Plans Revealed For Live-Action Remake of Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

If you love nothing more than cartoons being remade as live action musicals, we have some good news - The Hunchback of Notre Dame is reportedly getting a revamp.

The 1996 Disney film, based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, is set to be produced by Mandeville Films and Frozen star Josh Gad is understood to be involved in the project - though it is unclear in what capacity.

The 37-year-old - who appeared as LeFou in Disney's recent live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast - appeared to confirm his participation in the remake on Twitter, sharing a picture of himself outside the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris along with the caption: "Sing the bells, bells, bells / Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells..."

It has been rumoured that Gad will star as Quasimodo, however, film editor at Deadline, Mike Fleming, reported that while Gad would be producing, no casting had been confirmed at this stage.

He said: "Mandeville is producing along with Josh Gad. I had heard that Gad, a star of the Mandeville-produced blockbuster Beauty and the Beast, might play the lead character, but insiders at the studio said no casting is solid at this point."

Mr Fleming also said Tony-winning M. Butterfly playwright David Henry Hwang will write the remake, while Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz will write the music.

Reacting to the news, one Twitter user said: "[Josh Gad] would be an amazing Quasimodo."

"David Henry Hwang is one of my favourite writers and honestly I'm SO excited for his take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame," another wrote.

The musical, about a deformed bell-ringer who struggles to find a place in society, is expected to draw from both the 1996 animated version and the original novel. If you're trying to remember what tunes were in it, think 'Out There', 'God Help the Outcasts' and 'Hellfire'.

The remake is yet another to add to the huge heap of Disney films currently being adapted into live action musicals; Dumbo, Aladdin, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Mulan and Lilo and Stitch have all already been confirmed.

On top of all this, it is reported by the Hollywood Reporter that Netflix are going to remake The Hunchback of Notre Dame too, with Idris Elba tipped to star as Quasimodo.

So it looks like the Hunchback is well and truly back.

Featured Image Credit: Disney

Topics: Disney, TV and Film, US Entertainment

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey