In relation to my article last week, I decided to continue on with my idea of films that Disney could make. Disney finds their greatest successes when they adapt fairy tales into the big screen, and will continue to do that tradition (i.e. the upcoming Gigantic). At the same time, however, Disney seems to be doing more and more original stories for their films, such as Zootopia. Despite that, I hope that Disney will still make spins on classic fairy tales, and bring them to movie screens for years to come. Here are some of my ideas.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
The Boy Who Cried Wolf may be a simple fable (and surprisingly, has no relation to Peter and the Wolf, as I had previously thought), but multiple stories have been crafted from short tales and stories. Disney could definitely create a backstory for both the wolf and the boy, and add more conflict to it, as well as a happier ending. Plus, the lessons of not telling lies is always a good message for kids, and this fable has rarely been adapted into a major picture. It's a timeless tale.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goldilocks' mishaps involving the bear family has been told to children for years and years, but what happens to the mischievous blonde in the end is different in each telling. With the magic of Disney, a larger and more in depth story involving Goldilocks could be developed, as well as a bigger ending and larger climax, that could stick with the classic fairy tale for years to come. Perhaps there is a wicked old witch out to get Goldilocks, or she is a princess, or has a love interest. The bears could be changed as well. Perhaps they could be humans turned into bears by a spell! Disney could go in so many directions with this story, and it could be a hit.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood was in Into the Woods, but her story has never been fully adapted by Disney. Disney could go in multiple directions with Red and her journey through the woods, just like they could with Goldilocks. Red could be older, she could be a princess... the wolf, again, could have been transformed into a wolf by a spell. Perhaps the woodcutter and Red could be love interests, or maybe the wolf would truly not be bad, and there would be a different villain. One of the best things about adapting fairy tales is how vague they are, so you can try to direct the story in any way you like. That's the magic of movies!
Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin is one of the oddest and most mysterious fairy tales of all, and with its quirky characters and lengthy plot, could easily become a Disney movie, specifically one with Tim Burton influences. Animated or live action, the story's ending ends with good defeating evil, and Rumpelstiltskin himself is one of the most unique and unusual characters in all of fairy tales. Perhaps in Disney's version, the child of the young woman could have indeed been stolen by Rumpelstiltskin, and the story could be about the child escaping from Rumpelstiltskin's grasp to return to her mother. Disney could truly bring the tale to a light that has never been seen before, and create a story that will last forever.
The Pied Piper
Arguably the world's darkest fairy tale (though it is more properly titled a "legend" due to the slim possibility of it being a real event), the story of the Pied Piper has haunted the town of Hamelin for almost 1000 years, and continues to fascinate listeners of the story for generations to come. The enigmatic Pied Piper and his magical song is a story that is so shocking and tragic, that if Disney decided to adapt it, it would be unlike anything the studio has ever done. Even if the story is changed to be one with a happy ending, the mystical affect that it could leave on an audience would lead it to be one of Disney's best works. It truly could be the studio's magnum opus.
There are many other fairy tales that Disney could adapt, but these five stick out in my mind. They are all so unique, and different from any other story in the Disney canon. Do you have any other ideas? Leave them in the comments! Or, how do you think Disney could tell the stories of these fairy tales? There are so many possibilites left undiscovered!
