Colin Farrell is in negotiations to star in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1941 animated classic, “Dumbo,” an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
If the deal goes through, he will play the role of Holt, a widowed father of two kids from Kentucky. Eva Green and Danny DeVito already star.
Tim Burton is set to direct and will reunite with Green for their third effort after previously working together on “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children” and “Dark Shadows.”
Ehren Kruger wrote the script and will produce with Justin Springer.
The live-action “Dumbo” is expected to be a combination of live-action and CGI a la Jon Favreau’s 2016 hit “The Jungle Book,” which featured a human actor playing Mowgli surrounded by animals played in motion capture (and voiced) by stars.
Will Smith was supposed to star in the film as well but dropped out last month.
The studio is currently working on more than a dozen live-action adaptation films based on in-house IP.
“The Lion King,” “Peter Pan,” “Maleficent 2,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Mulan,” “Snow White” and a take on “101 Dalmatians” called “Cruella” are all in the works with bold names like Angelina Jolie, Emma Stone, “Hamilton” creator-star Lin Manuel-Miranda, composer Alan Menken and directors Sam Mendes, Burton, Jon Favreau and Guy Ritchie.
Farrell recently starred in “The Lobster” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and will next star in “The Beguiled” and “The Killing of a Sacred Deer.” He is represented by CAA, LBI Management, and PMK*BNC.