Pete's Dragon (2016 film)

"Some secrets are too big to keep."

- Tagline

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

Plot
The movie begins with Pete, at five years old, on a road trip with his mom and dad until they end up in a car crash trying to dodge a deer. Pete’s parents are killed instantly but Pete survives. He ends up being chased into the forest by a pack of wolves and becomes surrounded. But then the wolves are scared off by the presence of a dragon with green fur, yellow eyes and huge wings. Pete is at first a little scared, but comes to see that the dragon is very friendly. Pete names the dragon "Elliott", after the character in his favorite book, and the two of them become the best of friends and live together in the forest for six years.

One day Pete, now ten years old, spots a group lumberjacks and forest rangers roaming close to where he lives. He stays out of site, but gets spotted and followed by a girl named Natalie. When Natalie tires to follow him up a tree and hurts herself, her father, Jack, and her soon to be stepmother, forest ranger Grace Meacham, come looking for her. When they notice Pete, he runs off only to be caught by Jack’s brother, Gavin, and they take him back to town. When Elliott realizes that Pete is missing, he gets worried and starts looking for him, but at the same time catches Gavin’s attention. He and his fellow lumberjacks arm themselves with rifles and venture deep into the forest. Meanwhile Pete is taken to hospital after bumping his head while trying to escape. He escapes from the hospital and tries to get back to the forest, but is unfamiliar with his new surroundings. Grace and the Police give chase and soon recapture him after he is cornered in an alleyway. Grace, Natalie and Jack invite Pete to stay with them, promising to take him back to the woods the next day and have Pete show where he had been living for six years. When Pete begins talking about his friend, Elliott, Grace begins to wonder. When she was a little girl her father used to tell her stories about a dragon in the forest. While he said they were true, Grace never really believed them as she got older. But everything that Pete has said and shown about Elliott is exactly what was described in her father’s stories.

Back in the woods, Gavin and his followers are still roaming the woods and it had now got dark. When they discover Pete and Elliott’s treehouse, Elliot comes out of hiding and chases them away. Then he takes to the skies and follows them back to town, in hopes of finding Pete. Elliott follows Gavin and his colleagues to Jack’s house, who tells him what he saw but does not believe him. When Elliott finds Pete and sees how happy and well treated he is, he sadly decides to leave him and returns to his cave.

The next day, Pete, Grace and Natalie, along with Grace’s father, Mr. Meacham, journey to the forest. Upon arrival, they follow Pete to his treehouse where he introduces them to Elliott. They are both startled but amazed by what they are seeing. Natalie even close to pet him on the nose. Suddenly, Elliott is tranquilized multiple times by Gavin and his fellow lumberjacks. Elliott tries to escape but the tranquilizers take their effect on him, and instantly falls unconscious. They load Elliott unto a truck and bring him back to the mill where they lock him in a wearhouse. Pete is worried about what might happen to Elliott, and needs to save him. With Natalie’s assistance, The kids get inside the wearhouse without being noticed, and remove the chains that are holding Elliott. Although free from his restrains, Elliott still feels a little weak and unable to fly out. With Mr.

Meacham’s help, They drive Elliott out of the mill and back to the forest, pursued by the police. Gavin gets ahead of them and tries to make them stop at the bridge. But they are unable to and ram right into Gavin’s pickup and come to a stop on the other side. Elliott, now has his strength back, angrily attacks the police force by breathing fire at them. Pete tries to get him to calm but Elliott does not listen and continues to breathe fire. Jack and Grace end up half way across the bridge, and the enormous amount of fire causes damage to the bridge. The road beneath them gives way, and their pickup ends hanging dangerously over the ravine beneath the bridge. Grace and Jack are trapped and inches away from death, but when Pete finally gets through to Elliott that he needs Grace and Jack he finally calms down and moves in to save them. But suddenly the damaged bridge completely gives way causing Elliott, Grace and Jack to fall down into the misty ravine. Just when everyone expects the worse, Elliott emerges from the mist with Grace and Jack riding on his back. They are all happily reunited, but as helicopters approach Pete and Elliott fly away despite Grace’s plea.

Pete and Elliot return to their now demolished treehouse. Now that everyone knows of Elliott’s existence he will have to go far away. This also means that Pete will have to leave his friend for good, even though he does not want to. Elliott, knowing that Grace, Jack and Natalie can love and care for Pete as much as he has, encourages him to go back to them. The two friends give each other one last tearful hug before going their separate ways. Pete returns to live with Grace, Jack and Natalie, and Elliott flies away to find a new home. Afterwards, Grace and Jack get married and adopt Pete, and as for Elliott he is not seen or heard from again. But if one knows where to look, like Pete, Elliott can be found living among many other dragons.

Cast

 * Oakes Fegley as Pete, a young orphan who lives in the forest and whose only friend and protector is Elliott the Dragon
 * Bryce Dallas Howard as Grace Meacham, a forest ranger and also Jack's wife
 * Wes Bentley as Jack, a lumber mill owner, Natalie's father, Gavin's brother and Grace's husband
 * Karl Urban as Gavin, a hunter who is Jack's brother and Natalie's uncle
 * Oona Laurence as Natalie, Jack's daughter and Gavin's niece
 * Robert Redford as Mr. Meacham, Grace's father, and also Natalie's adopted grandfather
 * Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Sheriff Dentler
 * Jim McLarty as Ranger Wentworth
 * Ian Harcourt as Deputy West
 * John Kassir as Elliott the Dragon's Vocal Effects

Production
In March 2013, Disney announced a remake 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 it. It 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 and the filming is also scheduled to begin in January in New Zealand.