Disney’s Live-Action Robin Hood Project Officially Canceled

Disney’s plans for a live-action remake of the 1973 animated classic, Robin Hood, have been officially scrapped, according to director Carlos López Estrada. The project, initially announced in 2020, was intended as a photorealistic musical akin to the studio’s 2019 The Lion King remake [Hollywood Reporter].

Development Hell and Cancellation

Estrada revealed the cancellation during a Reddit AMA, stating, “It’s dead, sadly.” He expressed disappointment, noting he believed the project had “something really special (and original!) there” and featured “some truly extraordinary music” [Deadline]. The project had been in early development for Disney+ prior to the COVID-19 pandemic [Hollywood Reporter].

Kari Granlund, who penned the screenplay for Disney’s 2019 Lady and the Tramp remake, was attached to write the script, while Justin Springer, producer of the 2019 live-action Dumbo, was set to produce [Deadline]. Notably, no casting announcements were ever made during the six years the project was in development, signaling potential issues [Vulture].

Future Plans and Independent Vision

Despite the Disney project’s demise, Estrada hasn’t entirely abandoned the idea of bringing a new take on the Robin Hood story to life. He mentioned his desire to pursue the project independently, potentially with different characters. “I keep daydreaming about doing it independently with different characters,” he said on Reddit [Vulture]. He jokingly suggested reimagining the protagonist as a goose, acknowledging the character’s avian form in the original Disney animated film [Vulture].

Disney’s Remake Strategy

The cancellation of Robin Hood comes as Disney continues to prioritize theatrical remakes of its animated classics [Hollywood Reporter].