Dumbo: Tim Burton revives the Disney classic about the flying elephant Dumbo in a live-action film adaptation starring Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Danny DeVito.
Film plot and background
Tim Burton revives the Disney classic about the flying elephant Dumbo in a live-action adaptation starring Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Danny DeVito.
When Disney’s “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant” was released in 1941, a modern legend was created. The wonderful story about a little elephant with big ears won an Oscar for Best Film Score. Half a century later, director Tim Burton has given the story a new look, this time not as an animated film, but as a live-action adaptation with a star ensemble.
The three trailers offer a first glimpse of Dumbo’s new adventure. More information about the plot and the theatrical release of “Dumbo” can be found below. In our review for parents, we look at the question of whether the film is also suitable for younger children.
Dumbo – Trailer 3 German
Dumbo – Trailer 2 German
Dumbo – Trailer German
Little Elephant Big
In contrast to the 1941 animated classic, the live-action film adaptation “Dumbo” will tell a new story. This time, everything revolves around war veteran Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), who is hired by ringmaster Max Medici (Danny DeVito) to take care of Dumbo. Young Dumbo, however, is just a laughing stock because of his big ears. But when Holt’s children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) find out that Dumbo can fly with his ears, the little elephant becomes a big star.
Even the unscrupulous entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) soon hears about Dumbo’s extraordinary talent. Vandevere buys Medici’s circus and brings Dumbo as a star into the ring of his Dreamland amusement park. There the young elephant is to perform together with the trapeze artist Colette Marchant (Eva Green). But Holt soon realises that Dumbo is not happy at all in Dreamland. Behind the cheerful façade are dark secrets.
“Dumbo” theatrical release 2019
In recent years, Disney has enjoyed unprecedented success with live-action adaptations of classic animated films. The remakes of “Cinderella”, “The Jungle Book” or “Beauty and the Beast” have proven that none of the old magic has faded. With “Dumbo”, the series of Disney remakes continues. In Germany, “Dumbo” will be released in cinemas on 28 March 2019.
Tim Burton directs “Dumbo “
To build on the success of the previous Disney real-life adaptations, the directing job has been filled by none other than Tim Burton, who had already directed “Alice in Wonderland” as a colourful cinematic spectacle. A large part of his vision will actually be created on the set and not on the computer. Only Dumbo himself will be computer-animated. The remaining roles will be filled by a star ensemble that includes some familiar faces for Tim Burton himself.
In the comic adaptation “Batman” (1989), for example, Tim Burton already worked with Danny DeVito (“The Comedian”) and Michael Keaton (“American Assassin”). And of course Burton’s wife Eva Green (“The Island of Special Children”) is also in the mix. Alan Arkin, who will play a Wall Street tycoon in “Dumbo”, starred as Bill Boggs in Burton’s classic “Edward with Scissor Hands”.
A true Burton newcomer is lead actor Colin Farrell (“The Killing of a Sacred Deer”), who will play former circus star Holt Farrier in the film. But Farrier is drafted into military service and loses an arm at the front. When the veteran returns to the United States, he is asked to take care of young Dumbo – without suspecting the talent that lies within the little elephant.
