Pete's Dragon (2016 film)

Pete's Dragon is an upcoming American live-action film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It will be directed by David Lowery, and produced by Jim Whitaker. This film will be a remake of Pete's Dragon, first released on November 3, 1977. In March 2013, Disney announced a "reboot" of the film to be written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks from the Sundance hit Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. It will reinvent the core story of a venerable Disney family film and will not be a musical. Principal photography will commence in January 2015 in New Zealand, with Lowery slated to direct for a August 12, 2016 released date.

Casting

 * Oakes Fegley as Pete
 * Oona Laurence as Natalie, the mill owner's daughter
 * Robert Redford is in talks to play a character.
 * Bryce Dallas Howard
 * Wes Bentley
 * Karl Urban

Production
In March 2013, Disney announced a "reboot" of the film to be written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks from the Sundance hit Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. It will reinvent the core story of a venerable Disney family film and will not be a musical. Principal photography will commence in January 2015 in New Zealand, with Lowery slated to direct. On October 2, Barrie M. Osborne was set to produce the film. The film would be live-action with CGI used for the dragon.

Casting
On September 19, 2014, Disney set Oakes Fegley and Oona Laurence to star as Pete and Natalie. On October 16, Robert Redford was in early talks to play a local storyteller, involving dragons that no one believes. On November 20, Bryce Dallas Howard was in talks for the female lead role to play a forest ranger who finds the boy and doesn't believe his stories about a dragon. On January 7, 2015, Wes Bentley joined the cast of the film. On January 9, Michael C. Hall was also added to the cast. On January 29, Karl Urban replaced C. Hall to join the cast for his role.

Filming
Rehearsals began early January 2015. While the filming is also scheduled to begin in January in New Zealand.