It seems that no pre-2000 animated Disney movie is off limits when it comes to the remake treatment. Ever since Maleficent was released in 2014, the Mouse House has been releasing a steady stream of live action adaptations based on the studio's classic animated tales. Some have been relatively faithful to the original movies, others have taken significant creative liberties, but so far all have been theatrically released. However, that will soon change, as the upcoming live action/CGI remake of Lady and the Tramp is now intended to be released on Disney's upcoming streaming service.
When Disney's streaming service launches next year, not only will it be the home of decades worth of past Disney projects, it will also boast plenty of original content, including movies like Anna Kendrick's Noelle, a Sword in the Stone remake and, if all goes according to plan, this Lady and the Tramp remake. Currently the platform is expected to make between four to six original movies per year, and Lady and the Tramp is expected to be among among the first releases. THR is also reporting that Disney has tapped The LEGO Ninjago Movie director and animation veteran Charlie Beam to helm the new Lady and the Tramp adaptation. Along with movies, the platform will feature plenty of TV shows, including a Star Wars series being executive produced by Jon Favreau, a yet-to-be-revealed Marvel series, a Monsters Inc. series, a new Muppets project, the list goes on.
Released in 1955, the original Lady and the Tramp (which was Disney's 15th animated movie) followed the love story between a female cocker spaniel named Lady, who belonged to an upperclass family, and a mongrel named Tramp, who lived on the streets. While financially successful during its initial release, it was critically panned, although like many Disney releases, it's since become a classic (particularly for the scene showing Lady and Tramp enjoying their spaghetti dinner), and a direct-to-video sequel was released in 2001. Like 2016's The Jungle Book and next year's The Lion King, the animals in the new Lady and the Tramp movie will obviously be created using CGI, making this only a partial "live action" remake, akin to how the castle residents were shown in last year's Beauty and the Beast.
Including Lady and the Tramp as one of the Disney streaming service's initial offerings could end up being a wise decision. Even though its one of the studio's oldest movies, it might not be as financially successful compared to recent remakes. By including it on the digital platform, not only might it catch more eyes, it's also a recognizable brand that could could convince some to subscribe to the service. But regardless of where it ends up being shown, it will be interesting to see how this version of Lady and the Tramp differs from its animated predecessor, visuals aside.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates about Lady and the Tramp and the Disney streaming service in general. For those of you interested in what Disney has coming up theatrically, check out our handy guide.
