk in a redwood forest with a boy and his dragon than a rollicking adventure, but its serenity and warm heart are infectious. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
I suppose this new Pete’s Dragon falls under the umbrella of Disney’s ongoing project to produce live-action remakes of all of its animated features. The 1977 film was mostly live-action, of course, except for the key element of the mischievous giant reptile itself, which was really cartoonish visually. The opportunity for a dragon do-over in the era of lifelike CGI must have been irresistible.
And this new dragon — again called Elliot — is a delight and a marvel: a sweet-faced creature of green fur and exuberant spirit, he may be monstrously enormous, but there’s little of the monster about him. He...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
I suppose this new Pete’s Dragon falls under the umbrella of Disney’s ongoing project to produce live-action remakes of all of its animated features. The 1977 film was mostly live-action, of course, except for the key element of the mischievous giant reptile itself, which was really cartoonish visually. The opportunity for a dragon do-over in the era of lifelike CGI must have been irresistible.
And this new dragon — again called Elliot — is a delight and a marvel: a sweet-faced creature of green fur and exuberant spirit, he may be monstrously enormous, but there’s little of the monster about him. He...
- 8/8/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Acclaimed indie director James Ponsoldt is being called up to the big leagues. Disney has announced it is in early development on “Wild City,” an ambitious CGI/live-action hybrid adventure that comes from an original idea by Ponsoldt. The movie will be the first studio film in the director’s career, and he’ll also tackle writing duties. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news.
Read More: James Ponsoldt on Why ‘The End of the Tour’ Is Not a David Foster Wallace Biopic
Ponsoldt first broke out with his 2012 drama “Smashed,” which starred Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul and ended up winning the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing at the Sundance Film Festival. He earned rave reviews for coming-of-age romance “The Spectacular Now” and last year’s David Foster Wallace drama “The End Of The Tour,” which many had hoped would find...
Read More: James Ponsoldt on Why ‘The End of the Tour’ Is Not a David Foster Wallace Biopic
Ponsoldt first broke out with his 2012 drama “Smashed,” which starred Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul and ended up winning the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing at the Sundance Film Festival. He earned rave reviews for coming-of-age romance “The Spectacular Now” and last year’s David Foster Wallace drama “The End Of The Tour,” which many had hoped would find...
- 8/4/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
In some ways, Pete’s Dragon seemed like an unlikely candidate for a remake. The original was seen by plenty of people, but wasn’t exactly an acclaimed classic on par with Cinderella or The Jungle Book (both of which have also recently gotten remakes from Disney). And even once we knew a Pete’s Dragon remake was coming, David Lowery seemed like […]
The post ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Early Buzz: David Lowery’s Sweet, Sincere Remake Improves on the Original appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Early Buzz: David Lowery’s Sweet, Sincere Remake Improves on the Original appeared first on /Film.
- 7/27/2016
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Elliot and Pete may be the beating heart of David Lowery’s magical reboot, but in today’s first clip for Pete’s Dragon, the House of Mouse shifts gears to shine the spotlight on Mr. Meacham and Grace’s relationship.
Played by Robert Redford and Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard, respectively, the father-daughter dynamic underpinning Disney’s live-action reimagining appears to harbor some old wounds, with Howard’s character subtly referring to her own childhood spent under the monstrous shadow of a mystical dragon — and her father’s obsession with said reptile.
How much screentime Pete’s Dragon will devote to Redford and Howard is up for question but at least based on this clip, we’re intrigued to see how their relationship pans out throughout the course of Disney’s adventure. Taking point as the wide-eyed Pete is newcomer Oakes Fegley, flanked by a cast that includes Howard,...
Played by Robert Redford and Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard, respectively, the father-daughter dynamic underpinning Disney’s live-action reimagining appears to harbor some old wounds, with Howard’s character subtly referring to her own childhood spent under the monstrous shadow of a mystical dragon — and her father’s obsession with said reptile.
How much screentime Pete’s Dragon will devote to Redford and Howard is up for question but at least based on this clip, we’re intrigued to see how their relationship pans out throughout the course of Disney’s adventure. Taking point as the wide-eyed Pete is newcomer Oakes Fegley, flanked by a cast that includes Howard,...
- 7/11/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Meet Elliot. He’s not your traditional friend. Rather than dreaming up trivial games and generally revelling in childhood innocence, Elliot spends much of his existence cowering in a lush forest far, far away from any human settlement. That’s largely because Elliot is a dragon – Pete’s Dragon, to be specific – and you can see him take flight in today’s latest TV spot for David Lowery’s feature film.
Lowery, best known for his work on Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, has pitched the movie as a fully-fledged remake of the 1977 flick, this time lending a sense of realism to the titular beast by blending CGI and live-action sequences. After rendering much of Middle-earth and, crucially, Smaug, it’s understood Weta Digital is the company bringing Pete’s Dragon to life.
Relative newcomer Oakes Fegley will anchor the action as Pete, a wide-eyed boy who befriends Elliot and,...
Lowery, best known for his work on Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, has pitched the movie as a fully-fledged remake of the 1977 flick, this time lending a sense of realism to the titular beast by blending CGI and live-action sequences. After rendering much of Middle-earth and, crucially, Smaug, it’s understood Weta Digital is the company bringing Pete’s Dragon to life.
Relative newcomer Oakes Fegley will anchor the action as Pete, a wide-eyed boy who befriends Elliot and,...
- 7/4/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Watch the brand new trailer for Disney’s Pete’S Dragon, featuring spectacular never-before-seen footage of Pete’s dragon, Elliot.
See the film when it flies onto the big screen in 3D August 12.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, Pete’S Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon.
The movie stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley).
Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
Website: www.disney.com/petesdragon
Like on Facebook: http://facebook.com/disneypetesdragon
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/disneypetes
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The post Bryce Dallas Howard Stars In New Trailer For Disney’s Pete’S Dragon appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
See the film when it flies onto the big screen in 3D August 12.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, Pete’S Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon.
The movie stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley).
Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
Website: www.disney.com/petesdragon
Like on Facebook: http://facebook.com/disneypetesdragon
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/disneypetes
Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneypetesdragon
Snapchat: disneystudio
The post Bryce Dallas Howard Stars In New Trailer For Disney’s Pete’S Dragon appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.
