There have been some recent rumblings that Disney is preparing to make a live-action remake of their 2001 animated adventureAtlantis: The Lost Empire. Just yesterday, it was stated that Tom Holland was wanted in the lead, and then we got news that Guillermo Del Toro was going to direct. Del Toro has now personally stepped forward to call this fake news on Twitter. Apparently, it is not happening.
It was just yesterday that we passed along the rumor that Disney was alledgedly eyeingSpider-Man: HomecomingandSpider-Man: Far From HomestarTom Holland for the leadin a planned live-action remake of their semi-classic animated movieAtlantis: The Lost Empire. It is not known if there is still any validity to that particular rumor, but the originating site has been coming under heat recently for parading a cavalcade of unsubstantiated rumors that are outright false.
For those of you that might be unfamiliar with the man,Guillermo del Torois not only the filmmaker behind such classics as the above-mentionedHellboystarring Ron Perlman and the Best Picture-winning film,The Shape of Water. Oh, no. Del Toro is also the mastermind behind such films asBlade IIwith Wesley Snipes,Pacific Rimwith Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, and Charlie Day, andCrimson Peakwith Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, and Tom Hiddleston. Oh, and let’s not forget what many (including this guy) believe to be his masterpiece,Pan’s Labyrinth. He is also working on a version of Pinocchio for Netflix that is quite a bit different from what Disney is planning with their live-action take on the property.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I think Del Toro would be an incredibly solid choice for director of a live-action remake ofAtlantis: The Lost Empire, even if his sensibilities aren’t very Disney. The man is a master of creating new and visually exciting worlds. And it seems to me that he has gathered asub-specialty in the form of underwater worldswith his recent hitThe Shape of Water. Plus, all visual arts and whatnot aside, Del Toro has also more than proved he knows how to bring big-action and adventure to the screen. In the end, Del Toro taking the helm ofAtlantis: The Lost Empirewould be epic. But alas, for now, that’s simply not going to happen.
As far as the fundamental thought ofDisneylooking to produce a live-action remake ofAtlantis: The Lost Empire, I said it in yesterday’s article, and I’ll repeat it here: I think this is a great idea. After all, Disney should not waste all of their time and manpower remaking movies that everyone already loves, am I right? I think it’s about time the House of Mouse took a stab at rebooting some of their lesser-known films. AndAtlantis: The Lost Empireseems like a reliable place to start - especially if they ever do manage to snag Guillermo del Toro to direct. But consideringhe mostly makes R rated fare that isn’t necessarily tuned into kids, we doubt that will ever really happen.
That said, his next work as a producer is geared towards the tween set, though what he’s made is dark and terrifying. you’re able to check out the filmmakers next movieScary Stories to Tell in the Darklater this year. Sure Del Toro doesn’t direct this PG-13 take on Alvin Schwartz’s classic kid-horror book series, but he’s a producer and that works for me. Speaking of directing though, Del Toro’s take onScary Stories to Tell in the Darkis helmed byThe Autopsy of Jane DoeandTroll Hunterdirector André Øvredal. That movie is all set to creep and crawl into a theater near you via Lionsgate on July 22, 2025. The original news that Guillermo Del Toro was directingAtlantiscame from We Got This Covered.Guillermo Del Toro tweeted outthe message that this is definitely not happening. But who knows, maybe now Disney is thinking about it.
