Top 10 Cancelled Disney Projects We Never Got to See
#10: “Dumbo II”
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Released in 1941, "Dumbo" has cemented itself as one of Disney's animated classics. The wholesome tale of a circus elephant who can fly features some of the studio's most tender moments, such as the heartbreaking song "Baby Mine." Decades later, in 2001, Disney announced their plans for a sequel with a trailer in the “60th Anniversary Edition” DVD release. Unfortunately, "Dumbo II" never took flight and was scrapped a few years later, in 2006. Of course, that wouldn’t be the end of the studio's plans for the adorable character. In 2019, the world saw a live-action makeover of Dumbo and his friends under the direction of everyone’s favorite gothic fantasy-enthusiast, Tim Burton.
#9: “Fraidy Cat”
Inspired by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, "Fraidy Cat" is one Disney project that still lingers in the shadows. In the style of Hitchcock films like "Rear Window" and "Vertigo," the animated flick followed a London house cat named Oscar who is framed for the disappearance of a neighboring pet. Production was halted after the studio raised concerns that the project was too niche for Disney's young audience. Sadly, "Fraidy" was ultimately shelved, and this feline thriller never got the opportunity to live out its nine lives, let alone one.
#8: “The Emperor's Nightingale”
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From "The Little Mermaid" to "The Snow Queen," Hans Christian Anderson's oeuvre has provided Disney with a wealth of inspiration. For decades, the studio intermittently toyed with the idea of adapting Anderson's "The Emperor's Nightingale" for the big screen. Also known simply as "The Nightingale," the fairytale follows the story of an emperor captivated by a bird's beautiful song but who eventually abandons it in favor of a mechanical replicate. It has been adapted time and time again for both the stage and screen, but the Disney version unfortunately never came to fruition.
#7: “A Few Good Ghosts”
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Following the success of 1998's "Mulan," co-director, Barry Cook dove into his next big storytelling venture. After pitching a feature adaptation of a ghost story he had written, Cook returned to the drawing board and, after some rewriting, "A Few Good Ghosts" was born. Also once known as "My Peoples," the story was set in 1940s Texas, where a group of dolls set out to save a young couple from their opposing families. The project had an all-star voiceover cast, including Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Ashley Judd. Blending both CGI and stop motion animation, the movie had everything going for it. However, the film ultimately was given the boot for 2005's "Chicken Little," and "Ghosts" was sent to the animation graveyard.
#6: “Wild Life”
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Known for producing family-friendly content, an animated movie centered in the dark world of nightclubs might not seem like the most obvious setting for Disney. However, in 1999 the studio was in the thick of developing a project known as "Club Wildlife." The cartoon feature revolved around a failing business on the hunt for a star performer to revive the establishment. After discovering a singing elephant named Ella, fame and fortune turns everyone's lives upside down. Given its mature subject matter, the script was filled with adult humour, which board member Roy Disney was particularly offended by. After viewing a reel of the work in progress, he halted the film, and "Wild Life" was no more.
#5: “Mort”
"The Haunted Mansion" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" are just two examples of Disney exploring the eerie world of the macabre. In 2011, the studio planned to add to its creeptastic collection with "Mort." Based on the Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, the story follows Death's apprentice, a young man named Mort, who makes a decision that results in some major consequences. As cool as the premise sounds, the epic tale's cinematic fate wasn't meant to be. Ultimately, the flick was shelved due to the Discworld rights being too expensive, and the directors behind it moved on to produce "Moana."
#4: “Tam Lin”
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Filmmaker Roger Allers has had quite a career at Walt Disney Studios. From helping create "The Little Mermaid” to co-directing "The Lion King," Allers has stamped his name across some of Disney's most famous properties. After working on "Lilo & Stitch," he dove headfirst into bringing one of Scotland's folktales to life. Titled "Tam Lin," the story centers around a human who must go through a sequence of tests in order to save her love from the Queen of Fairies. Sadly, the pitch was made during a challenging time at the studio. Roy Disney and Michael Eisner were locked in a heated battle over the company's future and, in an alleged power move, Eisner pulled the plug on "Tam Lin."
#3: “King of the Elves”
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Set for a 2012 release, "King of the Elves" was one of Disney's highly anticipated projects when it was announced in 2008. Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, "Elves" is a whimsical and adventurous tale about a mortal and a group of elves who believe he is their king. The studio presented a series of artwork that captured the flick's intricate and visually stunning potential. Slated to be crafted using 3D animation, the wheels were already in motion when production reached a standstill in 2009. A few months later, development picked up, but director Chris Williams left the project, citing a lack of interest and "Elves" disappeared off Disney's radar.
#2: “Newt”
When it was first announced, "Newt" was slated to become Pixar's next big thing. The movie was supposed to follow the very last male and female blue-footed newts as the fate of their species rests on their shoulders. The only problem? They hate each other. (Enemies to lovers, anyone?) The funny premise and early artwork made the projects appear to be a foolproof success, but the cruel realities of show business had other plans. A couple of years following the project’s announcement, “Newt” was given the boot in 2012. It’s unclear exactly what led the movie’s downfall, but it’s been speculated that it was most likely due to narrative puzzle pieces not quite fitting together.
#1: “Gigantic”
The outcome of this Disney project is one HUGE disappointment. In 2015, fans were excited when the studio unveiled its latest venture: "Gigantic." An adaptation of the classic fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk" was long overdue and, with a few twists behind it, it seemed like the movie was going to be Disney's next hit. "Frozen's" music makers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez were behind the piano while "Tangled's" Nathan Greno (GRINoh) was at the helm as director. With a talented team behind the scenes...what could go wrong? Well, sadly, after a couple of years of development, Disney and Pixar announced that "Gigantic" was canceled due to some creative obstacles. Sometimes, even Disney magic isn't enough to save a story from artistic roadblocks.
