AddThe Hunchback of Notre Dameto the list of live-action remakes currently in the works at Disney. Deadline reports that the studio has assembled a team to create a new live-action adaptation of theVictor Hugonovel withJosh Gadonboard to produce. Gad is apparently not expected to star at this point, but that could obviously change depending on how this project develops.
Hunchbackwill be a musical, and the studio has tapped Disney stalwartAlan Menkenand Broadway veteranStephen Schwartzto write the music, both of whom wrote the songs and music for the 1996 Disney animated film.M. ButterflyplaywrightDavid Henry Hwangis writing the script, but no director is attached at this point. Schwartz’s credits includeWickedandPippin, while Menken is responsible for the music of Disney classics likeBeauty and the BeastandAladdin.
The Hunchback of Notre Damefilm remains a curious entry in Disney’s Second Golden Age. It was a passion project of then-Disney headMichael Eisner, and it served as the highly anticipated next project fromBeauty and the BeastdirectorsGary TrousdaleandKirk Wise, who led that 1991 film to a prestigious Best Picture nomination. Trousdale and Wise’s take onHunchback, however, was far darker than the other films Disney was releasing at the time, and indeed felt more like a drama than an animated fairy tale. Internally, the Disney executives were looking towardsHunchbackas their next big prestigious project, so much so that the embrace of 1994’sThe Lion Kingtook many by surprise.
Hunchbackdidn’t reach the box office or critical heights that Disney was hoping for, and signaled a bit of a downturn after 1995’sPocahontaswas also a step down fromThe Lion King. While Disney would close out the decade with films beloved by kids likeHercules,Mulan, andTarzan, the days of generating Oscar buzz had come to a close (for the time-being), andHunchback of Notre Damewas a wildly ambitious shot that kind of missed the mark.
Regardless, Eisner so loved the film that he commissioned as stage musical that ran in Berlin from 1999 to 2002. This new live-action update will not pull from that adaptation, and will instead be based on the animated film and Hugo’s novel.
This isn’t the only adaptation ofHunchbackin the works.Idris Elbasigned a deal with Netflixto star in, direct, and produce a modern retelling of the story with a heavy music bent, owing to Elba’s passion as a DJ. Let the battle of theHunchback of Notre Dameadaptations begin!
