Disney Is Developing Live-Action The Sword in the Stone

Game of Thrones writer-producer Bryan Cogman is writing the script

By Zach Johnson Jul 21, 2015 2:58 PMTags
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What's old is new again.

Walt Disney Studios is reportedly developing yet another live-action remake of one of its animated classics. The Hollywood Reporter revealed Monday that Bryan Cogman, a writer-producer on HBO's Game of Thrones, has been hired to write a script for a live-action version of The Sword in the Stone.

The movie is loosely based on the T.H. White's novel of the same name. It tells the story of a 12-year-old orphan named Arthur, who befriends a wizard named Merlin. After the King of England dies, leaving no heir to the throne, a sword appears inside an anvil. It bears an inscription that says whoever removes it will be the new king. No one is able to remove the sword, and eventually, it is forgotten. Thanks to Merlin's mentorship, Arthur is eventually able to claim the throne.

The Sword in the Stone was the final movie released before Walt Disney's death in 1966. The voice cast included Norman Alden, Sebastian Cabot, Junius Matthews, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson and Martha Wentworth. The songs in the film were written and composed by the famed Sherman Brothers.

The film's 50th anniversary edition was released on DVD on Aug. 6, 2013.

Brigham Taylor is producing the live-action version of The Sword in the Stone. Taylor is also producing the studio's live-action version of The Jungle Book, Jon Favreau's remake of its 1967 animated movie.

Walt Disney Studios is currently developing live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Mulan, Pete's Dragon, Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh. A prequel to Aladdin, called Genies, is also in the works, as are Tink, based on Tinker Bell, and A Night on Bald Mountain, inspired by the Fantasia sequence of the same name. Alice Through the Looking Glass is due in 2016, and a Maleficent sequel is being written.

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