It’s no secret that a large portion of Disney’s revenue in recent years has come from rebooting earlier films. From Cinderella to The Lion King and beyond, Disney has been producing live-action remakes of tons of their classic animated films, with even more of these projects currently in the works. However, one must begin to wonder whether straightforward, live-action recreations are really the most effective way for Disney to bring these classic stories back to life. With many of the live-action remakes garnering less-than-stellar reviews, one must start to question whether Disney should consider exploring an alternate path.
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Fortunately, one Disney property could open many doors for the company. Back in 2004, Disney made a deal in which they received ownership of the beloved group of colorful performers known as the Muppets. With audiences growing tired of live-action adaptations that don’t do much to enhance the original stories, Disney ought to consider capitalizing on their access to the Muppets when remaking their beloved films. Now, with rumors that Disney World’s only Muppet-based attraction may be closing soon, fans are clamoring for Disney to find new ways to use these beloved characters, and these films offer excellent solutions.
10 Beauty and the Beast (1991)
A Timeless Love Story Built for a Colorful Cast
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A true Disney classic, 1991’s Beauty and the Beast has been a beloved, heartwarming story for decades. This musical masterpiece tells the story of the budding romance between Belle and the titular Beast, a former prince who had been cursed to appear as a hideous creature.
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Leading the entertainment industry with skillful animation and storytelling, Disney has produced several great films in their 100 years.
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The original film is among the most popular of Disney’s animated features, and is one of only three animated films to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Beauty and the Beast features a large ensemble of characters of all shapes and sizes, perfect for any Muppet production.
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10/10 Beauty and the Beast AnimationFamilyFantasyMusical
A selfish prince is doomed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he manages to fall in love with a beautiful young woman.
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*Availability in US Director Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise Release Date November 21, 1991 Cast Paige O’Hara , Robby Benson , Angela Lansbury , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , Bradley Pierce , Jesse Corti , Richard White Runtime 84 Minutes
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With plenty of both humor and heart alike, the film would offer plenty of room for all the characters to do what they do best. Plus, as it is tradition for there to always be at least one human character in every Muppet movie, a humorous opportunity could easily be seized by having the Beast played by the only human actor. The possibilities with retelling this tale as old as time are truly endless.
9 Fantasia (1940)
A Muppet-Led Musical Anthology Would Be a Blast
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Even some of Disney’s earliest animated features have massive potential when it comes to being given a new life with the Muppets. In 1940, Disney released the musical anthology film, Fantasia, a groundbreaking showcase of the wonders of Disney animation. While the magic of the original Fantasia could never truly be recreated, the idea of making a film in a similar style seems to have boatloads of amusing possibilities.
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Fantasia gMusicalFantasy
Fantasia is an animated musical film from Disney that tells eight different stories set to the compositions of Leopold Stokowski. The core story follows Mickey as an apprentice of the powerful sorcerer Yen Sid, with Mickey disobeying him as he finds his hat, bestowing him with incredible power. Attempting to harness it for himself, Mickey loses control of the power, beginning an anthology of visually striking performances while he tries to set things back to normal.
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*Availability in US Director James Algar Release Date December 25, 1967 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers James Algar Runtime 125minutes Expand
Instead of following a single narrative for the entire duration of the film, a Muppet-led version of Fantasia would allow for numerous short stories to be acted out by various beloved Muppet characters, all to the tune of a wonderful symphony orchestra. However, while it would be great to see some all-new segments set to other iconic pieces of classical music, it would also certainly please audiences to see how Kermit the Frog would fare in a retelling of the classic Sorcerer’s Apprentice chapter.
8 The Avengers (2012)
A Muppet Superhero Extravaganza
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In late 2009, Disney took another major step in expanding its entertainment empire when it signed a deal giving the company ownership of Marvel Entertainment. This, of course, led to the astronomical growth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU), with seemingly innumerable amounts of Marvel movies and television shows being released in the following years.
