Disney can’t seem to catch a break as filmmaker Sarah Polley exits from the upcoming Disney remake – Bambi. Sarah Polley, who is known for her thought-stirring work like Women Talking, has recently decided to step away from the upcoming live-action remake for creative reasons.
Sarah Polley is not the only one to walk off the sets of Bambi; screenwriter Lindsey Anderson Beer also reportedly left the project last year. Disney’s trouble with live-action remakes is not a new issue; the last release, The Little Mermaid, faced backlash from fans, and the upcoming Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remake generated negative reactions before release.
Bambi In The Wild
Disney has been trying desperately to bank on the success of existing projects, and the success of The Lion King and The Jungle Book has played a major role in greenlighting several live-action remakes.
It was in 2020 when the official announcement for Bambi was made, and since then, there has been nothing but trouble in the jungle. Initially, the script was drafted by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Lindsey Anderson Beer, before Beer walked off the project.
The most recent draft was then written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, who previously worked on Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood. However, the search for the director to helm the project was long and arduous before Disney finalized Sarah Polley in 2023, who was still fresh from her Oscar outing.
Trouble in the Disneyland
Disney’s reluctance to milk off existing franchises has done more harm than good for the brand. Initially, these remakes were met with excitement. However, the surplus of live-action remakes has met with dismay from the general audience.
Moreover, Disney’s controversial choices have also led to the downfall of live-action remakes. Some reports suggest that Disney wanted to omit the death scene of Bambi’s mother, which may have triggered the creative disagreement between Polley and Disney. Additionally, the recently released The Little Mermaid faced backlash for its casting choices, and the upcoming Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been facing backlash since its announcement.
Initially, the backlash started when Latina actress Rachel Zegler was cast in the role of snow white. The controversy escalated when she stated in an interview with Variety,
“We absolutely wrote a Snow White that she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.”
Apart from the actress’s remark, Disney also dropped the “Seven Dwarfs” from the title and cast seven diverse people in place of dwarves, enraging the Dwarfism community.
What is Disney’s Angle?
The widespread hate around the live-action remakes begs the question, why is Disney greenlighting remakes after remakes, the answer is clear- box office return. The Jungle Book became one of the biggest hits of 2016, made on a budget of $175 million, the movie grossed $966.6 million worldwide.
This massive success was elevated even further by The Lion King, which crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide. Apart from the box office revenue, the brand benefits from the profit generated through merchandising, leading to a never-ending corporate sales funnel.
Some have theorized that this corporate greed and the lack of respect for the source material have been a major contribution for Polley to walk away from the project.
