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Questlove’s Directorial Approach For Disney’s ‘The Aristocats’ Remake Will Be Metal-Influenced, Or So He Joked

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Questlove The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2017
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In late March, the news broke that Oscar Award-winning musician Questlove was set to direct Disney’s live-action remake of The Aristocats. Originally released as an animated movie in 1970, the movie will see quite a few changes, or so Questlove joked on Instagram.

Taking a fan-created mashup from the original film in which the famed animated cats were gathering around, playing and singing along with the orchestra piano, but there was a slight adjustment. Instead of the beloved jolly musical score, instead is a blaring metal track.

Uploading the clip to his official Instagram page, the musician captioned the video, “Think I won’t? Psssssh 90 mins of just this…watch,” joking about the creative liberties he plans on taking in the movie.

Garnering over 27,000 likes in less than 10 hours, it seems like fans are feeling the modification to the animated children’s film classic.

One follower in the comments section wrote, “I’m here for it!!!!! This is my fav part of the original film!!! The cats were PRAISING, ya hear me?!?!?!”

Another user wrote, “Meowtalica.”

“Everybody Wants to BE A *LOW GROWL* CAAAAAAAT,” chimed a user reimagining the film’s original song.

Even actor Michael B. Jordan joined the comments leaving a trail of crying laughing emojis.

At this time, the movie has not yet received a public release date.

Kid Cudi Lives Up To His Nickname In The ‘Crater’ Trailer For Disney Plus

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Kid Cudi has always called himself “The Man on The Moon,” even going as far as using the title for three of his albums (most recently in 2020), but he really lives up to his nickname in the trailer for the upcoming Disney+ original film, Crater.

A throwback to the kids’ adventure films of the ’80s and ’90s, Crater follows a group of five teens as they take a road trip to a mysterious crater at the behest of one kid’s dad, played by Cudi. Oh, by the way, that crater is on the moon, where they live. The classic formula gets a cool sci-fi update, transplanting the usual danger-laden road trip to the future, when mankind has colonized the Earth’s moon via a massive dome on its surface.

Cudi encourages his movie son to visit the crater, far outside the safety of the dome, and his voiceover throughout the trailer seems to suggest that the point is the journey, not necessarily the destination. Along the way, the kids encounter potentially deadly meteor showers, play a game of low-G baseball — that home run hit is definitely out of the park — and experience some young love. It looks very nostalgic and futuristic at the same time and utterly delightful as a way for millennials to bond with their own kids.

Crater is just one of the many, many projects on Cudi’s docket for the year, which include even more movie and television projects, a tour, and a new album. Check out the trailer above.

Crater will stream on Disney+ beginning May 12.fall

Chris Stapleton, Lil Nas X, Tommy Lee, And Many More Pay Homage In The Hilarious ‘Muppets Mayhem’ Trailer

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Okay, folks, this is not a drill. The Muppets Mayhem series is finally coming to Disney+, and when I say “everybody is in it,” I really mean EVERYBODY IS IN IT.

Muppets media is well-known for its hilarious cameos — who doesn’t love the Muppets? — but this musical film, which follows the house/jam band Dr. Teeth And The Electric Mayhem as they try to record their first album after 40 years, has all the justification it needs to pack in the guest stars like fans at a Phish concert.

You want musicians? Series stars Lilly Singh and Tahj Mowry (as a pair of record execs) pair up the band with EDM stars DeadMau5 and Zedd, while an in-film documentary clip features Chris Stapleton, Lil Nas X, and Tommy Lee paying homage to the fictional band and even crediting them with their influence.

Weird Al makes an appearance in the clip above, as do Cheech and Chong. Kesha shows up. Not only does Morgan Freeman show up, but he also does so rocking a bright blue wig and matching fedora! There’s even a Grease/Anchorman-style Stan gang war after Dr. Teeth accidentally upsets the Beyhive AND the Swifties at the same time (have mercy on his soul, Jesus)!

You can check out the trailer above and catch all episodes of the series on Disney+ beginning May 10.