- 6/14/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
While some may already feel burned-out by the summer movie season, there are more promising films to come. One of our most-anticipated features will arrive in mid-August. It’s David Lowery‘s follow-up to his sublime drama Ain’t Them Bodies Saints: a reboot of Disney’s 1977 Pete’s Dragon. If you’ve never seen the original, it follows a orphan kid who brings his magical dragon to a new town. With a cast featuring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Karl Urban, and Wes Bentley, a new trailer has now arrived.
“We explored pink, just to see what would happen,” Lowery tells EW, commenting on his title character’s design. “From the get-go, the aesthetic was always to make everything feel as handmade as possible, including effects. To really have it feel like a blur between a very grounded realistic world and a world in which a big green dragon that can turn invisible can exist.” Check out the new trailer and poster below.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
Pete’s Dragon opens on August 12th.
“We explored pink, just to see what would happen,” Lowery tells EW, commenting on his title character’s design. “From the get-go, the aesthetic was always to make everything feel as handmade as possible, including effects. To really have it feel like a blur between a very grounded realistic world and a world in which a big green dragon that can turn invisible can exist.” Check out the new trailer and poster below.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
Pete’s Dragon opens on August 12th.
- 6/14/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
“I look back at childhood as an adventure,” director David Lowery says. In his latest film, what he calls “a Pete’s Dragon for a new generation,” he’s aiming to recapture that sense of wonder for audiences who may not have ever seen the 1977 movie. Last week, Disney invited me to the studio’s El Capitan Theatre in the heart of Hollywood to check out an early presentation of the new remake, including a look at some new footage and a conversation with Lowery and star Bryce Dallas Howard.
The director showed us a few quick scenes from the film that gave us a wide sample of the kinds of things he does in the film, from establishing the character of Howard’s pragmatic forest ranger and her more precocious father (an old storyteller, played by Robert Redford with a twinkle in his eye); to a big truck chase sequence teased in the trailers; to joyous scenes of Pete (Oakes Fegley) and his dragon Elliot playing, soaring through the sky, and hanging out together in the woods. The visuals look outstanding — the dragon riding is miles ahead of what we’ve seen from Dany on Game of Thrones so far — and there’s also a soulful tone here that should be an interesting break from the bombast of typical summer movie fare.
Read on for six things we learned about the new movie that you should know before you see it.
Bryce Dallas Howard Wanted This Job Because It Wasn’t A Straight-Up Remake
Howard, coming off Jurassic World in which she also starred opposite some large CG lizard creatures, said she actively chased this role as soon as she found out Lowery’s take on the material.
“Before I read the script, I had heard it was not a straight-up remake, and that was [why I said yes]. Because I love [the original] Pete’s Dragon — I have the little board book for my kids and I read it to them constantly — and with me loving it, I didn’t want it to just be a copycat. We’ve seen a lot of those, some of them are great, some of them don’t work, but I felt like the story and the themes within the original film was what the charm of that movie was…I think what has centered that film and what has made that film last was the central idea of friendship with an imaginary friend when you have no family. And then, voila, it’s not such an imaginary friend. So when I heard it wasn’t a straight-up remake, I was like, ‘yes, I’d love to be a part of that.’ Also, I can’t help it — I’m a parent and I want there to be beautiful films out there that have innocence, are timeless, and have really beautiful values without being didactic.” The Setting Was Key For The Film’s Success
Lowery, who co-wrote the script with Toby Halbrooks, talked about how the idea of setting the movie in modern day never appealed to him. He’s always aiming for a timeless feel in his films, and it seemed like he found an excellent way to achieve that:
“The movie is set somewhere vaguely in the Pacific Northwest. We never quite say where it is, we never quite say when it is. Sometime vaguely in the past. If any of you have seen my other movies, you know I really love to do the whole ‘timeless’ thing, and this movie definitely plays into that.I feel when you have a movie that has a fantastical concept in it, you can accept it more easily if it has the veil of time being over it. To set something in the past, you’re a little more accepting of the idea that there might be magic there that you might have overlooked in your own past. I also find that the movies I return to and the ones I love the most — there are films about a specific time and place, if you want to see a historical epic, great, I’m glad they’re so specific — but there are other films that endure because they don’t root themselves in a specific time and they don’t say ‘this is a film about here and now.’ I didn’t want this film to feel contemporary, because I felt if it was contemporary, if someone pulls out an iPhone, all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Ok, that’s an iPhone 4. This was made in 2010.’ And then you put that against a dragon and you kind of get this weird disparity that doesn’t quite work. So by setting it in the past and not making a big deal out of it — we never put a title card that says this is what year it is. That was part of the look of the film, the production design that we did. You pull some cars from the early ‘80s, pull some cars from the ’70s, kind of make everything congeal into this cohesive whole that doesn’t have a literal date on it but feels just yesterday.”
The era wasn’t the only important factor — finding the perfect place to shoot their forest sequences was a big deal. Turns out New Zealand had exactly what the production was looking for. Lowery explained:
“I just like things to be real, that’s just me, I’m always going to gravitate toward that. So when we were planning this, I was like, ‘Look, if we’re going to have a CG dragon, let’s make everything else real and use as little green screen as possible.’ So we went to New Zealand because it’s set in a slightly elevated, more magical version of the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand has plenty of magic, had the forest we needed, had the weather we needed, and Weta Digital was there, which was very convenient.”
They’d go as far as to drive two hours into secluded forest every day to truly capture “the best version of being out in the woods.” It certainly shows; the footage we saw had a quiet, ethereal feel to being outside, and it truly did feel like we were seeing a place that hadn’t ever been inhabited by humanity.
