Disney's "Gigantic" News From D23 Today!

This is just breaking as I'm typing the post and people seem more excited about this news than anything else, including any news about Frozen 2, Moana (although that's a close second and I'll bring you up to date on that shortly), Zootopia, Winnie the Pooh or Once Upon A Time.

What is this, you're wondering? 

This is Disney's long-awaited Jack and the Beanstalk project Giants, now renamed Gigantic,  and news has been announced at the currently-running annual Disney fan expo, D23, in Anaheim California.

The story initially broken by Deadline, here's the gist (emphasis in bold and underlined is mine):

Disney said today at the D23 fan expo in Anaheim that its toon studio’s next project will be Gigantic, a Spain-set take on the Jack And The Beanstalk story.  Nathan Greno, who co-directed 2010’s Tangled, will helm the Disney Animation film with Dorothy McKim (Meet The Robinsons) producing. The film will hit theaters in 2018. 

“We want to make the definitive version of Jack And The Beanstalk,” Greno said onstage at D23. 

(Edit FTNH: Inserting official description below, rather than the paraphrased version) The director said: 

Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, Disney’s “Gigantic” follows adventure-seeker Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home. But he doesn’t account for her super-sized personality—and who knew giants were so down to earth? 

And it’s not just one Big Person at the top of the beanstalk but an entire world of giants from lots of different cultures, he said. The bad guys are the Storm Giants.

The premise isn't exactly new, though it will be interesting to see a grown-man Jack and giant child pair up. There's been more than one adaptation of the fairy tale that has multiple giants in the clouds. The 'set in Spain' part has sort of been done too, but still, this is the Disney version and soon people will have trouble remembering that. Let me rephrase that: this is the Disney FEATURE-LENGTH version. This will actually be the Disney company's FIFTH adaptation of the English fairy tale, including the animated versions in 19922, and the next in 1947, the Once Upon A Time version (in which Jack was Jaqueline and not-so good-of-heart) and the recent Disney movie version of Into the Woods, directed by Rob Marshall.

Did we mention that the music is being written by the duo who created Frozen's wildly successful soundtrack? They're far enough along in the process that they played (and sang) one of the songs at the D23 presentation - after Jack meets the giant girl Inma. Apparently it was "aw-dorable!" Being that the giant is 11 years old, we shouldn't be treated to any teenage angst songs like the infamous Frozen ballad, but there's a lot of warning about getting tugs on the heartstrings and the need to bring tissues so you never know.

And here's additional tidbits reported from various places.

CinemaBlend:

To add some cultural flare to film, it is actually set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, so expect Jack to be something of a Christopher Columbus of the skies. 
In addition to the officially released news, our own Eric Eisenberg is reporting from D23, and from what info he's gathered there, it sounds like Gigantic will include entire societies of different sorts of giants, including Storm Giants, who will act as the villains of the story, and will be twice as big as the girl Jack makes friends with. The character of Jack will be a grown man, as opposed to the youth that he is often portrayed as, which will be important to the interaction between Jack and Inma as the film will focus on the relationship between the adult, yet small human, and the young, yet huge, giant.

From InsideTheMagic:

As the announcement was made, a giant green beanstalk emerged on the D23 Expo 2015 show floor in the Walt Disney Animation Studios pavilion, surrounded by sound effects of a cow mooing and a giant grumbling. Artwork was (also) shown during the presentation. (Edit FTNH: I've inserted the main pics throughout this post.)

The definitive version, hey? I just can't imagine that, even if they do include the famous "Fee Fi Fo Fum" line. 

Dreamworks did an impressive homage to the fairy tale in their Puss In Boots film, but it wasn't the main image of the movie, so tends to be forgotten (worth a look if you haven't seen it - the whole film was far better in the use of fairy tales than I expected, for many reasons).