Lizzo Makes Hilarious Claim After “Mandalorian” Cameo

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People typically associate Lizzo with a good sense of humor. She enjoyed being a Jeopardy! answer in 2019. There are also dozens of videos on YouTube titled “Lizzo’s funniest moments.” In an increasingly serious music industry, Lizzo’s levity and antics are eagerly welcomed by fans. What’s more, she has found success pushing a brand that balances levity with the sincere embracing of concepts like inclusivity, body positivity, and musical accessibility.

However, few people had “Lizzo cameos on The Mandalorian” on their bingo cards. Last week, The Mandalorian‘s Season 3 episode Guns for Hire starred Lizzo and Jack Black as the husband and wife rulers of a small planet. Overall, fans loved her larger-than-life, brightly-colored, Grogu-loving Duchess. It was a small but powerful role in a side plot episode of the show. Enjoyable, but unlikely to redefine Star Wars canon. That was until this past weekend when Lizzo took things a step further with a genius revelation.

Lizzo Crowns Herself As A “Disney Princess”

@lizzo

*Disney Dutchess 👸🏾

♬ original sound – lizzo

In a TikTok posted over the weekend, Lizzo argued that because she played royalty in Star Wars, that now makes her a Disney princess. Star Wars has been a Disney property since 2012, with The Mandalorian streaming exclusively on Disney+. Lizzo’s logic makes sense, she is technically Disney royalty now. However, legally speaking, she would only be Disney nobility. The title of Duchess is not a royal one, but a noble one. Despite this, things could be different in the Star Wars universe and we’re willing to let this slide for Lizzo. She is a confirmed Disney princess as far as we, and many of her fans, are concerned.

The comments on Lizzo’s video are full of fan support. However, many fans also note that she was already a queen in their eyes. Overall, the video is yet another light-hearted moment from the beloved pop star. However, there is one thing Disney could do to make the title truly official. With a live-action Princess & The Frog adaptation reportedly coming from Disney, maybe they could find a way to properly enthrone Lizzo. To quote The Duchess herself, it would be “about damn time.”

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Disney Fires Entire Metaverse Division

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No company is stranger to cost-cutting efforts, but Disney’s latest efforts have employees wondering who’s next on the chopping block. The house of mouse has fired an entire division, and this is only the beginning. Disney’s 2023 box office earnings have already topped a billion dollars just three months into the year, and the company wants to continue to capitalize on its earnings and cut costs. The Next Generation Storytelling & Consumer Experiences group, responsible for Disney’s Metaverse efforts, only accounted for about 50 employees. That is disturbing considering that Disney plans to lay off a total of 7,000 people.

These cuts come as part of an effort to restructure the company by Bob Iger, former CEO of Disney. After Bob Chapek was abruptly fired in 2022, he stepped in as interim leader. Many may remember that Iger was the head of Disney during some of its most pivotal moments. It was under his leadership that the company acquired both Pixar and Marvel Studios. Iger was also at the helm when Disney acquired Lucasfilm. These were arguably some of the most important decisions made in the history of the entertainment business. It’s undeniable: Iger is a formidable leader with unmatched success. It’s really no surprise that he was asked to step in after Chapek was let go.

More Disney Layoffs Coming: Who’s Next?

Bob Iger’s bloodbath began with a memo sent out on February 8th. In this memo, he detailed his plans for cuts and tried to lighten the blow with some kind words. “The difficult reality of many colleagues and friends leaving Disney is not something we take lightly,” he said. “It also makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye to wonderful people we care about. I want to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to every departing employee for your numerous contributions and your devotion to this beloved company.”

Iger plans to finish the 7,000 aforementioned layoffs by summer. Having already dismantled several divisions, it’s clear he has no problem doing what needs to be done to keep Disney on top. The next victims of this restructuring effort remain unclear; however, Iger has made it clear that these cuts will affect high and low-level employees alike.

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Questlove Set to Lead Disney’s Remake of ‘Aristocats’

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Questlove is doing it big this year. The Oscar-winning director and iconic drummer of The Roots will take on a remake of the Disney classic film Aristocats.