The Dragon Had To Be Furry
Lowery spoke about how important it was to treat Elliot as a legitimate character, one who can emote and isn’t just a CG beast lumbering through the woods. The dragon is one half of the film’s most important relationship, so he had to be handled carefully in the design stage, and avoiding scaly dragons like the ones on Game of Thrones was a big priority for the filmmakers:
“One of the things we wanted to do with this movie was really sell the idea of friendship between a child and a creature, which really comes down to your favorite pet as a child or the relationship you have with a dog or something like that. The really close bond you have with an animal. We really wanted to try to hit home the heart of that, but with a creature that’s twenty times the size of a normal household pet…Even though he is a dragon — a magical creature that can turn invisible — we really wanted to treat him like a character, and really let that character come through.The very first hook I had when I met the producers of this film, we didn’t even have a pitch yet, but I was like, ‘I want the dragon to be furry.’ And that’s because I love my cats and I was probably petting my cat and saying, ‘I wish this guy was twenty feet tall’ or something. (laughs) They really are based on my cats. They have their own Instagram account if anyone wants to follow them. They’re 2orangeguys on Instagram. I was like, ‘Look, if you put a Game of Thrones dragon in this, he’s going to be scaly, kind of cold, he’ll be cool, but I want this to be the kind of dragon you really want to give a hug to and that I want to give a hug to and snuggle up with.’ There’s no reason dragons can’t be furry. I went through the design process of figuring out what design choices would break the idea of being a dragon. There are certain things we found we can’t do. When we tried to do different things with the wings, it started to feel like a chimera, or other various mythical beasts. A sphinx, sometimes. But if you kept the wings, kept the tail, kept the ridges on the back, you can kind of have fun with the rest of the design and it still feels like a dragon. The fur was an integral part to the design for me. That made the character.” Lowery Used an Unorthodox Method to Confirm He Had The Perfect Pete
When it came to finding the right Pete, Lowery knew he wanted a child actor that didn’t have the polish of an actor you might find on stage or on a Disney Channel show. “I wanted someone who was a little unvarnished and not perfect, who didn’t have that sort of trained quality,” he said. “I often find that if a ten-year-old can cry on cue, that is an amazing skill that I am envious of, but usually that’s not what I’m looking for.” His casting director did a worldwide casting search, and when Oakes Fegley walked in the room, Lowery knew he’d found his star. But he cemented that decision in an unusual way: he asked Oakes to build something with the chairs in the room, and he just sat back and watched. If Lowery and Howard’s stories about the young actor are accurate, Oakes sounds like a totally relaxed, normal kid, not at all pretentious or corrupted by weird stage parents, so when he started stacking a trash can on top of some chairs and Lowery could see him working things out and adjusting little details, he knew for sure he’d found his Pete. “He had a sensitivity, but also a resilience where you believe he could survive in the conditions his character has survived in,” Lowery said. “He’s really tough and scrappy, but also so quiet and sensitive, the perfect balance.”
Lowery Was Heavily Influenced By Foreign Films
Movies that are about children can often talk down to them or even have disdain for them, but Lowery took a lot of inspiration from foreign films about how to make sure the movie treated kids with respect and talked to them as equals:
“There is a great legacy of films about children, whether they are films like E.T., The NeverEnding Story, The Black Stallion, or other films like Ponette, the French film about the girl who lost her parents is really important to me. The Red Balloon is a wonderful story capturing the imagination of childhood in a very specific way. I could list off all the foreign films that I love that do a good job of that, but I think it’s important to think of those movies because I know a lot of teachers who show The Red Balloon in their classes to kindergartners because it’s the kind of thing kids respond to. Same with Miyazaki stuff, which I think is important to show kids. Obviously there’s a ton of great entertainment for children, but I love things that let kids see the emotional side of themselves.” You Won’t See (or Hear) References To The Original Film
When asked whether we’d hear an homage to the music of the ’77 film, Lowery gave perhaps the most refreshing answer of the day:
“No. We do have a song in the movie and you’ll find out how it plays into the plot when you see it, but we don’t [have any homages to the first movie]. I really wanted to sort of avoid the winks and the nods, not because the original is not great, but because I wanted this to really exist in its own realm. The best thing is for audiences who love the original to see this and say, ‘This is a great new film about a boy named Pete, and Elliot.’ And if kids haven’t seen the original, this will be the first time they’ve seen it. And there won’t be that moment where all of the adults go, ‘Oh, yeah,’ and the kids look over and go, ‘What? I don’t get it. What is it?’ So we avoided that. We talked about it, we talked about having references, but ultimately felt it was the purer tactic. I’ve seen a lot of remakes that do that and it always takes me out of a movie because it’s a little wink.”
As someone who thinks references like that can be distracting and often obnoxious, I find it incredibly promising that Lowery has the confidence in his movie to try to have it stand on its own as much as possible. Even with seeing the extra footage we saw, it’s still tough to tell whether this movie is going to be a new classic, a whiffed remake attempt, or somewhere in between, but at least it won’t be a deep dive into nostalgia for another film. (Nostalgia for childhood? Yes. For another movie? No.)
In any case, Lowery’s enthusiasm is certainly evident, and regardless of how the film turns out, his heart is clearly in the right place here. His vision for the film sounds great, so I’m hoping he’s able to translate that vision to audiences in an enjoyable way. “I want you to get a sense of the scope and action and fun and adventure this movie has,” he beamed before showing off a new clip, “because ultimately it really is an adventure.” The adventure begins when Pete’s Dragon flies into theaters on August 12, 2016.
The director showed us a few quick scenes from the film that gave us a wide sample of the kinds of things he does in the film, from establishing the character of Howard’s pragmatic forest ranger and her more precocious father (an old storyteller, played by Robert Redford with a twinkle in his eye); to a big truck chase sequence teased in the trailers; to joyous scenes of Pete (Oakes Fegley) and his dragon Elliot playing, soaring through the sky, and hanging out together in the woods. The visuals look outstanding — the dragon riding is miles ahead of what we’ve seen from Dany on Game of Thrones so far — and there’s also a soulful tone here that should be an interesting break from the bombast of typical summer movie fare.
Read on for six things we learned about the new movie that you should know before you see it.
Bryce Dallas Howard Wanted This Job Because It Wasn’t A Straight-Up Remake
Howard, coming off Jurassic World in which she also starred opposite some large CG lizard creatures, said she actively chased this role as soon as she found out Lowery’s take on the material.
