The Age of Disney Reboots
December 17, 2018
Since the project’s confirmation in 2016, Jon Favreau’s reboot of The Lion King has become one of the most highly anticipated Disney movies within the past 5 years. During the Thanksgiving NFL game on Nov. 22, a teaser trailer was released to the public. Within 24 hours, the video gained 224.6 million views from fans all around.
Dhafni Prillwitz, 12, shares her opinion as to why the trailer fueled her excitement for the film.
“I thought it was interesting how they’re finding new ways to show classic Disney stories to a new generation,” Prillwitz said. “I like the idea of sharing the same childhood movies with younger kids, but in a different way that’s more modernized.”
The Lion King is only one in four remakes lined up. The Lady and the Tramp, Aladdin, and Dumbo are also slated for a 2019 release. Since the announcement of these projects, fans have been complaining about Disney’s method of “cash-grabbing”. Some believe it is the company’s way of playing up nostalgia to make a profit.
Aspiring artist James Colom, 12, expresses his dissatisfaction with the studio’s recent projects.
“I think it’s a really easy way for them to rehash the same product under a new coat of paint and act like they’re doing something new and fresh,” Colom said. “Not only are these reboots incredibly lazy in my eyes, they are over-saturating the market with them. I think Disney has the power to inspire and make truly wonderful movies, but right now it feels like a soulless corporation doing the safest option in order to make a quick buck.”
The beginning of Disney reboots can be traced back to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, starring Mia Wasikowska as the titular character. This dark reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel received critical reviews from movie-goers all around. Having passed the one billion box office mark, Disney decided to expand their series of reboots. The green-lighting of films such as Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book allowed the trend to gain motion.
Isabelle Cadavid, 12, believes that remakes lack the magical quality of the classics.
“I don’t think reboots would ever compare the originals,” Cadavid said. “When the originals came out, it had a special charm to them. It was new and never done before. Also, they came out when we were kids, when we appreciated them most. Seeing the remakes isn’t necessarily boring, but it’s weird seeing them in a different perspective. You can’t remake the same charm like the originals had.”
The Lion King will have a worldwide release on July 19. The teaser trailer can be found at the link below.
