Coming as no surprise in an era when Disney has gone all-in on bastardizing their original animated classics to their altar of contemporary revisionism, the first trailer for Peter Pan & Wendy has confirmed that Disney’s upcoming live-action remake will feature a number of identity politics-based changes to the tale of the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow up
A self-described “live-action reimagining” of both author J.M. Barrie’s original novel The Little White Bird – wherein the flying fictional mischief maker was first introduced – and Disney’s 1953 animated outing, Peter Pan & Wendy will retell the story of Wendy Darling’s first adventure to Neverland.
Debuting to the world at large on March 1st, the premiere trailer for Disney’s latest cash-grab begins with the young Wendy (as portrayed by Black Widow actress Ever Anderson) washing up on the shores of Neverland, visibly confused by her new surroundings.
Eventually finding her bearings, Wendy is next seen charging up a nearby hill, ostensibly in search of help. However, rather than any sort of adult, upon reaching its summit the young girl instead encounters a group of raggedly-dressed nomads.
As Wendy begins to inquire of the group’s leader, “Are you…?”, the young boy in turn confirms that they are, in fact, the “Lost Boys.”
“Every last one of us,” adds a young female member of the group.
Taking note of that last fact, Wendy then questions, “But you’re not all boys?”, only to be met by a dismissive response of “So?” from one of the group’s black female members.
Notably, this introduction of girls into the Lost Boys not only reeks of yet another tired ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ move, but also ironically undercuts the actual message of female empowerment that originally explained their absence.
In his original novel, Barrie explicitly states that there are absolutely no ‘Lost Girls’ because infant girls were simply too smart to fall out of their cribs and wander off.
Therein, after making the acquaintance of the young English girl, Peter is asked by Wendy “Where do you live mostly now?” to which he replies, “With the Lost Boys”.
“They are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way,” details Peter. “If they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the Neverland to defray expanses. I’m captain.”
Met with the reaction of “What fun it must be!” from his new companion, Peter laments in reply, “Yes, but we are rather lonely. You see we have no female companionship.”
Pressed by Wendy as to whether or not “none of the others [are] girls?”, the almost-mythical youth confirms, “Oh no; girls, you know, are much too clever to fall out of their prams.”
Following this brief introduction of both Wendy and the Lost Boys, the trailer then cuts to show both the young girl and her brothers, John (Joshua Pickering) and Michael (Jacobi Jupe), being introduced to the Lost Boys’ home base by their new hosts.
“Peter found it, just like he found all of us,” asserts one young man, prompting Wendy to realize, “Just like he found me!”
Cutting to the Darlings’ England bedroom, the trailer then turns to introduce both the film’s titular protagonist, as played by up-and-coming UK actor Alexander Molony:
As well as his magical fairy companion, Tinkerbell.
However, in contrast to her original animated depiction as a blonde white woman – an appearance inspired by former real-world Disney animation model Margaret Kerry – Peter Pan & Wendy instead presents Tinkerball as a dark-haired black woman, courtesy of actress Yara Shadhidi (Grown-ish).
From there, the trailer cuts to present a montage of the film’s fantastical scenery, including the shattered face of Big Ben as the Darlings leap off of it to begin their first flight and a school of glowing mermaids barely visible underneath the ocean’s surface:
Before revealing of the live-action Captain Hook, himself brought to life by storied actor Jude Law:
And ultimately ending on a tease of a climactic airborne battle between Peter and his pirate foes:
In a press release provided to the media, director David Lowery proclaimed that “In making Peter Pan & Wendy, we set out to craft a film that honors both the original J.M. Barrie text and Walt Disney’s animated adaptation; we wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart, and a grand yearning for adventure.”
“Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen,” the man who previously helmed the Pete’s Dragon remake and A24’s The Green Knight. “I’m excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride, and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective.”
Peter Pan & Wendy swoops exclusively onto Disney Plus on April 28th.
