Making it three for three with Entertainment Weekly scoops – following hot on the heels of new images for both Jason Bourne and Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters – the outlet has unveiled a new still for David Lowery’s (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) live-action fairytale, Pete’s Dragon.
Yes, Pete’s reptilian ally may have been camera shy up until now, but today’s all-new shot showcases the beast – bearing the name Elliot – in all its furry glory. Emerging from a 40-year hibernation, Pete’s Dragon is a total reimagining of the Disney classic, introducing newcomer Oakes Fegley in the role of Pete, a lonesome 10-year-old that takes solace in the company of a rather unusual friend.
In breathing new life into the motion picture, the House of Mouse was conscious to retain much of the creature design glimpsed in the 1977 original. According to Lowery, there were “certain things about the original design we loved: Big jaw, big snout, and a clumsy quality that we really wanted to not completely forget about.” Clumsy is really the character trope that’ll hopefully turn Pete’s towering, furry reptile into a loveable lead. But will the story support the pair’s endearing connection? We’ll find out in the summer.
Also starring Wes Bentley, Karl Urban and Oona Laurence, Pete’s Dragon takes flight on August 12. Meanwhile, Lowery and Toby Halbrooks’ stint with Disney extends much further, after it was revealed earlier this week that the pair have been tapped by Disney to helm a live-action reimagining of Peter Pan.
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours”, “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.