“Before I read the script, I had heard it was not a straight-up remake, and that was [why I said yes]. Because I love [the original] Pete’s Dragon — I have the little board book for my kids and I read it to them constantly — and with me loving it, I didn’t want it to just be a copycat. We’ve seen a lot of those, some of them are great, some of them don’t work, but I felt like the story and the themes within the original film was what the charm of that movie was…I think what has centered that film and what has made that film last was the central idea of friendship with an imaginary friend when you have no family. And then, voila, it’s not such an imaginary friend. So when I heard it wasn’t a straight-up remake, I was like, ‘yes, I’d love to be a part of that.’ Also, I can’t help it — I’m a parent and I want there to be beautiful films out there that have innocence, are timeless, and have really beautiful values without being didactic.” The Setting Was Key For The Film’s Success
Lowery, who co-wrote the script with Toby Halbrooks, talked about how the idea of setting the movie in modern day never appealed to him. He’s always aiming for a timeless feel in his films, and it seemed like he found an excellent way to achieve that:
“The movie is set somewhere vaguely in the Pacific Northwest. We never quite say where it is, we never quite say when it is. Sometime vaguely in the past. If any of you have seen my other movies, you know I really love to do the whole ‘timeless’ thing, and this movie definitely plays into that.I feel when you have a movie that has a fantastical concept in it, you can accept it more easily if it has the veil of time being over it. To set something in the past, you’re a little more accepting of the idea that there might be magic there that you might have overlooked in your own past. I also find that the movies I return to and the ones I love the most — there are films about a specific time and place, if you want to see a historical epic, great, I’m glad they’re so specific — but there are other films that endure because they don’t root themselves in a specific time and they don’t say ‘this is a film about here and now.’ I didn’t want this film to feel contemporary, because I felt if it was contemporary, if someone pulls out an iPhone, all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Ok, that’s an iPhone 4. This was made in 2010.’ And then you put that against a dragon and you kind of get this weird disparity that doesn’t quite work. So by setting it in the past and not making a big deal out of it — we never put a title card that says this is what year it is. That was part of the look of the film, the production design that we did. You pull some cars from the early ‘80s, pull some cars from the ’70s, kind of make everything congeal into this cohesive whole that doesn’t have a literal date on it but feels just yesterday.”
The era wasn’t the only important factor — finding the perfect place to shoot their forest sequences was a big deal. Turns out New Zealand had exactly what the production was looking for. Lowery explained:
“I just like things to be real, that’s just me, I’m always going to gravitate toward that. So when we were planning this, I was like, ‘Look, if we’re going to have a CG dragon, let’s make everything else real and use as little green screen as possible.’ So we went to New Zealand because it’s set in a slightly elevated, more magical version of the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand has plenty of magic, had the forest we needed, had the weather we needed, and Weta Digital was there, which was very convenient.”
They’d go as far as to drive two hours into secluded forest every day to truly capture “the best version of being out in the woods.” It certainly shows; the footage we saw had a quiet, ethereal feel to being outside, and it truly did feel like we were seeing a place that hadn’t ever been inhabited by humanity.
The Dragon Had To Be Furry
Lowery spoke about how important it was to treat Elliot as a legitimate character, one who can emote and isn’t just a CG beast lumbering through the woods. The dragon is one half of the film’s most important relationship, so he had to be handled carefully in the design stage, and avoiding scaly dragons like the ones on Game of Thrones was a big priority for the filmmakers:
“One of the things we wanted to do with this movie was really sell the idea of friendship between a child and a creature, which really comes down to your favorite pet as a child or the relationship you have with a dog or something like that. The really close bond you have with an animal. We really wanted to try to hit home the heart of that, but with a creature that’s twenty times the size of a normal household pet…Even though he is a dragon — a magical creature that can turn invisible — we really wanted to treat him like a character, and really let that character come through.The very first hook I had when I met the producers of this film, we didn’t even have a pitch yet, but I was like, ‘I want the dragon to be furry.’ And that’s because I love my cats and I was probably petting my cat and saying, ‘I wish this guy was twenty feet tall’ or something. (laughs) They really are based on my cats. They have their own Instagram account if anyone wants to follow them. They’re 2orangeguys on Instagram. I was like, ‘Look, if you put a Game of Thrones dragon in this, he’s going to be scaly, kind of cold, he’ll be cool, but I want this to be the kind of dragon you really want to give a hug to and that I want to give a hug to and snuggle up with.’ There’s no reason dragons can’t be furry. I went through the design process of figuring out what design choices would break the idea of being a dragon. There are certain things we found we can’t do. When we tried to do different things with the wings, it started to feel like a chimera, or other various mythical beasts. A sphinx, sometimes. But if you kept the wings, kept the tail, kept the ridges on the back, you can kind of have fun with the rest of the design and it still feels like a dragon. The fur was an integral part to the design for me. That made the character.” Lowery Used an Unorthodox Method to Confirm He Had The Perfect Pete
When it came to finding the right Pete, Lowery knew he wanted a child actor that didn’t have the polish of an actor you might find on stage or on a Disney Channel show. “I wanted someone who was a little unvarnished and not perfect, who didn’t have that sort of trained quality,” he said. “I often find that if a ten-year-old can cry on cue, that is an amazing skill that I am envious of, but usually that’s not what I’m looking for.” His casting director did a worldwide casting search, and when Oakes Fegley walked in the room, Lowery knew he’d found his star. But he cemented that decision in an unusual way: he asked Oakes to build something with the chairs in the room, and he just sat back and watched. If Lowery and Howard’s stories about the young actor are accurate, Oakes sounds like a totally relaxed, normal kid, not at all pretentious or corrupted by weird stage parents, so when he started stacking a trash can on top of some chairs and Lowery could see him working things out and adjusting little details, he knew for sure he’d found his Pete. “He had a sensitivity, but also a resilience where you believe he could survive in the conditions his character has survived in,” Lowery said. “He’s really tough and scrappy, but also so quiet and sensitive, the perfect balance.”
Lowery Was Heavily Influenced By Foreign Films
Movies that are about children can often talk down to them or even have disdain for them, but Lowery took a lot of inspiration from foreign films about how to make sure the movie treated kids with respect and talked to them as equals:
“There is a great legacy of films about children, whether they are films like E.T., The NeverEnding Story, The Black Stallion, or other films like Ponette, the French film about the girl who lost her parents is really important to me. The Red Balloon is a wonderful story capturing the imagination of childhood in a very specific way. I could list off all the foreign films that I love that do a good job of that, but I think it’s important to think of those movies because I know a lot of teachers who show The Red Balloon in their classes to kindergartners because it’s the kind of thing kids respond to. Same with Miyazaki stuff, which I think is important to show kids. Obviously there’s a ton of great entertainment for children, but I love things that let kids see the emotional side of themselves.” You Won’t See (or Hear) References To The Original Film
When asked whether we’d hear an homage to the music of the ’77 film, Lowery gave perhaps the most refreshing answer of the day:
“No. We do have a song in the movie and you’ll find out how it plays into the plot when you see it, but we don’t [have any homages to the first movie]. I really wanted to sort of avoid the winks and the nods, not because the original is not great, but because I wanted this to really exist in its own realm. The best thing is for audiences who love the original to see this and say, ‘This is a great new film about a boy named Pete, and Elliot.’ And if kids haven’t seen the original, this will be the first time they’ve seen it. And there won’t be that moment where all of the adults go, ‘Oh, yeah,’ and the kids look over and go, ‘What? I don’t get it. What is it?’ So we avoided that. We talked about it, we talked about having references, but ultimately felt it was the purer tactic. I’ve seen a lot of remakes that do that and it always takes me out of a movie because it’s a little wink.”
