Tim Burton’s Live-Action ‘Dumbo’ Confirms Lead Cast, Plus Release Date Announcement
Tim Burton has officially begun production on his live-action version of Dumbo, the most depressing Disney movie of all time. (Okay, maybe that’s up for debate, but this movie wrecked me as a child.) We’ve heard rumors about the cast for a while now, from Colin Farrell to Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton, and they’re all true! The casting news, along with some plot details and an official release date was announced today during Disney’s live-action panel at the D23 Expo.
Dumbo will star Farrell as Holt Farrier, a former circus star who “finds his life turned upside down when he returns from war.” The best way to fix that? Taking care of a cute elephant who’s been a bully target. DeVito, in what sounds like dream casting, will play circus owner Max Medici who has Holt care for the titular floppy-earned newborn elephant. Dumbo will become the ultimate Batman Returns reunion with Keaton, who continues his villainous streak as entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere who learns of Dumbo’s flying abilities and aims to turn him into a star. Rounding out this already stellar cast is Eva Green as aerial artist Colette Marchant. The film will also introduce newcomers Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins as Holt’s children.
Beyond an amazing group of actors, the Dumbo remake is sure to look pretty great thanks to costume designer Colleen Atwood, whose costumes were the best (er, only good) thing about Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. You won’t see Dumbo take flight for some time, though. The film will officially hit theaters on March 29, 2019.