Oh and check out the cow in the clip below of the giant beanstalk 'prop' that appeared during the presentation, as well as a good look at the storybook Spanish village as well:

But no matter how this pans out, I'm excited to see this classically boys' fairy tale come into the Disney feature length canon and am curious to see what they do with the tale. More than that, though, I'm curious to see how people then re-discover and discuss Jack and the Beanstalk, which, if you read this blog, you'll know is one of my favorites. (Plus, my son's name  - yes my love of fairy tales had a BIG influence on his name choice - is going to have a whole Disney styling he can call his own! Sort of... Yes I am particularly biased in being excited about Jack and the Beanstalk things and there's no way it's going to be like Jack the Giant Slayer that, um, 'happened' a couple of years ago. At least some of those beanstalk posters were seriously awesome, [especially THIS one] even if the movie was... not.)

OK. I will admit this one thing: this movie is going to come complete with a ton of beanstalk products I am going to NEED (yes NEED I tell you!) and I am starting to save this very minute..! A giant beanstalk, along with a red hood, is one of the universal symbols for all things fairy tale. I don't care that it's been done to death, is well known etc etc. The sight of a giant beanstalk always sends me to a happy place. Expect more greenery in the Once Upon A Blog offices the moment merchandising and dollars collide.

So what do you think about all this? (Beanstalk product awesomeness or not?)

D23 Expo in August to Give Sneak Peek of Live Action "Fairy Tale-Adjacent" Films

Before you ask: NO - there is no official word that anything from Beauty and the Beast will be shown, released or teased BUT they will have to mention it so there's a strong possibility it will be one of those bonus surprise things (like a shot of an enchanted rose, if they follow the Cinderella trend!), on the day for attendees/Gold Members. (We shall see).

Here's the official press announcement:

Opening day of the D23 Expo will feature the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony as well as peeks at Disney and Pixar’s animation slate, including looks at “Zootopia” and “Finding Dory.” Disney’s live-action properties, such as its upcoming take on “The Jungle Book” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” will be previewed on Saturday.

See? Fairy tale adjacent only (but still interesting to us fairy tale folk).

The D23 Expo 2015 will be held during August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center (Los Angeles). Tickets are available now.

By the way, I found this schedule online, which confirms Disney's animated Jack and the Beanstalk take, Giants, is still happening - and has a firm release date, albeit it very, very far away.

Also a little PSA: on April 30th, 2015 the Disney animated films The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid and Cinderella went back in the vault for the next seven years (sorry folks!).

What's coming out this year to replace them? Well, we have to wait till Fall and then again till February 2016 for more, but for this year:
Aladdin: October 6th, 2015 - first time on Blu-ray

Disney's Breaking Beanstalk News

Announced Thursday morning via The Hollywood Reporter:

Disney and Vince Gilligan, the creator of the acclaimed and very gritty AMC drama Breaking Bad, are teaming up to adapt the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. 

The studio is in negotiations to pick up Beanstalk, described as a revisionist take on the tale involving a young boy, magic beans and a giant, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. 

Gilligan has written a treatment for the project which will be written by Thomas Schnauz. Gilligan knows Schnauz pretty well: The man was a writer and co-executive producer on Gilligan's Breaking Bad and is working on the spinoff show Better Call Saul.

"Revisionist" is one of those buzzwords you see flying around reboots all the time. I'm not sure how they could do anything but a "revisionist take" at this juncture. After Jack the Giant Killer, I'm pretty sure they know they're going to need a different approach. (To be clear, the definition of revisionist (adj.) is: attempting to reevaluate and restate the past based on newly acquired standards.)

Vince Gilligan is known for flipping societal values on their heads, after all, he got a large part of the nation to sympathize with meth makers, and his upcoming show's protagonist also has a despicable character, so it's not too hard to see how he might 'revision' Jack et al.

While Gilligan and Schnauz's Breaking Bad credentials may seem like an odd choice to revive a beloved fairy tale, the sagas of Walter White and Jack — desperate men who will stop at nothing in order to provide for their families — aren't that dissimilar. (Rolling Stone)

But this is Disney and if they've proven anything the last few years, it's that they like to play it safe with the brand so I guess we'll see.

