Disney’s Live-Action Bambi Will Update the Story to Be More Relatable to Kids

Bambi co-writer Lindsey Anderson Beer says the upcoming Disney live-action remake will update the story to make it more relatable to children.

In a recent interview with Collider, Beer spoke about the upcoming live-action Bambi remake that is currently in the works. Beer said she ultimately had to step away from the project to film Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, which she’s directing, but still offered an update as to how the movie will be changed from the original 1942 animated picture.

“Not to spoil the plot, but there’s a treatment of the mom dying [in the original film] that I think some kids, some parents these days are more sensitive about than they were in the past,” she said. “And I think that’s one of the reasons that they haven’t shown it to their children.”

Regarding how the live-action movie will address this plot point, Beer said, “I do think there is a way to update Bambi and our take on it was… did give a little bit more of a scope to it. And I just think that to be able to bring it to life for kids these days in a way that maybe they relate to a little bit more would be of service to the original.”

Disney’s Bambi remake is still in early development

Announced in January 2020, the new version of Bambi currently does not have a release date. According to a Deadline report from July 2023, Women Talking’s Sarah Polley is in talks to direct the movie, which is still considered to be in early development. Deadline also reported the movie will be a musical featuring songs from Kacey Musgraves.

Along with Beer, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and Noah Harpster are the credited screenwriters for the movie. Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, and Andrew Miano serve as producers.