Disney’s live-action remakes seem to be coming out faster and faster, what with Dumbo, Aladdin, and The Lion King all coming out in short order. But all of those were built off original films that were considered successful by Disney. But could they turn around a flop into a box office smash the second time around? They’re going to try with a live-action Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The script is being written by David Henry Hwang, the Tony winner behind M. Butterfly. Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who have worked on numerous Disney projects before, will be joining the team to create new music.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the new version will draw from the 1996 film as well as Victor Hugo novel. Weirdly enough, however, it will not be drawing from the very popular musical version that has been making the rounds around the world over the years. Not sure why Disney thinks that this wouldn’t bring in more global success and fans to the theater, but perhaps there’s a bigger plan at play here.
There’s no casting decisions yet for the film, nor any director attached to the project.