Disney announced today that principal photography began on the remake of the 1977 Disney classic Pete's Dragon. The film, which will combine live-action and CGI, began filming in New Zealand. The original movie was a musical about the special bond between an orphan named Pete and his best friend, Elliot, who is a big green dragon that can turn invisible. Pete belonged to a family that bought him, was abused, and Elliot came to rescue and help him.
The re-imagining won't be a musical and will have some differences, like instead of taking place in a fishing town, it takes place in a logging village. Producer Jim Whitaker said, "This is a story about how magic can enter one's life and change the way they see the world. And I think David Lowery is the perfect director to bring this project to life."
As it was just mentioned, Lowery is directing. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help) as Grace, a park ranger who discovers Elliot — and I'm guessing she takes the spot of Nora from the original, who works at a lighthouse. 10-year-old Oakes Fegley (This is Where I Leave You) stars as Pete; We Bentley (The Hunger Games) is Jack, a mill owner; Oona Laurence is Natalie, a young girl that befriends Pete; Oscar-winner Robert Redford (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) is Grace's father; and Karl Urban (Star Trek Into Darkness) replaced Michael C. Hall as Gavin, Jack's brother.
Pete's Dragon is set to release in theaters on August 12, 2016.
