Will Smith not joining Disney’s ‘Dumbo’ live-action project
Deadline reports that talks between Will Smith and Disney have broken off, and he will not be starring in Dumbo, the Tim Burton-directed live-action adaptation of the classic 1941 animated film.
“The studio continues to move aggressively toward a production start with a script by Ehren Kruger about the big-eared, lovable elephant,” they noted.
“This was an intriguing family film option for Smith, but he had not committed and it didn’t work out for the usual reasons, including salary and scheduling. Among other percolating projects, Smith is moving toward a production start with Sony Pictures on Bad Boys for Life, a reteam with Martin Lawrence that has Joe Carnahan directing his script.”
Last month rumors swirled that Tom Hanks and Will Smith were being sought by the studio to head this new live-action film project.
Collider added that “Smith would take on the role of a father whose children fall in love with the titular elephant at the circus. Variety notes that Tom Hanks has also been approached for a villain role, but the Sully actor may instead decide to star in the World War II drama Greyhound.”
“Smith, whose latest film, Collateral Beauty, opened in the holiday onslaught and didn’t connect with audiences, would be joining Burton, whose last fairy tale adaptation Alice In Wonderland grossed $1.02 billion,” the outlet reported.
Deadline then noted that Smith would join a parade of big stars who’ve starred in these Disney films, who have included Angelina Jolie in Maleficent, Johnny Depp in Alice, with Emma Stone to star as 101 Dalmations villainess Cruella De Ville and Dwayne Johnson aligned with Jungle Cruise. Stay tuned on this.
The 1941 classic “Dumbo” will be getting a “live-action” adaptation
