Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

[Adam Lenhardt]

Title: Peter Pan & Wendy

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Director: David Lowery

Cast: Alexander Molony, Ever Gabo Anderson, Jude Law, Yara Shahidi, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, Jim Gaffigan

Plot: Live-action adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale of a boy who wouldn't grow up and recruits three young siblings in London to join him on a magical adventure to the enchanted Neverland island.

The latest Disney live action remake has started filming in Vancouver.

Newcomer Alexander Molony will play Peter, while Milla Jovovich’s daughter Ever Anderson has been cast as Wendy.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I have a difficult relationship with the Disney remakes because I think most of them are terrible. But I usually watch them anyway.

However, Pete's Dragon is one of the ones that I like, and David Lowry is a terrific filmmaker. I like all of his movies that I've seen, and he has demonstrated an ability to move seamlessly through genres and explore interesting ideas in new ways each time. Pete's Dragon is not like A Ghost Story which is not like The Old Man and the Gun, but they're all great films. So anything he makes is likely to get my attention.

Also, because there have been several adaptations of Peter Pan, it's not like a bad one (if it were bad) would sting quite as much as, say, the bad version of The Lion King did.

So I'll put myself in the "cautiously optimistic" category on this one

 

[Jake Lipson]

David Lowery's Peter Pan and Wendy will be released in 2023 on Disney+.

The Disney remakes have been extremely hit or miss for me. But David Lowery directed by far the best one in Pete's Dragon, which I love. I think he is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. I loved A Ghost Story and The Old Man and the Gun and The Green Knight too, and it is especially admirable how different they are from each other. So I am curious to see what he will do with this. With another director, I might not care. But with Lowery, I'll watch it for sure.

Here is the poster via Disney social media:

The fact that the movie is already rated seems to indicate that it is either done or nearly done, so hopefully it will be earlier next year rather than later.

And more from Variety:

‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ Footage Debuts at D23: ‘Wendy and Peter Are Equals’

Disney Plus released a first look at “Peter Pan & Wendy” at D23

variety.com

 

[Alex...]

 

[Tommy R]

I missed the first post, only just becoming aware about this right now. Looks like it has potential. The old Disney animated film I liked but it was never one of my absolute favorites growing up. I’ve always been a huge fan of Spielberg’s “Hook” and have always thought newer version of the original story would be cool. I remember being let down when that one from 2003 came out, and never bothered with that one that was called “Pan” from a few years ago. I’ll give this one a shot but will try to not get too excited.

I didn’t notice him in that trailer but IMDb says Jim Gaffigan is Smee. Can’t wait to see him do that!

 

[Jason_V]

Here's the thing: it doesn't look terrible to me. Nothing egregious is sticking out in the trailer and, being the guy I am, my fiance and I will watch it.

Is this a movie we need? Probably not. Does it have potential? Sure.

 

[Jake Lipson]

A much more generic poster design than the first one via Disney social media:

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Ever Anderson is marvelous casting as Wendy. They caught her at the perfect age for the role, too; right on the cusp of adolescence. I don't know how good her English accent is, but it's definitely not bad enough to be a distraction for me.

There isn't enough Peter in the trailer for me to get a good read on Alexander Molony's performance. I do wish they'd been a little less faithful to the animated Disney Peter Pan with his costume; in my opinion, Peter should always be a bit wild and a bit feral, and this Peter with his combed hair and immaculately clean hat feels too civilized. The drawing of Peter as a child in Hook always got the closest what I pictured in my head: Hair never combed, clothed in nature and leaves rather than fabric and tights, part faerie.

John and Michael look perfect, though.

I love that Jude Law's Hook feels completely different from the other live action Hooks, too.

I'm surprised the Indians are still included, given the fraught cultural sensitivities at play. They're particularly challenging to get right in this story, because it's not like there's a more authentic reference point to go back to; Tiger Lilly's tribe aren't any real Native American tribe, they're what a young lad raised in Edwardian England on stories of Cowboys and Indians imagine them to be. The same is true of Hook and his men; they're what boys imagine pirates to be more than they are what pirates actually were. Regardless, I don't think we can expect "What Made the Red Man Red?" this time around.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I'm surprised the Indians are still included, given the fraught cultural sensitivities at play.

I see your point and agree that they will have to be portrayed differently than in the animated film. But Hook kidnapping Tiger Lilly is a key plot point that drives a lot of the story, so I'm not sure how you could eliminate them altogether.

 

[SamT]

Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

Title: Peter Pan & Wendy Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy Director: David Lowery Cast: Alexander Molony, Ever Gabo Anderson, Jude Law, Yara Shahidi, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, Jim Gaffigan Plot: Live-action adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale of a boy who wouldn't grow up and recruits...

www.hometheaterforum.com

 

[SamT]

 

[Sam Favate]

Is this a theatrical release or is it going straight to Disney+?

 

[Malcolm R]

Is this a theatrical release or is it going straight to Disney+?

The trailer above has the "Disney+ Original" logo, so I don't think there's any theatrical option.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Weird. I couldn't find that old thread when I made this one.

Moderators are welcome to combine threads.

Edits: Thanks, mods.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Yes, this was greenlit specifically for Disney+ and was never intended to go elsewhere.

 

[Edwin-S]

I think having girls in the "Lost Boys" is problematic, but not for the reason given.
Having girls in there sets up a dynamic that dilutes Wendy's reason for being there.

That tweet by someone complaining about Wendy being made a strong leader in the now deleted article had me thinking ?????.

I mean thatbis the whole bloody point of her being there. She was supposed to be a strong leader from the maternal point of view, because she was supposed to provide structure as.a mother figure that Peter Pan was unable to provide.

After all, the original play was written in a time where Fathers were less involved with the direct raising of their children than they are now.

 

[Richard Kaufman]

I know folks who worked on this film. They really care about the property.

 

[jayembee]

I missed the first post, only just becoming aware about this right now. Looks like it has potential. The old Disney animated film I liked but it was never one of my absolute favorites growing up. I’ve always been a huge fan of Spielberg’s “Hook” and have always thought newer version of the original story would be cool. I remember being let down when that one from 2003 came out, and never bothered with that one that was called “Pan” from a few years ago. I’ll give this one a shot but will try to not get too excited.

I was disappointed in Hook. The opening sequence showed a lot of promise, but the rest of the film let me down (other than some of the performances). I really liked P.J. Hogan's 2003 version, though. Never saw Pan, either.

This I'm interested in because of David Lowery. For that matter, it was Hogan that made me interested in seeing his version, as I'd loved his earlier Muriel's Wedding.

 

[Alex...]

 

[SamT]

They showed every possible scene in that trailer so you would have no visual surprise watching the movie.