The next installment in Disney’s long line of live-action remakes of animated classics is on the way. Peter Pan & Wendy, a reimagining of the 1953 animated film about the boy who wouldn’t grow up, is officially set for release next year.

The remake has received renewed attention with the recent release of the official teaser and poster at Disney’s D23 event. Though, unlike other Disney remakes, Peter Pan has already received the live-action treatment. 1991’s Hook with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman is likely the most successful and well-known. 2003’s Peter Pan and 2015’s Pan are among the other live-action takes on the world of Neverland. However, those were not produced by Disney, and Peter Pan & Wendy is considered to be Disney’s “official” live-action remake of the animated classic.

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So, what do we know about the latest Disney live-action remake? What can we expect from the story, and how closely will it follow the original plot? Who has been lined up in the cast? When and where will the film be released? And what else should audiences know about Peter Pan & Wendy?

Peter Pan & Wendy: The Plot

     Buena Vista Pictures

In addition to the official poster’s release at D23, we have an official plot synopsis that reads:

From that synopsis, it sounds like Peter Pan & Wendy will be a faithful adaptation of the original animated film. Disney’s live-action reboots have varied in how closely they adapt the source material. Some are based directly on the original story, like The Lion King, Dumbo, Mulan, and Aladdin. Others opt for the spin-off route, focusing on villains or side characters from the original, such as Maleficent and Cruella.

RELATED: Peter Pan & Wendy Footage Revealed at D23: ‘Disney Worked Hard to Give Wendy More Depth’

From the title alone, it looks like Peter Pan & Wendy may fall between the two. We can expect it to follow the animated film’s plot, with a greater emphasis on Wendy, giving her more depth than the original. She shares the title with Peter, so this new film will likely focus more on the relationship between the two. It is also expected to modernize some of the original elements that have not aged well, such as the depiction of Native Americans and the diversification of the Lost Boys.

This remains speculation at this point, and no plot information has yet been confirmed. We will likely have to wait until closer to the release date for exact plot details.

Peter Pan & Wendy: The Cast

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Disney found its leads in two newcomer child actors. New Zealand actor Alexander Molony will be playing the titular Peter, while Ever Anderson (daughter of actor Milla Jovovich) is Wendy. They will be joined by Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Peter Pan’s pixie best friend, and Jude Law as main antagonist Captain Hook.

RELATED: Alexander Molony Is Peter Pan, Ever Anderson Is Wendy in Disney’s Peter Pan & Wendy

Canadian actress and Cree Nation member Alyssa Wapanatahk is Tiger Lily, a princess in Neverland’s Indigenous tribe. This version of Tiger Lily is also being “modernized” from her 1953 appearance. Comedian Jim Gaffigan will be playing Mr. Smee, the loyal first mate of Captain Hook.

Rogue One actor Alan Tudyk is playing George Darling, the father of Wendy, John, and Michael, while House of Cards’ Molly Parker is their mother, Mary Darling. John and Michael Darling will be played by newcomers Joshua Pickering and Jacobi Jupe, respectively. There has been speculation about actors for the new Lost Boys, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Additional casting information will likely be revealed in the coming weeks and months.

Release Date

Despite all the buzz about the movie from D23, no official release date was announced. We do know that Peter Pan & Wendy will stream on Disney+ sometime in 2023. The decision to release straight to streaming might seem strange, as Disney has seen successes at the box office with their live-action remakes.

Some, like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, have grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Others, such as Dumbo and Cruella, saw less success, though Cruella’s low return was due to its simultaneous release on Disney+ and in limited theaters due to Covid. The same was true of 2020’s Mulan.

Lady and the Tramp and Pinocchio received exclusive Disney+ releases, so this strategy is not completely new. Disney may be looking to avoid a box office bomb like Dumbo. However, given how iconic Peter Pan is, the film could have been a box office success. Maybe Disney+ is just the way to go for now for these numerous live-action remakes. We’ll likely never know the exact reasoning.