As someone who thinks references like that can be distracting and often obnoxious, I find it incredibly promising that Lowery has the confidence in his movie to try to have it stand on its own as much as possible. Even with seeing the extra footage we saw, it’s still tough to tell whether this movie is going to be a new classic, a whiffed remake attempt, or somewhere in between, but at least it won’t be a deep dive into nostalgia for another film. (Nostalgia for childhood? Yes. For another movie? No.)
In any case, Lowery’s enthusiasm is certainly evident, and regardless of how the film turns out, his heart is clearly in the right place here. His vision for the film sounds great, so I’m hoping he’s able to translate that vision to audiences in an enjoyable way. “I want you to get a sense of the scope and action and fun and adventure this movie has,” he beamed before showing off a new clip, “because ultimately it really is an adventure.” The adventure begins when Pete’s Dragon flies into theaters on August 12, 2016.
- 6/14/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
In Disney’s attempt to cash in on both newly acquired properties (Marvel, Lucasfilm) and its classic catalog (Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland series, Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book), it’s now looking to create a mash-up of two of its beloved animated films from the 1950s, both of which are based on classic literature: Lewis Carroll’s Alice’S Adventures In Wonderland and J.M. Barrie’s play and novel Peter Pan; Or, The Boy Who Wouldn’T Grow Up.
The twist? In the newly announced live-action film — titled Come Away — to be directed by Brenda Chapman (codirector of the Mouse House’s successful Brave), Alice and Peter are siblings. Taking place before either of their adventures, the script by Marissa Kate Goodhill has the children mourning the death of an older brother and dealing with their parents’ anguish, prompting them to find solace in fantasy worlds. (Sounds dark!
The twist? In the newly announced live-action film — titled Come Away — to be directed by Brenda Chapman (codirector of the Mouse House’s successful Brave), Alice and Peter are siblings. Taking place before either of their adventures, the script by Marissa Kate Goodhill has the children mourning the death of an older brother and dealing with their parents’ anguish, prompting them to find solace in fantasy worlds. (Sounds dark!
- 5/13/2016
- by Harker Jones
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Disney has seen a lot of success with its live-action fairy tale film projects over the years. The Jungle Book is continuing to blow up at the box office, and the studio obviously wants to see that trend continue with more movies. They’ve recently announced release dates for eight untitled live-action fairy tale films that they are developing. Those dates are:
July 28, 2017: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)April 4, 2018: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)August 3, 2018: Untitled Disney (Live Action)November 2, 2018: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)December 25, 2018: Untitled Disney (Live Action)March 29, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)November 8, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)December 20, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)
So if you’ve ben enjoying the live-action adaptations of these Disney animated classics, then there are lots more to come. We don’t know exactly which films will fill these slots,...
July 28, 2017: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)April 4, 2018: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)August 3, 2018: Untitled Disney (Live Action)November 2, 2018: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)December 25, 2018: Untitled Disney (Live Action)March 29, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)November 8, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)December 20, 2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)
So if you’ve ben enjoying the live-action adaptations of these Disney animated classics, then there are lots more to come. We don’t know exactly which films will fill these slots,...
- 4/26/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
All promo material for Disney's Pete’s Dragon has kept the titular mythical creature out of the lime light so far, offering teasing glimpses in the first trailer or the poster placing him just out of sight behind a tree. Now, thanks to Entertainment Weekly’s big Summer preview, we now have our first real look at Elliott in all his gigantic, furry green glory. If the the first trailer wasn’t enough indication for you, bringing a slightly darker edge to the classic tale, David Lowrey’s (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) remake is a lot different from the 1977 original. Elliott this time round is more full on dragon (with a bit of dog maybe mixed in there too) than the original’s clumsy, anthropomorphised oaf, though the magic and wonder of the original is there in his wonderfully expressive face. This movie just keeps becoming more and more...
- 4/16/2016
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
Making it three for three with Entertainment Weekly scoops – following hot on the heels of new images for both Jason Bourne and Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters – the outlet has unveiled a new still for David Lowery’s (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) live-action fairytale, Pete’s Dragon.
Yes, Pete’s reptilian ally may have been camera shy up until now, but today’s all-new shot showcases the beast – bearing the name Elliot – in all its furry glory. Emerging from a 40-year hibernation, Pete’s Dragon is a total reimagining of the Disney classic, introducing newcomer Oakes Fegley in the role of Pete, a lonesome 10-year-old that takes solace in the company of a rather unusual friend.
In breathing new life into the motion picture, the House of Mouse was conscious to retain much of the creature design glimpsed in the 1977 original. According to Lowery, there were “certain things about the...
Yes, Pete’s reptilian ally may have been camera shy up until now, but today’s all-new shot showcases the beast – bearing the name Elliot – in all its furry glory. Emerging from a 40-year hibernation, Pete’s Dragon is a total reimagining of the Disney classic, introducing newcomer Oakes Fegley in the role of Pete, a lonesome 10-year-old that takes solace in the company of a rather unusual friend.
In breathing new life into the motion picture, the House of Mouse was conscious to retain much of the creature design glimpsed in the 1977 original. According to Lowery, there were “certain things about the...
- 4/15/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
There’s no such thing as quiet days in Hollywood. There’s always something happening and today is no exception, so let’s jump right into the fray!
• Oscar-winning legend Warren Beatty’s been keeping a fairly low profile since his wildly expensive Town & Country bombed 15 years ago. But apparently the lothario (long-rumored to be the subject of Carly Simon’s enduring hit “You’re So Vain”) is coming out of semi-retirement as news broke that his pet project based on the life of famed millionaire/movie producer/shut-in Howard Hughes will be released this fall. (He’s been working on this since the ’70s as writer, director, producer, and star.) What’s of more interest to me/us is that he also said he’s working on a sequel to his uber-stylish, three-time Oscar-winning comic-book adaptation Dick Tracy. No word on whether bold-name costars like Annette Bening, Al Pacino,...
