You had better start thinking happy thoughts because principal photography on the live-action adventure/fantasy Peter Pan & Wendy has begun in Vancouver. Directed by David Lowery (Pete's Dragon, The Green Knight, A Ghost Story) and produced by Jim Whitaker (Pete's Dragon, Labyrinth 2), Peter Pan & Wendy premieres on Disney+ in 2022.
Based on J. M. Barrie’s novel "Peter and Wendy" and inspired by the 1953 animated classic, Peter Pan & Wendy is the timeless tale of a young girl who, defying her parents’ wishes to attend boarding school, travels with her two younger brothers to the magical Neverland. There, she meets a boy who refuses to grow up, a tiny fairy and an evil pirate captain, and they soon find themselves on a thrilling and dangerous adventure far, far away from their family and the comforts of home.
“Peter Pan has long been one of my favorite stories, partially because I’ve always resisted growing up, but also because of the heart, adventure, and imagination that makes J.M. Barrie’s original tale so evergreen,” says David Lowery. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to redefine his iconic characters for a new generation – and even more excited that I get to do so with such an exceptional cast and crew.”
Looking to be sprinkled with fairy dust for Peter Pan & Wendy are stars Jude Law (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Closer) as Captain Hook; Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish) as Tinkerbell; Ever Anderson (Black Widow) as Wendy; Alexander Molony (The Reluctant Landlord, Claude) as Peter Pan; Molly Parker (House of Cards) as Mrs. Darling; Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien, Firefly) as Mr. Darling; newcomers Joshua Pickering as John; Jacobi Jupe as Michael and Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily; and Jim Gaffigan (Chappaquiddick, Them That Follow) as Smee.
Well, it's no Hook, and it's definitely not P.J. Hogan's Peter Pan, but I must confess that I'm curious about this live-action adaptation. After all, there's a lot to love about the classic bedtime fairytale "Peter Pan," once you omit all the racist bits, of course. For real, though, Neverland is literally a world fueled by the power of imagination that could look amazing with 2021 technology. Plus, Jude Law as Captain Hook? Now, that just sounds like a blast. Do you think he'll bring back the Boom Box? I hope not. That thing is terrifying.
Will you be checking out Peter Pan & Wendy when it flys onto Disney+ in 2022? Let us know if you're excited about this live-action adaptation in the comments section below.