Disney’s Live-Action Hybrid Reimagining of ‘The Aristocats’ Reportedly Still in Development

The live-action hybrid reimagining of ‘The Aristocats‘ was announced a few months back, with Oscar winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson set to direct the film for Walt Disney Studios. But there were no updates in the following days. Right now, The DisInsider Mailbag reports that ‘The Aristocats’ is still in development.

The insider said, “It is happening, whether or not we get information at D23 is unknown to me at this time.”

Not only directing, Thompson will also serve as the executive producer and oversee music for the film, whose script is penned by Will Gluck (Peter Rabbit) and Keith Bunin (Onward). Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee, and Zarah Zohlman will executive produce on behalf of Two One Five Entertainment. Gluck and his production company, Olive Bridge, are producing along with Thompson’s Two One Five.

So far, Disney has released live-action remakes of beloved classics like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Lion King, Dumbo, and last year’s Pinocchio. While Mulan and Aladdin did offer some entertainment, they also had their flaws. There are also reports that Disney is planning a sequel to Aladdin. Recently, Disney has produced live-action adaptations of Peter Pan & Wendy, The Little Mermaid, and Lilo & Stitch.

The story of the 1970s’ The Aristocats is set in early 20th-century France, where a wealthy duchess named Madame Adelaide Bonfamille (Hermione Baddeley) enjoys a quiet retirement with her cat Duchess (Eva Gabor) and Duchess’s three kittens, Marie (Liz English), Toulouse (Gary Dubin), and Berlioz (Dean Clark). As she ages, Madame Adelaide works on her will. With no living family members, her long-time butler Edgar Balthazar (Roddy Maude-Roxby) assumes he will inherit her fortune. However, Madame Adelaide decides to leave her house, money, and possessions to her cats, with Edgar only receiving the money once the cats pass away.

Questlove is a founding member of The Roots, who earned acclaim for directing “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The documentary premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, won the Grand Jury prize, and later received the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

As of now, Disney has not made any updates regarding the release date. But, as soon as expected, we can see ‘The Aristocats’ live-action in theaters in 2025.

Source: The DisInsider, Deadline