Disney has announced its slate for the next four years, so we now know what to expect from the dream manufacturer in the near future. Something you probably shouldn’t hold your breath for? A women-directed project. The talent behind some of the announced features hasn’t been revealed yet, but as of right now, exactly zero of Disney’s releases in the next four years will be directed by women. (“Captain Marvel” doesn’t have a director attached, but we’re cautiously optimistic that this long overdue female-superhero movie will have a woman helmer at the reins.)
We did note a few absences on the list of forthcoming titles, but Disney hasn’t put all of its cards on the table just yet. The Big Mouse is building suspense by revealing release dates for four live-action films without naming them. We suspect the mystery films may be projects that we know are in the works, including “Cruella,” a new take on the fur-loving villainess of “101 Dalmatians” written by Kelly Marcel (“Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Saving Mr. Banks”); “Mulan,” which is being developed by screenwriters Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek; “A Wrinkle in Time,” the adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s children’s novel by “Frozen” writer and co-director Jennifer Lee; and “Tink,” starring Reese Witherspoon, who will bring Tinker Bell into the spotlight.
Here are the Disney films written, directed and/or about women — and, er, otherwise female, since this is Disney and a number of the characters aren’t actually human — that you can expect in the coming years. Plot summaries courtesy of IMDb.
“The Good Dinosaur”
Written by Meg LeFauvre (“Inside Out”)
Release date: November 25, 2015
An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend
“Alice Through The Looking Glass”
Written by Linda Woolverton (“Maleficent”)
Release date: May 27, 2016
Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.
“Finding Dory”
Release date: June 17, 2016
The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way.
“The BFG”
Written by Melissa Mathison (“The Black Stallion”)
Release date: July 1, 2016
A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.
“Moana”
Release date: November 23, 2016
A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
Starring Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”)
Release date: December 16, 2016
Rebels set out on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star.
“Beauty and the Beast”
Starring Emma Watson
Release date: March 17, 2017
An adaptation of the classic fairy-tale about a monstrous prince and a young woman who fall in love.
“Toy Story 4”
Co-Written by Rashida Jones (“Celeste & Jesse Forever”)
Release date: June 15, 2018
Woody and Buzz go on an adventure to find the one toy who was given away… Bo Peep.
“Captain Marvel”
Written by Meg LeFauve (“Inside Out”) and Nicole Perlman (“Guardians of the Galaxy”)
Release date: July 6, 2018. ‘
A human woman receives powers from an encounter with the alien Kree Empire.
Untitled Live-Action Fairy Tales: December 22, 2017; November 2, 2018; March 28, 2019; November 8, 2019
[via theCHIVE]
