Disney has announced the cancellation of the live-action remake of The Aristocats, a project that was directed by Ahmir Questlove Thompson. This decision comes after multiple changes in the studio’s management, which has affected the continuity of the film. In his statements, Questlove mentioned that this is the third time the studio has had a new president during the film’s development process, and that each change has brought about readjustments in the project’s direction.
We won’t see those cute kittens in real image
The Aristocats, originally released in 1970, is set in Paris and tells the story of an elderly millionaire who lives with her cats and her butler Edgar, who plots to take her inheritance. The choice of Questlove, a renowned musician and filmmaker, seemed appropriate given that the film has a strong musical component. However, after constant changes and a realignment of priorities within the studio, Questlove has decided to focus on other projects. Despite his initial enthusiasm, the director has expressed that, although he would have loved to carry out the remake, his current workload does not allow him to continue with the production.
Disney has had mixed results with its recent remakes. While Snow White turned out to be a box office failure, grossing only $205.6 million, Lilo & Stitch has triumphed, accumulating over $1.032 billion worldwide, which has led the studio to consider a sequel. Currently, the only confirmed live-action remake on Disney’s calendar is Moana, scheduled to be released in 2026, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
Questlove does not completely rule out the possibility of the remake of The Aristocats materializing in the future, although for now his schedule is busy with another 20 projects he plans to develop in the coming years.