Disney is leaving no stone unturned as it sets about remaking every animated classic in the Disney Vault into a live action box office juggernaut. In addition to the recently cast Aladdin from Guy Ritchie, a Dumbo remake is also in the works from director Tim Burton. The movie will reimagine the tale of the baby flying elephant and it's assembled quite the star studded cast to do it. The main cast of human characters is officially set with Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito filling out some pivotal roles in the upcoming movie.
This weekend was full of big Disney news thanks to the D23 expo, and while it's easy to lose ourselves in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Avengers: Infinity War, and Pixar, plenty of other Disney projects received some love. During yesterday's live action panel, the main cast and synopsis for the live action Dumbo remake were officially revealed. Director Tim Burton has recruited Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito into his cast, all of whom were previously rumored to be in it. The cast is rounded out by Eva Green and newcomers Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins in their first film roles.
Colin Farrell joins the cast as Holt Farrier, a former circus star who returns from the war to find his world turned upside down. At a struggling circus, he is put in charge of a newborn baby elephant whose gigantic ears make him a laughing stock. However, Holt's children (Hobbins and Parker) discover that the little elephant is capable of a massive feat. Farrell has previously acted for Disney in the film Saving Mr. Banks as the father of the author of Mary Poppins.
Michael Keaton reteams with director Tim Burton once again. In Dumbo, Keaton plays a persuasive entrepreneur named V.A. Vandevere, who likely see's Dumbo's ability to fly as a major money making opportunity. This will be the first time Keaton has worked with Burton since Batman Returns in 1992.
Danny DeVito rounds out the big players in Dumbo. In the film, DeVito will play Max Medici, the circus owner who assigns Colin Farrell's character to look after Dumbo. Much like Michael Keaton, Devito previously worked with Tim Burton on a Batman movie as the Penguin, making Dumbo something of a Batman Returns reunion. Funnily enough, DeVito also played a circus man in another Tim Burton joint, Big Fish.
In addition to all these new character details, Disney also revealed that Dumbo will release in theaters on March 29, 2019. The live action film will use cutting edge technology to bring Dumbo to life, but there's no word on if any of the other animal characters will be making appearances. I feel like Dumbo gets pushed to the background a bit by the more modern animated Disney films of the 90's, but Disney is giving the remake a major push with a cast like this.