The Muppets’ track record of celebrity cameos would also pave the way for humorous appearances by various celebrities who have appeared in other popular installments in the MCU.
Now, as storylines evolve and characters come and go, audiences are going to miss seeing the original Avengers in all their glory; Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, the list goes on. By using the Muppets to remake the original 2012 film, The Avengers, Marvel would have the opportunity to bring all of these characters back to their loving audiences without having to tamper with the existing storylines of the MCU.
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8.8/10 The Avengers PG-13Science FictionActionAdventureSuperhero
The sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers is an action superhero film that sees the heroes assembled across the franchise face off with a deadly galactic threat. With the arrival of Thor’s brother, Loki, heroes such as Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow are brought together to stop him from unleashing an alien race upon earth.
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*Availability in US Director Joss Whedon Release Date May 4, 2012 Studio(s) Marvel Distributor(s) Marvel , Disney Writers Joss Whedon , Zak Penn Cast Chris Evans , Robert Downey Jr. , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Jeremy Renner , Tom Hiddleston , Clark Gregg , Cobie Smulders , Stellan Skarsgård , Samuel L. Jackson , Gwyneth Paltrow , Paul Bettany , Alexis Denisof , Tina Benko , Jerzy Skolimowski , Kirill Nikiforov , Jeff Wolfe , M’laah Kaur Singh , Rashmi Rustagi , Powers Boothe , Jenny Agutter , Arthur Darbinyan , Donald Li , Warren Kole Runtime 143 minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
The film would surely lean more into the silly side of the superhero universe, allowing for an experience that is both action-packed and family-friendly. The Muppets’ track record of celebrity cameos would also pave the way for humorous appearances by various celebrities who have appeared in other popular installments in the MCU.
7 Tangled (2010)
A Funny Rapunzel Family Adventure
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Disney’s 2010 animated feature, Tangled, puts a clever new spin on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, “Rapunzel.” The musical film, which has ballooned in popularity over the years, has all the elements of any great Muppet movie; lovable characters, plenty of humor, and even some romance.
While Miss Piggy and Kermit feel like guarantees to play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the movie also offers plenty of other scene-stealing roles that would allow many different Muppets to have their turn in the spotlight. Another major factor in why Tangled would thrive as a Muppet movie is the award-winning music throughout the film.
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10 7.7/10 Tangled PGAdventureFantasyComedyMusicalFamilyAnimationRomance
An adaptation of the fairytale of Rapunzel, Disney’s Tangled follows the long-haired princess as she journeys to discover her real identity. Kidnapped as a child by the evil Mother Gothel in order to exploit the healing properties of her magical hair, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has lived her whole life isolated in a tower. A chance encounter with a smooth-talking fugitive called Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) sees Rapunzel venture out into the dangerous world to find the kingdom of Corona and unlock the secrets of her past.
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*Availability in US Director Byron Howard , Nathan Greno Release Date November 24, 2010 Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures , Walt Disney Animation Studios Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Writers Dan Fogelman Cast Donna Murphy , Ron Perlman , Mandy Moore , Brad Garrett , Jeffrey Tambor , Zachary Levi Runtime 100 minutes Expand
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The Muppets are no strangers to both splashy tunes and heartfelt ballads, with music playing a significant role in most of their productions. Tangled offers plenty of original songs that are well-written and catchy, but also flexible enough that they wouldn’t sound out-of-place being sung by the silly voices of the Muppets. A Muppet-led version of Tangled would surely feature one showstopping number after another.
6 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
A Silly Twist On the Iconic Franchise
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Another major acquisition for Disney came in 2012, when the company purchased Lucasfilm, and thus, the entire Star Wars franchise. Now, Disney has surely tried to do as much as possible with the franchise over the years – there is a massive pile of evidence of this, coming in the form of movies, television shows, theme park rides, games, and more – but they have not yet explored the possibility of a Star Wars/Muppets crossover (aside from a single episode of The Muppet Show from 1980).
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13 8.5/10 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope PGActionAdventure Sci-FiFantasy
The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father’s weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.
