Disney has unveiled the first trailer for its live-action Peter Pan remake, Peter Pan & Wendy, and it included a first look at Jude Law ‘s Captain Hook.
The David Lowery-directed adaptation features Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, and Ever Anderson as Wendy Darling.
Before releasing the trailer, Disney was tight-lipped about the characters and their looks. Even with the new trailer, fans only got glimpses of Shahidi’s Tinker Bell and the chilling appearance of Law’s Captain Hook.
The movie’s villain showed up in his signature outfit and debuted his sinister voice saying,
RELATED STORIES
Watch The Trailer Below
The trailer unveiled Captain Hook towards the end when he captures Wendy and the Lost Boys in a bid to blackmail Peter Pan. Law is unrecognizable with his facial transformation as Captain Hook spots messy long brown hair, a long mustache, and a pirate outfit.
Law wore a black pirate hat with gold trims, an applique brooch on the front, and a red velvet cloak designed with gold tassel epaulets and buttons.
The Edwardian-era outfit and the facial hair transformed Law from the handsome rom-com star we’re used to seeing to a sinister villain fighting with children.
Pressure For Success Due To Bad Precedent
Variety first announced Law’s casting as Captain Hook in 2020 when it was still a conversation between the actor and the directors. As the infamous villain, Law has big shoes to fill since stars like Jason Isaacs, Dustin Hoffman, and Garrett Hedlund once brought him to life.
Besides the first animated adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy in 1953, which made $87.4 million on a $4 million budget, all other iterations were box office losses. Hence, the pressure on Peter Pan & Wendy to perform well at the Box Office is high.
With a big name like Law being part of the cast, critics expect a solid performance. However, there’s backlash for its Tinker-Bell casting.
First Look At Tinker-Bell And The Ensuing Backlash
All previous adaptations of J.M. Barrie’s story, including the Tinker Bell movies, showed the pixie fairy as fair-skinned with golden blonde hair wrapped in a bun with a swoop on the front.
However, this 2023 adaptation on Disney+ stars Shahidi, an African-American woman, as Tinker Bell. Her features differ from the traditional animated character’s image, like Disney’s The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey.
Online enthusiasts didn’t take that change well and expressed themselves on Twitter. Some users wondered why Disney insists on using ethnic actors to fill non-ethnic roles rather than create new roles or tell indigenous stories.
Other fans don’t care about the skin difference as long as the acting is good.
The Lost Boys And Tiger Lily
Other character adjustments include the addition of girls to the Lost Boys group, which Wendy addresses in the trailer. She asked why they’re called “Lost Boys” when girls are part of the crew, and one of the girls replied, “And so?”
The 2023 movie stays true to the indigenous American Chief’s daughter, Tiger Lily’s ethnicity, by casting Alyssa Wapanatâhk.