• Oscar-winning legend Warren Beatty’s been keeping a fairly low profile since his wildly expensive Town & Country bombed 15 years ago. But apparently the lothario (long-rumored to be the subject of Carly Simon’s enduring hit “You’re So Vain”) is coming out of semi-retirement as news broke that his pet project based on the life of famed millionaire/movie producer/shut-in Howard Hughes will be released this fall. (He’s been working on this since the ’70s as writer, director, producer, and star.) What’s of more interest to me/us is that he also said he’s working on a sequel to his uber-stylish, three-time Oscar-winning comic-book adaptation Dick Tracy. No word on whether bold-name costars like Annette Bening, Al Pacino,...
- 4/15/2016
- by Harker Jones
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Disney has been on a tear recently with remaking their classic animated movies into live action features. Maleficent and Cinderella have already come out, The Jungle Book hits theaters on Friday and numerous others are in varying stages of development. Now we can add one more to that large list, as despite the critical and commercial failure of the Warner Bros prequel Pan, Disney is making their own live action Peter Pan movie. The House of Mouse has hired Pete’s Dragon director David Lowery to helm their Peter Pan movie. According to Deadline, Lowery will co-write the script with Toby Halbrooks, who he worked with on the Pete’s Dragon live action remake. Disney’s animated Peter Pan movie came out in 1953, and over 70 years later, it remains one of the studio’s most well-known entries. This would be the latest of several live action ...
- 4/14/2016
- cinemablend.com
“Pete’s Dragon” director David Lowery will helm a live-action “Peter Pan” movie for Disney, TheWrap has learned. Lowery will reteam with “Pete’s Dragon” co-writer Toby Halbrooks. “Peter Pan” is joining a long list of live-action properties planned at Disney: “Beauty and the Beast” is set for a 2017 release, and Emma Stone is attached to star in “Cruella De Vil.” Tim Burton‘s upcoming “Alice Through the Looking Glass” is hitting theaters on May 27. Disney is developing a live-action film based on the story of Snow White’s sister, Rose Red. Also Read: Disney's 'The Jungle Book'...
- 4/13/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Joining Beauty and the Beast, the Tim Burton-directed Dumbo, and Cruella De Ville in Disney’s pantheon of old-school classics poised for the live-action treatment, Deadline brings word that the House of Mouse is circling back to Neverland for a new take on the Peter Pan tale of old.
The company is ushering said project into pre-production quite quickly, too, with David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks already attached to direct and write. Currently placing the final touches to the summer release of Pete’s Dragon, a modern reimagining of the studio’s 1977 musical, Lowery and Halbrooks are perhaps the perfect fit to steer J.M. Barrie’s enduring classic into Disney’s expanding live-action division.
Throughout the years, Barrie’s yarn of the boy who would never grow old has been brought to life through a variety of creative outlets, including Steven Spielberg’s Hook to Pan, Warner Bros. and...
The company is ushering said project into pre-production quite quickly, too, with David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks already attached to direct and write. Currently placing the final touches to the summer release of Pete’s Dragon, a modern reimagining of the studio’s 1977 musical, Lowery and Halbrooks are perhaps the perfect fit to steer J.M. Barrie’s enduring classic into Disney’s expanding live-action division.
Throughout the years, Barrie’s yarn of the boy who would never grow old has been brought to life through a variety of creative outlets, including Steven Spielberg’s Hook to Pan, Warner Bros. and...
- 4/13/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
It’s the last week of February, dear readers, and the Academy Awards are this Sunday. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Deadpool yet, but I plan to do so as soon as possible. In the meantime, this week’s new Trailer Trashin’ column takes a look at the teaser for Disney’s upcoming remake of Pete’s Dragon.
Premise: For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of a fierce dragon deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, those stories are little more than tall tales until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a ten-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant green dragon named Elliot. From Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from her father’s stories.
Premise: For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of a fierce dragon deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, those stories are little more than tall tales until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a ten-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant green dragon named Elliot. From Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from her father’s stories.
- 2/26/2016
- by Timothy Monforton
- CinemaNerdz
It may seem strange for one studio to commit to the release of two re-imaginings of past glories about orphan boys living in wooded areas – especially in the same year – but this very particular trend looks set to pay off for Walt Disney Studios in spectacular fashion, as The Jungle Book charges into theatres in April, while Pete’s Dragon is scheduled to dominate late summer. Up until now, little has been seen of this project, but with the first trailer now available, we can see that something magical this way comes.
There has always been something fascinating about the idea of dragons – these mythical creatures that have inspired so many centuries of storytelling. It seems the idea of lost children, fending for themselves and discovering spectacular secrets is also fascinating, as that plot device has given us generations of tales to pass on, too.
Pete’s Dragon has been...
There has always been something fascinating about the idea of dragons – these mythical creatures that have inspired so many centuries of storytelling. It seems the idea of lost children, fending for themselves and discovering spectacular secrets is also fascinating, as that plot device has given us generations of tales to pass on, too.
Pete’s Dragon has been...
- 2/22/2016
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
While The Jungle Book book may be coming our way in a few short weeks, another Disney classic is also getting an update this year, with beloved animation/live action hybrid Pete’s Dragon getting the remake treatment at the hands of Ain’t Them Bodies Saints director David Lowrey, an odd choice for a kid friendly property, but this first teaser is intriguing enough that you can give the House of Mouse the benefit of the doubt on this one. Changing things up a bit from the original, Bryce Dallas Howard is a forest ranger who grew up on her father's, woodcarver Mr. Meachem (Robert Redford), of a fierce dragon who lived deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. When she happens upon Pete (Oakes Fegley), a mysterious 10 year old with no family and no home, his claims of living in the forest with a giant green dragon...
- 2/22/2016
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
One of my favorite Sundance films of the last few years was Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, a sublime drama starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck and Ben Foster, which marked the break out for director David Lowery. When his follow-up was announced a few years ago, it caught us all by surprise. Yes, he jumped to a reboot of Disney’s 1977 Pete’s Dragon, tasked with reinventing “the core story,” but this time without the musical numbers of the original animated/live-action hybrid family film.
If you’ve never seen the Disney original, it follows a orphan kid who brings his magical dragon to a new town and hijinks ensue. With a cast featuring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Karl Urban, Wes Bentley, the first trailer has arrived, which acts more like a teaser, setting up our main characters and the tone. This is one of the most promising, and curious,...
