Like Netflix and other streaming services before it, Disney+ has developed the habit of picking up movies made by other companies. And the Mouse House is now announcing that a new version of Black Beauty is galloping on to the service later this year, with Kate Winslet as the voice of the titular horse and Mackenzie Foy as a troubled young woman who befriends the spirited animal.
According to the official logline, this latest adaptation of Anna Sewell’s 19th century novel is set in modern times (though pre-pandemic, so don't expect the characters to be sheltering in stable) and tells of Black Beauty who is born free in the American West. As she is rounded up and taken away from her family, her story intertwines with that of a teenager, Jo Green (Foy), similarly grieving over the loss of her parents. The two develop a bond crafted in love, trust and healing.
Given that this new film began life cantering around the halls of Constantin Film, the home of the Resident Evil movies, you might expect that journey to include copious amounts of gore and undead creatures, but we're going to go ahead and guess that Disney would not have nabbed it were that the case. Ashley Avis wrote the script and called the shots last year in South Africa, and Disney swooped in to buy the completed film. If you've been hoping to see another take on the classic tale, this will be... must resist... can't... a mane attraction on the streaming service.