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Will Smith and Tom Hanks are Top Choices for Tim Burton’s Live-Action Remake of Disney’s ‘Dumbo’

For nearly two years, Tim Burton has been on board for directing a live-action remake of the 1941 Disney classic cartoon Dumbo and buzz about the film is finally starting to pick up.

It was been reported that Will Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black) may be in early talks for a starring role in the film and that Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13) may be also circling a somewhat unconventional role within the film.

While deals are far from finalized, if Smith were to join to the production, he would be playing the father of children who befriend Dumbo the elephant after seeing him perform in the circus.  A major road block, however, is the filming schedule associated with this project.  If Smith were to take this role, it could significantly impact production on the Bad Boys for Life, the upcoming sequel to Bad Boys, as they are scheduled to film at the same time.  Smith’s potential involvement in the Tim Burton remake could delay the start date for the Bad Boys sequel or, could even potentially put the film on hold indefinitely.

Hanks, on the other hand, is said to be under consideration for the villain role within the film, a true departure from the characters which we are accustomed to seeing from him.  Hanks is said to be weighing his options between Dumbo and a World War II drama, The Grey Hound.  The WWII drama is about a career officer commanding a Navy destroyer which, frankly, sounds more like a role that would be fitting for Tom Hanks.

While we don’t know much else about Tim Burton’s take on the Disney classic, we know that the film will show a mix of CG and live action and will also add in a unique family story line which will be told parallel to Dumbo’s story.  Last year, it was announced that Disney had solidified some future premiere dates in 2018 for live-action films.  Going on pure speculation, we are guessing that one of those films will be this version of Dumbo.

What do you think about Tim Burton’s live-action Dumbo recreation and the potential casting of Will Smith and Tom Hanks in the film?

Will Smith and Tom Hanks are Top Choices for Tim Burton's Live-Action Remake of Disney's 'Dumbo'

Source: Variety and SlashFilm

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