Will Smith and Tom Hanks 'in talks' to star in live-action remake of Disney's beloved animation Dumbo for director Tim Burton

By Bobbie Whiteman For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:00 EST, 11 January 2017 | Updated: 19:48 EST, 11 January 2017

Disney wants A-listers Will Smith and Tom Hanks to join the circus.

The Mouse House is reportedly in talks with both stars to appear in its live action remake of 1941 animation Dumbo, about a baby circus elephant with unusually large ears who learns to fly.

If he accepts the part, Will would play the father of children who form a bond with Dumbo. according to Variety on Wednesday.

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Set to join the circus? Will Smith, 48, is reportedly in talks to co-star in Disney's live action remake of animated film Dumbo, about a baby circus elephant with big ears who learns to fly

Tom has been offered a role playing against type as the villain of the piece.

Director Tim Burton, who scored his biggest box-office hit to date with 2010’s Alice In Wonderland, was attached to the film in 2015 and now the studio is 'aggressively' pushing the film towards production, per Deadline.

Disney had a record-breaking 2016. The studio was behind four of the top five grossing films of the year, including its live-action Jungle Book, according to Box Office Mojo.

Playing against type: Tom Hanks, 60 has been approached to play the baddie in the film

This year it is also set to release an updated Beauty And The Beast with live-action versions of Mulan, Peter Pan, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid in the offing.

Meanwhile, neither Will nor Tom has listed Dumbo in their credits on the Internet Movie Data Base, suggesting they are some way from signing up.

Will, 48, who co-starred in Suicide Squad, will next be seen in Netflix action fantasy Bright, as a cop partnered with an orc, and the Bad Boys sequel Bad Boys For Life.

Disney darling: The Mouse House released family friendly animation Dumbo, about a baby circus elephant with unusually large ears who learns to fly, in 1941

Tom has The Circle in post-production, which he will also produce.

And the 60-year-old is in pre-production on animation Toy Story 4, once again lending his voice to cowboy Woody. 

The star also has four more projects set up as a producer.

 

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