Last month, reports surfaced thatWill Smithhad dropped out of contention to star in Disney’s live-actionDumboremake, with the actor reportedly failing to come to terms with the studio on his salary, while scheduling complications also arose withBad Boys III. Today we have word that Disney has set its sights on a new leading man, withColin Farrellin negotiations to join the cast, which currently includesEva GreenandDanny DeVito. Disney is reportedly getting close to a production start date withDumbo, but an exact filming date has not been given quite yet.
Deadlinereports thatColin Farrellwill play a widowed father of two named Holt, who hails from Kentucky.Eva Greenjoined the cast earlier this month, portraying a French trapeze artist named Colette, who works for the big top circus leader named Vandermere, who has yet to be cast. This role marks her third movie with directorTim Burton, followingDark Shadowsand last year’sMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.Danny DeVitois playing Medici, who runs a smaller circus that the villainous Vandermere acquires.
We reported in January thatTom Hankswas being eyed for the main villain role, but it was also mentioned in that report that he may take a role in the World War II dramaThe Grey Hound. However, just a few weeks ago, we reported thatTom Hanksis joiningMeryl Streepand directorSteven SpielberginThe Post, which is based on the true story of the Washington Post’s involvement in the Pentagon Papers leak. That report didn’t indicate whenThe Postwould start filming, so it may be possible forTom Hanksto shootDumbobeforeThe Post, if he still is interested in talking on this role.
While production hasn’t even started onDumboyet, there has already been a bit of controversy regarding the project. After it was revealed thatTim Burtonis directing the project back in March 2015,Lisa Langefrom the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), drafted an open letter toTim Burton, asking that in his new movie,Dumboand his mother are set free from the circus, and allowed to live out their lives in an animal sanctuary, instead of, “continuing to be imprisoned and abused in the entertainment industry.” This letter was drafted shortly after Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced they will retire the elephants used in its shows.
The originalDumbomovie centered on a baby elephant born with oversized ears and a supreme lack of confidence. He teams up with Timothy the Mouse to achieve his full potential and overcome all of the obstacles in front of him. DirectorTim Burton’s new adaptation will be a mixture ofCGI animationand live action. No details have been given yet about how this story may be different from the original 1941 animated classic.Colin Farrellis coming offFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and he will next be seen inThe Beguiled,The Killing of a Sared DeerandInner City.
