By Jen Maravegias | Film | February 28, 2023
J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up was first produced as a play in 1904. Disney’s animated film came out in 1953 and since then the story of Peter, Wendy, The Lost Boys, and Tinkerbell has been tweaked and reimagined in numerous ways. Disney has created an updated version of the tale that has a little something in it sure to piss off someone.
Cultural diversity? Check! Girls in The Lost Boys? Check! Wendy being proficient with a sword? Check! Clearly, we should prepare for backlash. But this movie looks beautiful. Everyone who touches this story does something to make it unique from previous productions. I’m glad to see this version bringing some much-needed cultural relevancy to the story.
Directed by David Lowery, who brought us 2016’s beautiful live-action version of Pete’s Dragon, Peter Pan & Wendy stars Alexander Molony, Milla Jovovich’s look-a-like daughter, Ever Anderson, Yara Shahidi (Blackish, Grownish) a wholly unrecognizable Jude Law as Captain Hook, Jim Gaffigan as Smee, and Alan Tudyk and Molly Parker as Mr. and Mrs. Darling. No word on who’s playing Nana the dog, though.
Peter Pan & Wendy will begin streaming on Disney+ on April 28th.