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*Availability in US Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Runtime 121 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Seeing how beloved the franchise has become, it feels as though it would make sense for Disney to explore this concept, which would certainly provide a comedic twist on the classic films.
After all, Family Guy proved that remaking Star Wars with a colorful cast of beloved characters has the potential to be a huge success. The potential for every aspect of the film (the characters, the settings, the spacecrafts) is incredible, with the endless creativity of the team behind the Muppets sure to create something fans of both franchises would adore.
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5 Hercules (1997)
A Muppet Story of Mythic Proportions
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The Muppets have recreated various fairy tales and even some classic novels over the years, but they have yet to significantly take the dive into exploring the world of Greek mythology. A retelling of Disney’s beloved version of the story of Hercules would offer the famous characters an easy way to transition into this new area of storytelling.
Hercules tells the story of the titular son of Zeus, who must work hard and become a hero in order to return to his rightful spot on Mount Olympus. Hercules presents a rare opportunity for audiences to see how various mythical creatures would appear in the world of Muppets.
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10/10 Hercules GAnimationFantasyAdventureComedyRomance
Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.
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*Availability in US Director John Musker , Ron Clements Release Date June 13, 1997 Writers John Musker , Ron Clements , Irene Mecchi , Don McEnery , Bob Shaw Cast Tate Donovan , Josh Keaton , Roger Bart , Danny DeVito , James Woods , Susan Egan , Bobcat Goldthwait , Matt Frewer , Rip Torn , Samantha Eggar , Barbara Barrie , Hal Holbrook , Paul Shaffer , Amanda Plummer , Carole Shelley , Paddi Edwards , Charlton Heston , Lillias White , Cheryl Freeman , LaChanze , Roz Ryan Runtime 93 Minutes Main Genre Animation Expand
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The possibilities inherent in creating a Muppet-ized satyr, Pegasus, centaur and much more would definitely be an exciting project for the creative team. Along with an inspiring story and tons of catchy tunes, Hercules is a Disney classic that is sure to be a hit when retold for a modern audience. The upcoming West End musical adaptation proves that the story is still as popular as ever, and perfect for a reimagination.
4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
A Fun Opportunity for the Muppets to Return to the High Seas
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Though the Muppets have already set sail before with their 1996 film, Muppet Treasure Island, a remake of the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl could be a fun, exciting way for them to experience pirate life once again. Based on the theme park ride of the same name, the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was a huge success, both critically and commercially.
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7.8/10 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl PG-13ActionAdventureFantasy
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
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*Availability in US Director Gore Verbinski Release Date July 9, 2003 Studio(s) Jerry Bruckheimer Films , Disney Distributor(s) Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Writers Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert Cast Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce Runtime 143 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
Unfortunately, as the franchise expanded, not every addition proved to be quite as successful. The Muppets could effectively rejuvenate this nautical franchise, albeit with a slightly less intimidating cast of characters. Audiences love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies for their swashbuckling fun, and it is hard to imagine a better way to complement this humorous side of pirate life than with some of the most amusing performers around.
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With a vast assortment of characters and plenty of pirate shenanigans, a Muppet-helmed remake of this Disney film would be a blast for viewers of all ages. It would also open the door to future sequels, if the film proves to be an overwhelming success.
3 The Incredibles (2004)
A Chance for the First Collaboration Between The Muppets and Pixar
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Even if a Marvel/Muppet collaboration proves to be impossible, a remake of Disney/Pixar’s 2004 hit, The Incredibles, would serve as another exciting way of getting some superpowered Muppets on the big screen.
With Disney having access to all of Pixar’s extensive filmography, it seems only proper to explore whether the idea of a Pixar/Muppet crossover has any merit. Of Pixar’s many popular films, The Incredibles seems like the best option for a number of reasons.
