Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson to direct Disney's Aristocats live-action film

According to recent reports by Deadline, the Academy Award-winning director and Roots drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson is going to take the helm of a new remake of the 1970's Disney film The Aristocats. Like recent Disney remakes the film will be "a live-action/hybrid reimagining" of the original.

Questlove, who previously worked with Disney on 2020's Soul film, will also work as an executive producer and oversee the film‘s music. To adapt the screenplay he will be joined by Peter Rabbit filmmaker Will Gluck and Pixar‘s Onward writer Keith Bunien as well as Tarik Trotter, Shawn Gee, and Zarah Zohlman, who will serve as executive producers.

In a statement the Roots drummer shared with Pitchfork he said: "During those first months of the pandemic back in 2020, I allowed my inner 9-year-old to have a voice he wouldn’t had back in 1980. I made space for myself every day to enjoy an hour or two of fun."

"What grew out of that, in part, was nightly viewings of old Disney classics from my childhood. The Aristocats was one of them. Having been involved in Soul that year, I was able to see so-called kids’ art with new eyes, was able to connect with a certain feeling. I don’t think I would have been fully able to find inspiration in those movies if I wasn’t forced by circumstance to sit silent."

Questlove will direct a live-action hybrid adaptation of ‘THE ARISTOCATS’ for Disney. pic.twitter.com/JXgIGTaeUR

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 27, 2023

"There’s nothing more rewarding than continuing down that same creative path, taking a part of my past and making it part of my future," Questlove further said in the statement, adding that The Aristocats was how his mom got him interested in jazz music.

Disney's 1970s original Aristocats film featured several original songs written by Robert and Richard Sherman. However, the film is best known for its song 'Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat', which was written by Floyd Huddleston and Al Rinker, while Scatman Crothers, Phil Harris, and Robie Lester performed the song.

Listen to Aristocats' 'Evrybody Wants to Be a Cat' below:
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