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Disney Cuts Several Long-Developing Live-Action Remakes

Studio leadership changes plus rising fan scrutiny have pushed Disney to be more selective about which legacy projects move from development into production.

Overview

  • Reporting confirmed Saturday that multiple high-profile projects have been shelved or declared dead, including Carlos López Estrada’s Robin Hood, Questlove’s Aristocats adaptation, and the planned live-action Gargoyles series.
  • Tangled and Lilo & Stitch 2 are moving ahead with concrete plans, with Tangled cast and a March 31, 2028 theatrical date and Lilo & Stitch 2 set to begin production in Hawaii for a May 26, 2028 release.
  • Several other announced remakes remain in extended limbo without official cancellation, notably The Sword in the Stone, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bambi, and a follow-up to Aladdin.
  • Sources and creators attribute the pullbacks to repeated leadership turnover at Disney, creative re-evaluations that changed project visions, and growing audience scrutiny that has raised commercial and reputational risks.
  • The shift shows that attaching directors, writers, or producers no longer guarantees production, and it could lead Disney to prioritize projects with clearer market plans and firm production commitments.