Not everyone loves Disney’s live-action remakes of its classic animated films. Every time a new one is announced some fans complain about tinkering with something that is already great, while others bemoan the lack of originality in Hollywood. Then the movies are released and, regardless of mixed reviews, they make a billion dollars. In 2019, the live-action versions of The Lion King and Aladdin have each crossed that threshold at the global box office, pulling in a combined $2.6 billion in ticket sales.
However, the next beloved Disney cartoon to be remade with real actors – and animals – won’t get a chance to match those bonanza box office sales, because it’s going to be released exclusively on the Mouse House’s new streaming site, Disney+. But that doesn’t mean we’re any less excited to see it, because the latest trailer for the live-action Lady and the Tramp looks like it will be one of the most beautiful and faithful adaptations yet.
“In Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp, a timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, a pampered house dog and a tough but lovable stray embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, grow closer and come to understand the value of home.”
Starring The Leftovers‘ Justin Theroux as Tramp and Thor: Ragnarok‘s Tessa Thompson as Lady (two of our favorites who we would listen to if they read the phone book), the film looks like a very remake of the original 1955 movie, right down the iconic scene of the two lovebirds (lovedogs?) sharing a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. We do have to wait to see them share a single piece of spaghetti though, because you can’t give away the money shot in the trailer.
Regardless of how similar or different the movie ultimately ends up being from its predecessor, one things is clear – it looks absolutely gorgeous. It also helps that unlike Jon Favreau’s remake of The Lion King, which was essentially a CGI-animated movie, Lady and the Tramp employed real animals running around real sets in the real world. Even better is that the cast is made up of rescue dogs, which was the easiest (and best) way to make us fall in love with the movie before we ever even saw the first trailer for it.
Directed by Charlie Bean (Tron: Uprising, The LEGO Ninjago Movie), the rest of the canine cast includes Sam Elliot as the wise old bloodhound Trusty, Janelle Monáe as the stylish Peg, Scotland’s own Ashley Jensen as Jock the Scottish terrier, and Benedict Wong as Bull, Tramp’s bulldog best friend. Yvette Nicole Brown leads the human side of the cast as Aunt Sarah, with Thomas Mann as Jim Dear and Kiersey Clemons as Darling.
Would this film also make a billion dollars if it got a theatrical release like The Lion King and Aladdin both did? Maybe, maybe not. But considering how much we love seeing dogs we’re not complaining they will be coming to our house whenever we want.
Lady and the Tramp will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ when the site launches on November 12.
Featured Image: Disney