Original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Directors Got Remake Credit But Were Never Paid
Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the directors of Disney’s original animated Beauty and the Beast recently gave an interview with Collider where they spoke out a bit about their treatment when it came to Disney making a live-action version of the film. According to the directors they did not make a “red cent” from the 2017 live-action adaptation despite receiving credit in the film and the movie going on to gross $1 billion at the global box office.
The directors said that this is despite the fact that several of the scenes from the live-action adaptation were lifted directly from the 1991 version. Kirk Wise said, “I didn’t get a red cent from the new Beauty and the Beast.” Gary Trousdale confirms, “No, there was no financial to it. And the fact that we got credit was a surprise to me.” Wise then added, “Me too! Thanks!”
The two directors went on to add that they weren’t sure why they received executive producer credits and Trousdale recalled how he learned about the credits, “I got invited to the premiere at the El Capitan, which was a surprise. I know Don Hahn [who produced the original Beauty and the Beast] pulled strings to make that happen. And I’m sitting there with my girlfriend and the credits went by was like ‘Holy crap there I am!’ Don worked his magic with that as well.”
Source: ScreenSlam
However, it should be noted that neither Wise nor Trousdale were trying to say anything bad in the interview as MovieWeb points out. The also aren’t criticizing the live-action version of they film. But they did voice their preferences as to which version of the film they prefer. In the interview Wise said, “I have mixed feelings about the live-action remakes. On one hand, it’s great to have been involved in movies that have had so much longevity and have created so much affection for them in the audience that they’d be excited to see a new adaptation of the movie… But also, it’s like … go watch the old one.”
Trousdale added, “My completely objective and non-varnished opinion is that the animated ones are better anyway.” In addition to serving as directors for Beauty and the Beast the duo also directed The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Both films, it should be noted, have been rumored to be getting their own live-action adaptations!
Disney is continuing to churn out the live-action adaptations. Their live-action take on Mulan will NOW be going directly to Disney+ next month . Again, the original directors of the animated film Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft will not be compensated even if the film draws inspiration from moments in the original film. This has been an issue of some contention for a handful of Disney’s original directors.
This is a story that we’ll continue to follow closely here aty MickeyBlog. Readers are encouraged to keep checking in with us for further news and updates!
