EXCLUSIVE: Sam Mendes in early talks to develop and direct James And The Giant Peach, a live-action project in the works at Disney with Nick Hornby penning the screenplay. We’re hearing the talks are in the very early stages.
This would be the latest animated pic-turned-live action play for Disney. The Roald Dahl book was adapted into a feature by Henry Selick via Walt Disney Animation in 1996. The story centers on an orphan who lives with his two mean aunts who befriends human-like bugs who live inside a giant peach, and they trek to New York City. It made $28.9 million at the domestic box office.
Mendes helmed two back-to-back James Bond movies in 2012’s Skyfall and last year’s Spectre but has said he’s done with the 007 franchise.
Disney is mining its fairy tale catalog a la Maleficent, Cinderella and Jungle Book, with live-action pics in the works based on The Little Mermaid with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Beauty And The Beast starring Emma Watson, Cruella with Emma Stone, and Dumbo spearheaded by Tim Burton.
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