Dumbo (2019 film)

Dumbo is an upcoming American live-action film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It will be a live action retelling of 1941 animated movie of the same name, which in turn was based on the book by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl.

It will be written and produced by Richard LaGravanese. Justin Springer will also produce the film, while Tim Burton will direct it.

Synopsis
"The story follows Holt Farrier, a former circus star and war veteran, who has been enlisted by circus owner Max Medici to care for a newborn elephant with oversized ears. The baby elephant's ears are a laughingstock and embarrassment to the already struggling circus. That is, until Holt's children discover that Dumbo can fly! Aerial artist Colette Marchant and entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere then swoop in to make Dumbo, the flying elephant, a star."

Cast

 * Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier
 * Michael Keaton as V.A. Vandevere
 * Eva Green as Colette Marchant
 * Danny DeVito as Max Medici
 * Alan Arkin as J. Griffin Remington
 * Nico Parker as Holt's daughter
 * Finley Hobbins as Holt's son
 * DeObia Oparei as Rongo
 * Joseph Gatt as Skellig
 * Sharon Rooney
 * Douglas Reith
 * Roshan Seth

Development
The film was announced in July 8, 2014, along with other announcements of other live action remakes of Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Cinderella, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Ehren Kruger was announced as the screenwriter of the film, while Justin Springer was confirmed as the film's producer. Tim Burton was announced as the film's director in March 2015.

In March 2017, it was reported that Eva Green was in talks to play a trapeze artist. Shortly after this report, Danny DeVito was cast as a ringleader named Medici. A few weeks later, Colin Farrell had entered negotiations to play the role of Holt, a father of two children who befriend Dumbo. Will Smith was originally offered for the role, but turned it down due to "scheduling conflicts" on other projects and would later sign on for the live action remake of Aladdin, taking the role of Genie, instead. Chris Pine and Casey Affleck were also considered for the same role. On April 4, 2017, Michael Keaton entered talks to star as the villain. On June 26, 2017, Keaton officially confirmed his involvement with the film. Before Keaton was cast as V. A. Vandemere, Tom Hanks was originally considered for the role.

Principal filming of Dumbo began in July 2017 in the United Kingdom. Filming ended in November 2017.

Trivia

 * This will officially be the first time since Batman Returns (which was released in 1992) that Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Tim Burton work together on the same film.
 * This will also be Burton's fourth film with Keaton and DeVito, his third film with Eva Green, and his second film with Alan Arkin.
 * This is the fourth time that Michael Keaton does a role for a Disney film, after playing Ray Peyton, Sr. for Herbie: Fully Loaded, Chick Hicks for Cars and Ken for Toy Story 3.
 * This will be Danny DeVito's first role for a Disney film since he voiced Phil in Hercules.
 * Dumbo will be the third live-action remake to be released in March, after 2015's Cinderella and 2017's Beauty and the Beast, followed by 2020's Mulan.
 * Thus, this is also be the second film directed by Burton to have a release in March after 2010's Alice in Wonderland.
 * The film will act as a follow up expansion to the original film, picking up following the climax of the movie while in addition of also serving as a live-action adaptation of its 1941 animated original.
 * This will be the second time that Colin Farrell will do a role for a Disney film, after playing Travers Robert Goff in Saving Mr. Banks.