I can't help wondering if the general fan outcry from OUAT fans who still lament the quick demise of the female Jack, is influencing this in any way. And it's clear the positive reaction to see the traditional take on Jack in their Into The Woods, showed them the story still appeals, so there's that. I'm just wondering what this means for Disney's Giants (feature animated film based on Jack & the Beanstalk) which has been pushed back and back and back again until it's dangling out there around mid-2018. Is that still happening? I sincerely hope so.

Whatever the case this will be Disney's fifth time doing Jack and the Beanstalk in some variation now (including two early cartoons, OUAT and Into The Woods and that doesn't' include Giants yet), so maybe 'revisit' or 'reboot', even, would be better terms than 'revisionist'.

But my real thoughts? Totally curious. Really want to see what the plans are for this one, because I love that rascal Jack and his magic vegetables.

"Frozen 2" Officially in Development

Fan made banner

So: Tumblr exploded today (Thursday, March 12) because this was announced at D23:

Today at The Walt Disney Company’s annual meeting at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California, Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger told shareholders and D23 Members in attendance ...that Frozen 2 is officially in development at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The Oscar®-winning team behind Frozen—directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee and producer Peter Del Vecho—are returning for the new film. “We enjoyed making Frozen Fever so much and being back in that world with those characters,” said John Lasseter. “Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck have come up with a great idea for a sequel and you will be hearing a lot more about it, and we’re taking you back to Arendelle. We are so excited about that.”

As are many, many (maaaany) Tumblr users but there's also a lot of worry too.

And with regard to fairy tales, well, Frozen is barely connected to a fairy tale to start, Frozen Fever, from all reports has nothing that puts it on par with the movie even in terms of theme (it's goes for the Olaf and the cute, but otherwise...) and Frozen 2 will... very unlikely be a fairy tale either.

But it will be sold to the public as one, and likely have more magic and more Elsa. Would it be too much to ask that at least some regional folklore from Scandinavia and the Sami people (aka Laplanders) get woven in?

And in the meantime, what's happening with Giants - our Disney-fied modern Jack and the Beanstalk story that's supposed to be in production currently? I see it was moved to 2018 at the end of last year but other than that, I haven't heard a peep about it for months and months.

Not an official logo

And Moana, a "mythic musical adventure set in Polynesia", which is supposed to be released in 2016, has barely had any press either, apart from this announcement back in November:

The film will tell the story of MOANA, a teenage girl and “born navigator” who “sets sail in search of a fabled island,” according to a summary from Disney. “During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore,” Disney reveals.

I wouldn't be surprised if Giants gets bumped (again) and Frozen 2 is put on the fast track because, ya know...

Breaking News: Disney's Next (Unannounced) Fairy Tale: "Giants"

Remember me hinting there was another fairy tale feature in development at Disney Feature Animation I couldn't yet announce due to Disney pulling all the info? Well this is it. And this time it's "boy-centric".

Make way for Giants. (Actually Storm Giants.)

Since D23 has spilled the beans on many Disney projects we've also gotten some sneak peeks at films in development too. This movie is still pretty early on in the development process and Disney have yet to officially announce this so there's a chance it may go away BUT for now it's looking solid.

Director Nathan Greno (co-director on Tangled) has already pulled together a couple of table reads (ie, he has a working script) and is well into the concept and design stage as well. Giants is said to be to Jack and the Beanstalk "what Tangled is to Rapunzel and Frozen is to the Snow Queen", which means it could have many things in common with the fairy tale or it only be using the fairy tale as a starting point.

Thanks to Brendon Connelly at Bleeding Cool, as of yesterday afternoon, we have some character and plot details - much more than expected! Note: it appears that the human characters are actually human as well (not talking mice, or ducks, or whatever Goofy is*):

(A) few years from now, we’ll be some distance away from Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Slayer, a film with which Giants shares more than a few specifics.
For one thing, they both have a hero called Jack, and Giants named for the Fee Fi Fo Fum rhymes. In this story, these names are abbreviations of Feebus, Fifen, Fogel and Fobert, a family of giants at the heart of the tale. There’s another brother too, Faustus, their leader. Like all good villains, he’s got a relatable point of view, he’s just not quite joining the dots correctly. 