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15 8.5/10 The Incredibles PGAnimationAdventureActionFamily
Pixar’s The Incredibles tells the story of a super-family forced to conceal their powers. Years after superheroes were outlawed, the superpowered Parr family live a normal life. However, after his secret vigilante work uncovers a conspiracy that points to the rise of a new supervillain, Mr. Incredible must rely on the help of his wife Elastigirl and their children, Violet and Dash, to save the world from the evil Syndrome.
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*Availability in US Director Brad Bird Release Date November 5, 2004 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers Brad Bird Cast Sarah Vowell , Samuel L. Jackson , Craig T. Nelson , Spencer Fox , Holly Hunter , Jason Lee Runtime 115 minutes Expand
The Incredibles tells the story of a family of superheroes living in a world in which it has become illegal for people to have superpowers. Though it has its fair share of superhero-filled action sequences, The Incredibles is, at its core, a movie about the importance of family and togetherness.
These ideas have been a staple of Muppet productions for years, meaning that a retelling of The Incredibles would fit right in with the rest of the Muppets’ filmography. Additionally, seeing Jim Henson’s lovable characters be given their own superpowers would certainly be a ton of fun for the audience.
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2 Frozen (2013)
An Ultra-Popular Story Ready to Be Retold
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While Disney has released countless beloved animated features over the years, few have skyrocketed in terms of popularity quite as much as Frozen. The instant-classic 2013 film tells the story of Anna and Elsa, two royal sisters in the kingdom of Arendelle, the latter of whom has magical abilities allowing her to control ice and snow.
Frozen
offers Disney an exciting opportunity to help introduce the Muppets to a younger audience, one that may not be too familiar with their previous movies and shows.
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Backed by its heartwarming story and impressive soundtrack, Frozen feels like a prime candidate to be remade by Disney, and the Muppets offer a fun, refreshing way to do so. Frozen offers Disney an exciting opportunity to help introduce the Muppets to a younger audience, one that may not be too familiar with their previous movies and shows.
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10 8.2/10 Frozen PGAnimationAdventureComedy
In this animated Disney musical, the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter. Her younger sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a living snowman to change the weather conditions and restore peace.
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*Availability in US Director Chris Buck , Jennifer Lee Release Date November 27, 2013 Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers Jennifer Lee Cast Edie McClurg , Kristen Bell , Santino Fontana , Idina Menzel , Robert Pine , Maurice LaMarche , Jonathan Groff , Stephen J. Anderson , Alan Tudyk , Josh Gad , Ciarán Hinds , Chris Williams Runtime 102 minutes Expand
After all, with various sequels, shorts films, and theme park attractions, Frozen has consistently proven that anything associated with its charming story and lovable characters is bound to be incredibly popular. A Muppet-led remake of Frozen would not only entertain audiences with a new version of the story, but it could bring more notoriety to the Muppets themselves, a rather underappreciated Disney property nowadays.
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1 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
An Incredible Movie Directed By Henry Selick
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Though far from a typical Disney animated feature, The Nightmare Before Christmas offers a lively, fun holiday story that presents plenty of entertaining opportunities for the Muppets. The iconic stop-motion film by Henry Selick and Tim Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, who decides he wants to take over running Christmas for a change.
Over the years, the film has become increasingly popular, and has truly evolved into a holiday staple for audiences around the world. With the success of The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, it is surprising that Disney hasn’t made many more attempts to capture the magic of the holidays using the Muppets since then.
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8.7/10 The Nightmare Before Christmas PGAnimationFantasyHoliday
Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.
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*Availability in US Director Henry Selick Release Date October 29, 1993 Studio(s) Touchstone Pictures , Skellington Productions Distributor(s) Buena Vista Distribution , Walt Disney Pictures Writers Caroline Thompson Cast Catherine O’Hara , Glenn Shadix , Ken Page , William Hickey , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Danny Elfman Runtime 76 minutes Expand
Having the Muppets retell the classic story of The Nightmare Before Christmas would allow the beloved performers to have a new film audiences can come back to year after year. Additionally, a collaboration between Jim Henson’s characters and Tim Burton would certainly be an exciting way to combine the talents of two deeply creative individuals.