If you’ve never seen the Disney original, it follows a orphan kid who brings his magical dragon to a new town and hijinks ensue. With a cast featuring Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Karl Urban, Wes Bentley, the first trailer has arrived, which acts more like a teaser, setting up our main characters and the tone. This is one of the most promising, and curious,...
- 2/22/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Disney’s slowly been going through its back catalogue over the past few years, remaking its greatest hits in live-action with the help of 21st century technology. This spring brings The Jungle Book and Alice Through the Looking Glass (a sequel to 2010’s Alice in Wonderland remake), and then later this summer comes Pete’s Dragon. Directed by David Lowery, Pete’s Dragon brings the […]
The post ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Teaser Trailer: A Lost Little Boy and a Jolly Green Giant appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Pete’s Dragon’ Teaser Trailer: A Lost Little Boy and a Jolly Green Giant appeared first on /Film.
- 2/22/2016
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Jon Favreau’s lush re-imagining of The Jungle Book isn’t the only Disney classic looming on the horizon. Soon after Neel Sethi dances along to the Bare Necessities, the House of Mouse will bring back a 70s favorite in Pete’s Dragon, and you can catch a glimpse of the remake coming to life with today’s motion poster.
Written and directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), the filmmaker is taking a leaf out of Favreau’s book by adopting a live-action approach for Pete’s Dragon. In doing so, Oakes Fegley is front and center as Pete, a lonesome 10-year-old who resides in the woods alongside his scaly pet reptile, Elliot. As the forest ranger, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) initially rubbishes stories of Pete and his winged companion as little more than tall tales, until the pair cross paths.
Marking another installment in Disney’s...
Written and directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), the filmmaker is taking a leaf out of Favreau’s book by adopting a live-action approach for Pete’s Dragon. In doing so, Oakes Fegley is front and center as Pete, a lonesome 10-year-old who resides in the woods alongside his scaly pet reptile, Elliot. As the forest ranger, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) initially rubbishes stories of Pete and his winged companion as little more than tall tales, until the pair cross paths.
Marking another installment in Disney’s...
- 2/19/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
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When to expect all the upcoming live action fairytale movies, including Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and two Jungle Books…
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films. (A whopping 21 by our count.)
Although it wadsn’t the first movie of this kind, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland – and its worldwide gross of over a billion dollars – can surely take the credit for kick-starting this trend. Here are all the in-development movies trying to repeat its success,...
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When to expect all the upcoming live action fairytale movies, including Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and two Jungle Books…
You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.
This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films. (A whopping 21 by our count.)
Although it wadsn’t the first movie of this kind, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland – and its worldwide gross of over a billion dollars – can surely take the credit for kick-starting this trend. Here are all the in-development movies trying to repeat its success,...
- 1/21/2016
- by rleane
- Den of Geek
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has unveiled synopses, images and information for their 2016 releases.
First up is the highly anticipated Doctor Strange.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
The cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Stuhlbarg with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton. Marvel’s Doctor Strange is directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Kevin Feige. The film opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 4, 2016.
Chris Pine stars as Captain Bernie Webber in Disney’s The Finest Hours, the heroic action-thriller presented in Digital 3D (Tm) and IMAX (c) 3D based on the extraordinary true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. (Trailer)
On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard...
First up is the highly anticipated Doctor Strange.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
The cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Stuhlbarg with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton. Marvel’s Doctor Strange is directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Kevin Feige. The film opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 4, 2016.
Chris Pine stars as Captain Bernie Webber in Disney’s The Finest Hours, the heroic action-thriller presented in Digital 3D (Tm) and IMAX (c) 3D based on the extraordinary true story of the most daring rescue mission in the history of the Coast Guard. (Trailer)
On February 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard...
- 1/7/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
From Star Wars and Captain America to Pirates Of The Caribbean and Alice Through The Looking Glass, Disney, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm presented their live action film slates this morning at the D23 Expo 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The presentations, which revealed exclusive news and details about the upcoming live action films, were aided by live and video appearances from talent and filmmakers. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn hosted the highly anticipated biennial event.
“It’s quite something to be able to have Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm all on the same stage, and it’s tremendously gratifying to unveil our upcoming projects to our most dedicated fans first,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “We always have an incredible time at the D23 Expo.”
After welcoming the crowd to D23 Expo 2015, Horn introduced Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, and Sean Bailey, President...
The presentations, which revealed exclusive news and details about the upcoming live action films, were aided by live and video appearances from talent and filmmakers. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn hosted the highly anticipated biennial event.
“It’s quite something to be able to have Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm all on the same stage, and it’s tremendously gratifying to unveil our upcoming projects to our most dedicated fans first,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “We always have an incredible time at the D23 Expo.”
After welcoming the crowd to D23 Expo 2015, Horn introduced Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, and Sean Bailey, President...
- 8/15/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It would appear that Michael C. Hall is allergic to dragons. Actually, there isn’t a given reason why he’s decided to leave the new Pete’s Dragon film, but it means good news for Karl Urban fans as the Star Trek actor has stepped in to replace him.Ain’t Them Bodies Saints director David Lowery is busy putting the new version of the story together, working from a script he co-wrote with Toby Halbrooks. It’s Disney’s latest attempt to conjure a fresh take on one of its catalogue titles, this time the live-action/animation-blend 1977 film which saw a young lad befriend a magical dragon. The new movie will apparently deviate from the original, not by having the dragon turn evil and go all Smaug on the local town, but by stripping out the musical element and injecting an environmental message into the story.Robert Redford,...
- 1/30/2015
- EmpireOnline
Disney Studios on Tuesday swapped the release dates of two high-profile movies. The Chris Pine Coast Guard thriller “The Finest Hours” will open on the October 9, the date for which the Jon Favreau-directed remake of “The Jungle Book” had been set. The live action/CGI family film will now open on April 15, 2016.
The studio also set “Pete’s Dragon” for an Aug. 12, 2016, release and said it will open DreamWorks’ Scarlet Johansson action film “Ghost in the Shell” on April 14, 2017.
The new slot for “Jungle Book” will still keep it ahead of the release of Warner Bros.’ live-action “The Jungle Book: Origins,...
The studio also set “Pete’s Dragon” for an Aug. 12, 2016, release and said it will open DreamWorks’ Scarlet Johansson action film “Ghost in the Shell” on April 14, 2017.