According to Variety, the film’s remake will have the characters created of a mixtape of live-action and CGI. Questlove will also serve as the film’s executive producer and music director. Peter Rabbit creator Wil Gluck and Onward writer Keith Bunin are joining him in the lead roles as those who will develop the screenplay—joining Questlove as Executive Producers are Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee, and Zarah Zohlman.

Aristocats is the story of a family of cats living in Paris and about to inherit a large sum of money. Once that realization falls upon their owner’s butler, the cats are kidnapped, leading toa journey to reclaim their fortune.

The post Questlove Set to Lead Disney’s Remake of ‘Aristocats’ appeared first on The Source.

Questlove To Direct “Live-Action/Hybrid” Remake Of Disney’s “The Aristocats”

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Hip Hop and Disney are once again colliding, and Questlove is at the helm of a new project. The music veteran has solidified himself as a respected icon in the industry. After helping curate a mega-performance at this year’s Grammys, Quest is moving on to The Artistocats. Deadline exclusively reported that Questlove, real name Ahmir Thompson, will make his official feature film directorial debut with this upcoming project. The remake of Disney’s animated 1970 classic is described as a “live-action/hybrid reimagining.” Additionally, Quest will also overhead the music for the film. It’s unclear if that means the soundtrack, the score, or all.

As far as the talent is concerned, we’ll have to wait for an announcement. Deadline didn’t share if Walt Disney Studios had anyone in mind to star in the film just yet. However, it was revealed that Two One Five Entertainment’s Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman would act as executive producers along with Olive Bridge. This is a huge move for Questlove, who won Best Documentary Feature at last year’s Oscars for Summer of Soul.

Questlove Tackles a Family Favorite

Disney has revisited several of their fan favorites over the years. Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and most recently, The Little Mermaid have all received remakes. The Aristocats centered on a group of cats in Paris who will soon become rich after inheriting money from their owner. However, the butler is looking out for himself and tries to get rid of the felines. The kitties band together and go on a wild adventure to make it back home.

News about Questlove’s latest gigs arrives just one month after Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary was honored at the Grammys. It wouldn’t have happened without the help of The Roots icon, who orchestrated having dozens of Rap’s finest share the stage. It wasn’t an easy feat—some people didn’t get along, others were booked, and a few just didn’t want to participate. The drummer even took the criticism from fans in stride and answered questions from frustrated social media users. Yet, overall, the reception was positive, and many of our pioneers received their deserved flowers. Take a walk down memory lane and check out a clip of The Aristocats above.

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Questlove Is Set To Direct Disney’s Next Live-Action Remake, ‘The Aristocats’

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questlove aristocats
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Questlove has been a pretty busy guy lately — but not so busy that he can’t take on just one more high-profile project, potentially his biggest one yet. While he’s got a lot on his plate — in addition to continuing his role as The Roots’ bandleader on The Tonight Show, he’s launching a publishing imprint, keeping up his award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, and executive-producing a docuseries about J Dilla — he’s about to become the director of Disney’s latest live-action remake project: The Aristocats.

For those who haven’t been putting their Disney Plus subscription to work, The Aristocats follows the adventures of a family of rich kitties (hence, “Aristocats” — get it?) who are left a massive fortune in their owner’s will. Her vengeful butler, however, catnaps them and abandons them in the French countryside, and its only with the the help of O’Malley, a streetwise alley cat, that they can make it back to Paris and the fortune that awaits them.

The 1970 animated original was distinguished by its extensive use of jazz to drive home the themes of the plot — O’Malley hangs with a swingin’ band, while the Duchess and her kittens are classically-trained musicians (it’s a cartoon, just go with it) — so Questlove, a musical encyclopedia with legs, is the perfect person to direct a live remake. And, as a bonus, some of the more racially insensitive caricatures can be quietly removed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Quest’s also overseeing the music for the film and producing via his Two One Five Entertainment company — along with The Roots partners Black Thought and Shawn Gee, as well as Will Gluck and Zarah Zohlman. Stay tuned for more news to come.