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Tim Burton to direct a live-action Dumbo remake

Tim Burton to direct a live-action Dumbo remake

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Tim Burton has signed on to direct a remake of Dumbo for Disney. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be a mix of live action and CGI, with a script written by Transformers franchise screenwriter Ehren Kruger.

Dumbo, which doesn't yet have a release date, is only the latest classic Disney film the company is trying to revamp. Cinderella, which stars Downton Abbey's Lily James in the title role, hits theaters this Friday. Emma Watson also recently signed on to play Belle in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast remake.

Disney likely has a lot of faith in Burton

It's unclear what direction the Big Eyes director will take with Dumbo, but Disney likely has faith in his sensibilities. Burton has a long history with the company since the days of The Fox and the Hound, and last directed the successful (if middling) live-action Alice in Wonderland remake in 2010. He's also producing the sequel to that film, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, scheduled for release next year.

Update 4:15pm ET: A previous version of this article stated that Tim Burton was directing Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass. That was false. He is producing. We apologize for the error.