Also like Singer’s film, we see the introduction of a love interest from a class above Jack. In this case, Angelina isn’t royalty, but just from a merchant family, though her parents do see him as being “below” her. 

Stills from Disney's Mickey & the Beanstalk 1947

The real money is manifest in Marco, born to nobility and the third corner of a love triangle with Jack and Angelina. He’s a good guy, though, and the only reason he and Jack can’t be fast friends from the off is that they’re both drawn to Angelina. And, yes, he’s called Marco because, like Polo, he wants to travel – and to open up trade routes. 

The fourth human lead is Inma, a scrappy tomboy type – and something of a class warrior, I understand. She’s the one I’m rooting for in this story, the tireless fighter against injustice, taken less seriously because she happens to be a pre-teen girl. Of course, there is that story about David and Goliath…
But, okay, it’s not the humans that get the title billing here. It’s the giants. The Storm Giants. Huge, thunderous figures. 

In this story, the Storm Giants have made a pact with the humans. If the humans work for them and give them a percentage of their harvest and livestock, they’ll return the favour by keeping danger and threats at bay. At first, it must have been appealing to have a Giant agree to fight your corner, but the people aren’t getting enough for themselves now. Faustus’ name is seeming to be a touch ironic. 

And this is where we find ourselves at the beginning. As you might expect, there’s then a journey up to where the Giants live and some terrible conflict between the humans and the Storm Giants. There’s a lot of sneaking about and gruesome recipes and all that good stuff you’re used to from fairy tales about ogres and their ilk. 

But what you may not expect is how Jack ends up befriending one of the Storm Giants – and this is what sews the beans, if you will, for the adventure, and the big changes it brings about.

There has been no official response from Disney on Giants at this time.

You can read the rest of the article HERE, which also highlights details on the approach of the film and how it's likely to end up looking. (And yes - it will be CG, not hand drawn. It's going to take a huge success elsewhere in 2D land for Disney to try that again unfortunately.)

From the details above, this sounds like it actually might be a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling this time around, instead of one of those vague "inspired by" concoctions so, after being sadly disappointed by Frozen's lack of a fairy tale anywhere to be seen (it might be a beautiful fantasy but it's not The Snow Queen and it's not a "new" fairy tale either) my interest in what Disney might do with a fairy tale is once again piqued. It's early days yet though (very early) so right now we can still expect quite a few changes.

It won't be the first time Disney has tackled Jack and the Beanstalk (the classic Mickey and the Beanstalk short from 1947 is quite wonderful and images from that film have popped up regularly in Disney's merchandise and products along the way, including the video game Epic Mickey). Disney/ABCs Once Upon A Time had a brief storyline line about Jack (Jacqueline) and the Beanstalk but it felt unexplored and too short lived, though the giant, Anton, did survive to make it to Storybrooke and in episodes beyond and the magic beans have been the main magic source for most of Season 2 (and catapulted the characters into Neverland for Season 3).

I'm very curious to see how they handle the boy-billing for a fairy tale feature animated film and if they can resist the princess marketing tie-ins in any way. There's a lot more to fairy tales than just princesses and I'd dearly love to see one of the biggest influences on fairy tale perception today acknowledge that (and maybe even have fun).

Here, to remind you how fun Jack and the Beanstalk can be is Mickey and the Beanstalk, complete with introduction by Professor Ludwig von Drake, who reminds viewers that Jack and the Beanstalk has been told many times by many different people in many different ways.

Enjoy.

Additional source: Slashfilm

*Goofy is supposed to be a dog but Pluto doesn't seem aware of that and Goofy is in love with Clarabelle... which is... bizarre.