Disney’s ambitious project to reimagine its 1963 animated classicThe Sword in the Stoneas a live-action feature has encountered a significant setback. The story, which charmingly unfolds the early adventures of a young King Arthur under the guidance of the wise wizard Merlin, has long been a cherished part of Disney’s animated repertoire.
However, in a recent conversation withScreen Rant, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo shared a disheartening update on the status ofThe Sword in the Stone. The director revealed that the project is currently not in production, casting doubt on its future. He still remains hopeful for the film’s eventual realization. Fresnadillo said:
“That was a project that I was attached to years ago, but it was put on hold. From this day, to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I think it’s a great project and a great story that needs to be told, but I don’t know what is gonna happen. Let’s see; fingers crossed.”
“As you’re able to imagine, with all these movies, you never know when it’s going to happen. I really hope that Disney greenlight the movie, but right now, I don’t know anything about it. Also, the experience that I have now after [Damsel] would be would be fantastic to apply to The Sword in the Stone, for sure.”
The journey towards bringing this tale to life in a new format began in earnest in July 2015, with the project gaining momentum when director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was attached to helm the film in 2018. The anticipation for this adaptation was palpable, as Disney’s foray into live-action remakes had already seen successes with titles likeBeauty and the BeastandAladdin.
5 Things Live-Action Disney Remakes Get Right (& 5 Things They Get Wrong)
Let’s examine the strengths and weaknesses of Disney’s live-action versions of their classic films.
This uncertainty is a blow to fans who have been eagerly awaiting the live-action rendition of this classic story. News about the film had been scarce since the initial announcement of Fresnadillo’s involvement. The movie was slated to be aDisney+ original, with notable talents like Enrique Chediak as cinematographer and Eugenio Caballero as production designer attached to the project. Yet, since 2018, there has been a conspicuous silence regarding its development.
The Uncertain Future of Disney’s The Sword in the Stone Amid Mixed Adaptation Reception
Disney announced a live-action spinoff series based on T.A. Barron’sThe Merlin Sagabooks in October 2021, but updates on this project have also been non-existent since the announcement. Disney’s uneven progress on its live-action remakes raises doubts about its prioritization strategy, especially considering thatSnow WhiteandMoanaare proceeding with scheduled release dates.
The mixed reception of Disney’s recent adaptations, such asPeter Pan & Wendyand the underperformance ofThe Little Mermaidat the box office, might be influencing the studio’s decisions. The key to makingThe Sword in the Stonea success in live-action lies in carefully balancing the budget while preserving the essence of the original story.
As it stands, the fate of the live-actionThe Sword in the Stoneremake remains uncertain. Fresnadillo’s desire to apply his experience from directing his latest fantasy film,Damsel, to this beloved Disney classic offers a glimmer of hope. Yet, without a clear green light from Disney, the future of this project hangs in the balance, leaving fans to wonder if they will ever see King Arthur’s legendary story retold on the big screen in a new light.
