Disney+ knows it doesn’t have enough original content to satisfy your cravings. Luckily, they hope to change that in the near future. Here are production updates for Turner & Hooch, Shrunk, The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder, and Lizzie Maguire.
Turner & Hooch Casting
Deadline reports Josh Peck (Drake & Josh) is attached as the lead in Turner & Hooch, a reboot of the 1989 movie starring Tom Hanks and a dog. Peck will play U.S. Marshal Scott Turner, “an ambitious, buttoned-up U.S. marshal [who] inherits a big unruly dog, he soon realizes the pet he didn’t want may be the partner he needs.”
Additionally, Deadline reports that Lyndsy Fonseca (Agent Carter) and Carra Patterson (The Arrangement) have been cast as the female leads. Fonseca will play Turner’s sister Laura, a mother of a 7-year-old son. Her character description: “Like the rest of her family, Laura is still coming to terms with the death of their father. A dog lover, who currently owns special needs dogs, Laura (with Matthew) brings over their father’s legacy to Scott, a huge slobbery dog named Hooch. Laura is close to both her brother and mother—with whom she discovers that their father’s death may not have been an accident.”
Meanwhile, Patterson will play Turner’s partner and foil, Jessica. She is described as “brave and quick-thinking on the job (though sometimes her sense of humor gets her in trouble), Jessica genuinely respects and supports Scott. Happily married to Grady, Jessica has no problem with Scott’s new sidekick, a slobbery dog named Hooch, and she’s willing to bring Hooch to work with them on a tough case.”
The series has received a 12-episode order. ABC tried to make a Turner & Hooch series back in 1990 starring Thomas F. Wilson (oh yeah!) and Beasley the Dog (reprising his role). That obviously didn’t happen, so let’s hope this new series manages to make it to air stream.
As for who Disney will cast as the dog, well, I’m sure you’ve heard of CGI. It did wonders for the dog in The Call of the Wild. But seriously, I’m sure they’ll cast an actual dog. Right?
Rick Moranis Returns to Acting
Now this is some HUGE news!
THR reports that Rick Moranis is set to appear in the upcoming legacyquel Shrunk. The film will be a continuation of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, the franchise that Moranis led for three films.
Joe Johnston, who helmed the 1989 original, will direct the film. That alone might have been enough to convince Moranis to return. Josh Gad is attached to star as the son of Moranis’ Wayne Szalinski. Todd Rosenberg wrote the script.
Moranis has not appeared in a live-action theatrical film since 1994’s Little Giants. His most recent appearance (off the top of my head) was reprising the role of his Spaceballs character in an episode of The Goldbergs. But even then he only lended his voice.
The fact that Moranis is returning to acting (and for Shrunk no less) means that I’m beginning to expect he might have a surprise cameo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It’s either that or he needed a paycheck and Disney pays more.
The Proud Family is Back
Variety is reporting that a The Proud Family revival has officially been greenlit at Disney Plus.
The continutation, titled The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, is currently in production at Disney Television Animation. Series creator Bruce W. Smith, executive producer Ralph Farquhar, and original series writer Calvin Brown Jr. are all returning for the revival.
In a joint statement, Smith and Farquhar said:
“In our minds, the show never really went away, as we still had tons of stories left to tell. It’s the perfect time to bring back this show, and we can’t wait to take fans, old and new alike, on this journey with us.”
The original incarnation ran ran from 2001 to 2005 over 52 episodes. It also had an animated Disney Channel Original Movie (a true sign back in the day that you had a hit show). A revival has been talked about since Disney+ was first mentioned (I remember hearing about it before), but now we have confirmation.
As well, all of the original cast is set to return. That includes Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer, and Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez. Cedric the Entertainer will also return as Uncle Bobby Proud.
Check out some concept art below:
I haven’t watched The Proud Family in years, but I still remember the episode where Suga Mama was getting married and did a training montage to get slim. Years later, as a wiser man, I now realize that was an homage to the Rocky films.
Yup, I just got sentimental. Ah, the good old days.
Not Family Friendly Enough?
Speaking of the good old days… Hilary Duff is perhaps remembering why she stopped working with Disney.
Duff has a sequel Lizzie Maguire series in the works for the streaming service. But filming was halted after creator Terri Minsky stepped down as showrunner due to creative differences.
Love, Victor, an upcoming spin-off series of Love, Simon, recently moved from Disney+ to Hulu due to mature content. It was said that the subject matters clashed with Disney’s family-friendly service.
Well, Duff took to Instagram with a cryptic message to her fans following the news of Love, Victor moving to Hulu. Duff wrote, “Sounds familiar.” If we put our detective caps on, it seems that the Lizzie Maguire show might have been halted due to “adult themes.” Duff is in her thirties and no doubt wants to reflect the experiences she’s had onto the character. Disney, careful of their brand, probably doesn’t want Lizzie to grow up (i.e., have adult situations like having sex and getting drunk).
Maguire has said that she hopes Lizzie Maguire moves to Hulu so that they can continue the series in how they originally envisioned it. And honestly, I agree. I barely watched Lizzie Maguire as a kid, but I’d be on board with seeing how this character has GROWN UP. I have no interest in the watered-down PG adventures of a 30-year old Lizzie.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Disney+ content? Yes, I am well aware none of the above projects are original ideas. Don’t blame me, blame the consumer.
