It's the best news to come out of the rumor mill today. Disney is preparing a Pocahontas remake. This classic film, released in 1995, tells the story of Native-American princess Pocahontas, who falls in love with a young explorer named John Smith. For that year's Oscars ceremony, the film took home the award for Best Original Music Score (by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz), as well as the award for Best Original Song (for Colors of the Wind). Nearly 24 years after its original release, Disney has secured the rights for a remake, according to the We Got This Covered website. Disney has apparently already enlisted the help of producers, tasked with finding the actress who will play Pocahontas.
The film is based on a true story
Pocahontas was a real, and living person. In fact, the animated Disney film was the first of its kind to draw inspiration from an American historical figure. The beautiful Native American woman was part of the Powhatan tribe, and was the daughter of the tribe's leader, Wahunsunacock. According to historical accounts, Pocahontas saved captain John Smith's life in 1607, when she was only 12 years old, the idea that the two had a romantic relationship is unsubstantiated. After being kidnapped by colonists in 1613, she was forced to marry a man named John Rolf a year later. The two even traveled to London together to meet King James I, before she died from pneumonia during their return trip. Her story made for great fantasy fictional accounts, which inspired 1923 silent film, Jamestown, and Terrence Malick's 2005 film, The New World, featuring Colin Farrell.
Disney sets its sights on a live-action remake
Everyone enjoys the nostalgia that comes from a childhood movie. Disney studios evidently share in the nostalgia, and have since been releasing an array of live-action adaptations (Mulan, Mary Poppins, Aladdin)... The list keeps on growing, next up? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Translated by Zoe Hofmann