The new slot for “Jungle Book” will still keep it ahead of the release of Warner Bros.’ live-action “The Jungle Book: Origins,...
- 1/13/2015
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
You want to make an anime superfan upset? Tell them the live-action remake stars Scarlett Johansson, is coming from Disney, and will be directed by "Snow White And The Huntsman" helmer Rupert Sanders. Now you can bug them for a couple more years about it. The studio has slated the already semi-controversial "Ghost in the Shell" do-over for an April 14, 2017 release date. It parks the movie right between "Pacific Rim 2" and Universal's mystery monster movie project. Summer no longer stands alone as blockbuster season, in case you had any doubt. Meanwhile, Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book" has been pushed back six months, to April 15, 2016, where it'll square off against "Goosebumps" and "The Best Man Wedding." Taking its place this year is the true story story drama, "The Finest Hours," with Casey Affleck and Chris Pine. Now arriving on October 9th, does Disney smell Oscar for this one? Lastly, David Lowery's.
- 1/13/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Disney is moving full steam ahead with a remake of its 1977 live-action/animation hybrid Pete’s Dragon, and today brings news that the studio is in talks with Jurassic World actress Bryce Dallas Howard in hopes that she’ll take on a major role in the pic.
Final casting has been taking place as the remake ramps up to shoot in New Zealand next January through April. Robert Redford, Oona Laurence,and Oakes Fegley are all already set for lead roles, and David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) is currently attached to direct, working from a script he co-wrote with Toby Halbrooks.
This won’t be the same Pete’s Dragon we all grew up with, however. The musical numbers have been cut out entirely, and the pic is set against the backdrop of loggers cutting down a forest. Pete (Fegley), orphaned after his parents died in a car crash,...
Final casting has been taking place as the remake ramps up to shoot in New Zealand next January through April. Robert Redford, Oona Laurence,and Oakes Fegley are all already set for lead roles, and David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) is currently attached to direct, working from a script he co-wrote with Toby Halbrooks.
This won’t be the same Pete’s Dragon we all grew up with, however. The musical numbers have been cut out entirely, and the pic is set against the backdrop of loggers cutting down a forest. Pete (Fegley), orphaned after his parents died in a car crash,...
- 11/21/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard is about to log some time with a different kind of big, scaly beast. She’s just entered talks for Pete’s Dragon, David Lowery‘s remake of the 1977 Disney original. Robert Redford, Oona Laurence, and Oakes Fegley also star. Hit the jump for more details on the Bryce Dallas Howard Petes Dragon […]
The post Bryce Dallas Howard in Talks for ‘Pete’s Dragon’ appeared first on /Film.
The post Bryce Dallas Howard in Talks for ‘Pete’s Dragon’ appeared first on /Film.
- 11/21/2014
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Which Jungle Book movie though?
I don’t know how I ended up drawing the repeated coverage of Disney and Warner Bros competing live-action Jungle Book movies, but here I am again. As I wrote before on the Warner Bros Jungle Book:
Callie Cloves, the daughter of Steve Cloves, who sounds familiar because he adapted all theHarry Potter movies from the books, wrote a live-action screenplay based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (the source text that produced the Disney film).
Cloves’ script is at Warner Bros where last month it lost it’s director (Babel‘s Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu left the project).
We thought maybe Ron Howard was going to step in and save the WB incarnation, but that hasn’t happened yet. Meanwhile, Disney and it’s Jon Favreau-directed, David Lowery-written (that was the team that worked on the first Iron Man) Jungle Book...
I don’t know how I ended up drawing the repeated coverage of Disney and Warner Bros competing live-action Jungle Book movies, but here I am again. As I wrote before on the Warner Bros Jungle Book:
Callie Cloves, the daughter of Steve Cloves, who sounds familiar because he adapted all theHarry Potter movies from the books, wrote a live-action screenplay based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (the source text that produced the Disney film).
Cloves’ script is at Warner Bros where last month it lost it’s director (Babel‘s Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu left the project).
We thought maybe Ron Howard was going to step in and save the WB incarnation, but that hasn’t happened yet. Meanwhile, Disney and it’s Jon Favreau-directed, David Lowery-written (that was the team that worked on the first Iron Man) Jungle Book...
- 3/7/2014
- by Da7e
- LRMonline.com
Exclusive: Idris Elba is in final negotiations to perform the role and provide the voice of the killer tiger Shere Khan in Disney’s live-action take on The Jungle Book. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film is a mix of live action and VFX that is being overseen by Rob Legato, whose VFX credits include Avatar, The Wolf Of Wall Street, Hugo and Titanic, the latter two of which won him Oscars. The studio has bolstered its creative team by setting as its production designers Alex McDowell (Man Of Steel, Rise Of The Guardians) and Chris Glass heading a team of concept artists that includes Michael Kutsche (Alice, Oz, Maleficent), Iain McCaig (Star Wars), and Justin Sweet (Chronicles Of Narnia). The story team is headed by Iron Man‘s David Lowery, who’s working around the clock with seven full-time illustrators, with Legacy Effects participating in creature design and rigging.
- 3/6/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
To say I have been all over Austin Film Festival would be an understatement. Although this is my third festival to attend, it is the first year that I have gone as a writer instead of an Aff staff member.
My experience has been a little different than that of my fellow Slackerwood contributors. I kicked off the festival Thursday afternoon in the OnStory Press Room, assisting in taping interviews for the television show's upcoming fourth season. We had a pretty packed schedule over the first four days of the conference, so I wasn't sure how being in that room for the majority of the festival would affect my overall experience.
It ended up being the time of my life. Even though I was just asking a certain set of questions for the show, I got to chat face-to-face with some great writers such as David Lowery, Rian Johnson, Vince Gilligan,...
My experience has been a little different than that of my fellow Slackerwood contributors. I kicked off the festival Thursday afternoon in the OnStory Press Room, assisting in taping interviews for the television show's upcoming fourth season. We had a pretty packed schedule over the first four days of the conference, so I wasn't sure how being in that room for the majority of the festival would affect my overall experience.
It ended up being the time of my life. Even though I was just asking a certain set of questions for the show, I got to chat face-to-face with some great writers such as David Lowery, Rian Johnson, Vince Gilligan,...
- 10/29/2013
- by Marcelena Mayhorn
- Slackerwood
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