New Trailer for “Pete’s Dragon”

New Trailer for “Pete’s Dragon”

Pete's Dragon - DisneyDayByDay

Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.

 For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

Pete's Dragon 1 - DisneyDayByDay

History of Pete’s Dragon

History of Pete’s Dragon

Pete's Dragon

A dragon, A dragon, I swear I saw a dragon……

One of my all-time favorite Disney movies is Pete’s Dragon.  When I was a young boy I often pretended to have my own Elliott, yes he was the reason I was always getting into trouble.

Pete’s Dragon, released in 1977 was the first Disney film to be recorded in Dolby Stereo sound. It was also the first Disney feature film to be released on VHS in October of 1980 (Be Kind and Rewind :))  The story is of a young orphan boy named Pete who stumbles into a town called Passamaquoddy, a fishing community in northern Maine.   Pete has a dragon friend named Elliott who is only visible to Pete, causing Pete to take blame for everything Elliott does.

The film was written by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Don Chaffey.  Even though the film was set in Maine much of the filming was done in California, including the lighthouse scenes.    For the lighthouse, Disney actually constructed a lighthouse in Morro Bay, CA.   Because Disney wanted it to look authentic it was outfitted with a large beacon which required special permission from the Coast Guard.

The film was nominated for many awards including Academy Awards for best original song.    Last year Disney announced a remake of Pete’s Dragon.   David Lowery has been announced as the director and filming is supposed to begin in New Zealand this fall.   There have also been rumors of Robert Redford playing a town local who tells tales involving dragons that no one believes.

What do you think, would you like to see a remake of Pete’s Dragon?