I can show you the world

As you can probably tell from the title, Disney has announced that it is moving forward with a live-action reimagination of its 1992 animated hit, Aladdin.

You can’t be forgiven if you didn’t see this one coming, as this announcement comes shortly after the Mouse House also announced its plans to develop live-actions of The Lion King and Mulan.

As usual, many of the musical elements will be carried over into the live-action version.

Additionally, it has been reported that Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes) is being lined up to direct the film. This is unusual, considering Ritchie has spent most of his career directing stylized neo noirs.

Of course, the big question that looms over the movie like a magic flying carpet will be how the character of The Genie – brought to life by an iconic vocal performance from the late Robin Williams – will be handled.

Emoji Movie gets a title

A movie about emojis. Really?

*Eye rolls*

Okay, I will not be drawn into a debate.

It has been revealed that the officially title for the Emoji Movie will be Emojimovie: Express Yourself. T.J. Miller (Deadpool), James Corden (Into the Woods) and Ilana Glazer (Broad City) will be voicing characters in the film.

An official synopsis was also released along with this announcement. The film centres on Gene (Miller), an exuberant emoji who was born with multiple expressions. Determined to become normal like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of Hi-5 (Corden) and Jailbreak (Glazer). Together, they embark on an epic “app-venture” through the apps on a phone.

Emojimovie: Express Yourself arrives in theatres on 10 August 2017.

Don’t follow the Yellow Brick Road

The Wizard of Oz remains one of the most iconic films in cinematic history.

You know what that means? It’s time to ring the cash cowbell.

It has been announced that a How the Wizard Came to Oz film is in development, based on a 1991 novelisation by author Donald Abbott. The project will revolve around the backstory of the Wizard of Oz character, including his origin as a circus musician named Oscar Diggs.

While there’s no word on casting, a film production start date or a release date, it has been reported that the movie will be dark, rated R and “better than Disney’s version”. Although that’s not a tall order, considering how Disney’s Return to Oz flopped in the box office, it remains to be seen if RAMstar Studios – the obscure B-grade production house developing this project – can turn it into something special.

Sorry, but my guess is a resounding no.

(Image credit (from top): Technobuffalo, Hollywoodreporter, Sony Pictures Animation, Gablescinema)