Over the years, we’ve had fairytale classics and classic fairytales told through the live-action format, but Sony and Amy Pascal are now on the verge of spearheading a new genre mash-up altogether.
From Cinderella to The Jungle Book to Bill Condon’s wildly successful Beauty and the Beast – last we reported, the latter had broken into Hollywood’s exclusive $1 billion club in the space of a month – Disney’s output of live-action remakes is only going to pick up steam in the coming years, what with Mulan, Cruella and The Lion King all gestating in various stages of development.
According to The Tracking Board, though, Sony and Amy Pascal are closing in on a six-figure deal to land Princesses, the Avengers-styled spec script that caught just about everyone’s attention four weeks ago. Negotiations are ongoing, but a separate report from Deadline does substantiate TB’s findings. Indeed, sources claim that Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor are circling on behalf of Pascal Pictures, while Grey Matter Productions’ Lawrence Grey is also said to be involved.
Birthed in Grey Matter’s so-called writer’s lab, the spec script is said to be a “female-driven Avengers featuring classic fairy tale princesses,” and though there’s still no mention of the princess(es) set to appear, we know that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales helmer Joachim Rønning has been linked with the director’s chair. Assuming the necessary pieces fall into place, and that maritime sequel turns out to be a success, it shouldn’t be too long before the wheels are set in motion. Nir Paniry turned in the original treatment, before Heidi Sherman Grey was drafted in to do a rewrite.
With Joachim Rønning in contention and Sony now closing in on a deal, Princesses is evidently starting to pick up a sense of momentum and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the project as this story unfolds.