DVDizzy Forum

You KNOW Duchess and Marie will now be black cats. Toulouse can probably stay orange. Who know about Berlioz? Maybe gray? Duchess’ name is too classist or elitist. Toulouse and Berlioz will probably be called Basquiat and Ellington.

I don't believe they'll change the breed or color scheme of any of the cats. They'll just have Black actors voice them. The human characters will definitely be racebent though.

I would've never guessed they could make a movie about cats into another manufactured "racism" drama. Disney's live-action department has been run by nutcases these last couple of years apparently. I guess when you can't even reach the "high" ( ) bar of things like the TLK, TJB, B&TB, and Aladdin remakes anymore, you need to invent these kinds of distractions.

Sotiris wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 1:23 pm This being directed by a Black filmmaker and referred to as a "reimagining", adds more credence to the theory that it will have an all-Black cast. I also expect Everybody Wants to Be a Cat to be cut or have its lyrics changed since it's considered racist.

At first, I was surprised by the choice of director, as they usually hire Black directors for projects like the upcoming Lion King film about Mufasa, which is set in Africa, and I don't associate The Aristocats with Black culture. But actually there's an important element of the film that is related to it, and that's jazz music. They would probably be accused of cultural appropiation now if they didn't have Black talent working on a film where jazz is so important. And Questlove is mainly a musician, so I guess that's why they chose him in particular. This is not his first work for Disney, by the way. He voiced a character in Pixar's Soul and was a music consultant on the film. I think Summer of Soul, the Oscar-winning documentary he directed was from the Disney company too, right?

I don't think the movie will have an all-Black cast, though. They usually have characters of different ethnicities nowadays to appeal to a bigger demographic. Even The Lion King had some non-Black voice actors like Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner or John Oliver. I wonder who'll play Madame Bonfamille if the character is racebent. I think Angela Bassett or Alfre Woodard, for example, would be good choices.

As for "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat", is the song itself considered racist? I thought it was just the cats from Scat Cat's band that appear in it, for the racial stereotypes. If they turned them into an all-Black jazz band maybe that would solve the problem.

I'll give this movie the benefit of the doubt. The original film is not one of my favorites, so maybe this remake will tick all the boxes.

D82 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:52 pmThis is not his first work for Disney, by the way. He voiced a character in Pixar's Soul and was a music consultant on the film. I think Summer of Soul, the Oscar-winning documentary he directed was from the Disney company too, right?

Yes, it was for Searchlight Pictures. He's also directing a Sly Stone documentary for Hulu.

D82 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:52 pmI don't think the movie will have an all-Black cast, though. They usually have characters of different ethnicities nowadays to appeal to a bigger demographic. Even The Lion King had some non-Black voice actors like Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner or John Oliver.

Well, I meant a predominately Black cast. Not even films like Black Panther have a 100% Black cast. I'm sure some secondary characters and/or the villain in the remake will be of some other race.

D82 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:52 pmAs for "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat", is the song itself considered racist? I thought it was just the cats from Scat Cat's band that appear in it, for the racial stereotypes. If they turned them into an all-Black jazz band maybe that would solve the problem.

The lyrics sung by Shun Gon, the Siamese cat are considered racist too. I suppose those can be easily cut out for the remake.

Sotiris wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:55 am Yes, it was for Searchlight Pictures. He's also directing a Sly Stone documentary for Hulu.

Thanks for confirming. Disney is hiring him for a lot of things!

Sotiris wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:55 am Well, I meant a predominately Black cast. Not even films like Black Panther have a 100% Black cast. I'm sure some secondary characters and/or the villain in the remake will be of some other race.

Oh, OK. Yes, that's possible. Speaking of the cast, in the original most of the characters are animals. As far as I remember, the only humans are Madame Bonfamille, her lawyer and Edgar. Also the milkman and the movers, but those are very small roles. I wonder if they'll add more human characters in the remake. As for the animals, since the article called the film a live-action hybrid, I guess they'll be CG this time and not real ones like in Lady and the Tramp. They haven't announced whether the film will be released in theaters or on Disney+, right? If the cats are indeed CG, maybe that means it'll be a theatrical movie.

Sotiris wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:55 am The lyrics sung by Shun Gon, the Siamese cat are considered racist too. I suppose those can be easily cut out for the remake.

Oh, yes, he has a line or two. But, like you say; that's easy to fix. It's not like "The Siamese Song" from Lady and the Tramp or "What Made the Red Man Red?" from Peter Pan where the whole song is considered racist.

D82 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 11:33 pmAs for the animals, since the article called the film a live-action hybrid, I guess they'll be CG this time and not real ones like in Lady and the Tramp. They haven't announced whether the film will be released in theaters or on Disney+, right? If the cats are indeed CG, maybe that means it'll be a theatrical movie.

The animals in Lady and the Tramp weren't entirely live action. They were a CG/live-action hybrid. Regardless, I doubt this remake will get a theatrical release. Aristocats is just not popular enough and while Disney's focus on streaming has lessened, I don't think they would want to risk having another Dumbo situation on their hands.

Sotiris wrote: ↑Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:41 am The animals in Lady and the Tramp weren't entirely live action. They were a CG/live-action hybrid. Regardless, I doubt this remake will get a theatrical release. Aristocats is just not popular enough and while Disney's focus on streaming has lessened, I don't think they would want to risk having another Dumbo situation on their hands.

It's true; they also used CG for Lady and the Tramp. The film being described as a live-action hybrid made me think it would have more CG than that film, but perhaps they'll use the same technique. Anyway, Pinocchio also had a lot of 3D elements and was still a streaming movie, so maybe that's not an indication it could go to theaters. The fact that they are less focused on streaming now is the other thing that made me think of that possibility, but I guess you're right a Disney+ release is more likely given the popularity of the source material.

Disney's Live-Action Aristocats Reboot Is Dead, According To Oscar-Winning Director
https://screenrant.com/aristocats-live- ... e-reveals/

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