The film industry continues to find its footing in the new normal set by the still ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite the uncertainty on when film studios can begin shooting again, casting news has come out with regards to Disney’s planned live-action Peter Pan film, with Jude Law eyed to play Captain Hook.
Deadline reports that the 47-year-old actor has been approached to play the iconic villain in Peter Pan and Wendy, the planned live-action remake of the 1953 animated Disney classic. If cast, Law would be starring alongside relative newcomer Alexander Molony and seasoned child actor Ever Anderson. Molony will be playing Peter Pan and Anderson will be playing Wendy.
Peter Pan and Wendy is set to be directed by Pete’s Dragon director Pete Lowery. Lowery also co-wrote the film’s script alongside Toby Halbrooks.
This new project would probably be a welcome one for Law, who is expecting a child with his 32-year-old wife, Philipa Coan. This would be his sixth child, as he has five children from three previous relationships.
As noted by Variety, Law would be following in the steps of actors like Garett Hedlund, Jason Isaacs, and Dustin Hoffman who have all played the iconic pirate. Hedlund played Hook in 2015’s Pan, while Isaacs played the pirate in the 2003 movie Peter Pan. Academy Award winner Hoffman had his turn with the role back in 1991’s Hook.
Peter Pan and Wendy will also be the latest live-action remake from Disney, which has had tremendous success with Aladdin and The Lion King. Both films earned $1 billion in the global box office, and Disney is already developing a sequel for Aladdin.
This new Peter Pan adaptation will likely be the project that follows Disney’s Mulan, which has seen its premiere moved around three times because of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. Initially scheduled to premiere on Mar. 27, it was first moved to July 24 before being moved again to Aug. 21.
Peter Pan and Wendy has itself encountered delays. Shooting for the film was stopped on Mar. 13 because of the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic. Whether Peter Pan and Wendy can start shooting soon is still up for debate, as coronavirus infections continue to rise around the world.
According to the World Health Organization’s July 7 situation report, there are now 11,500,302 confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world, with 172,512 of that total being new cases. Fatalities from COVID-19 are now at 535,759 people. New deaths make up 3,419 of that total.