Disney cashing in with live-action reboots

With the impressive performance of such live-action reboots as "Jungle Book," "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast," Disney has a true cash-cow on its hands. The latest of these -- "Mary Poppins Returns" -- will no doubt be another box-office bonanza when it opens on Dec. 19.

So it should come as no surprise that the studio has close to 20 more live-action updates in the queue.

Here's a snapshot:

"Dumbo" (due 3/29/19): Under the accomplished hand of Tim Burton, this new version looks simply grand in the latest trailers. Script by Ehren Kruger ("The Ring"), with a cast including Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Danny DeVito, Alan Arkin and Michael Keaton.

"Aladdin" (due 5/24/19): Will Smith has some big shoes to fill voicing the genie played so brilliantly by Robin Williams in the 1992 original; he is joined by an appropriately Middle-Eastern cast, overseen by director Guy Ritchie, who helmed the two recent Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr.

"The Lion King" (due 7/19/19): Mouths began watering over Thanksgiving when Disney released the preview for this impressive-looking reboot of the fabulously successful 1994 classic. Vocal cast features Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Beyonce, Keegan-Michael Key and James Earl Jones -- the latter reprising his titular role as Mufasa. Best of all, Disney handed this precious project to the reliable Jon Favreau, who directed the first two "Iron Man" movies, along with "Elf," "Chef" and "Jungle Book." (He also heads up a forthcoming "Jungle Book" sequel, though no date or cast has yet been announced.)

"Mulan" (due 3/21/20): The 1998 film about a Chinese girl who joins the army in place of her father is among my favorite Disney pics; let's hope director Niki Caro does it justice (her resume includes 2002's well-reviewed indie "Whale Rider"). Following a trend apparent in "Lion King" and "Aladdin" above, the cast is almost entirely Asian, including Jet Li and Jason Scott Lee.

"Maleficent 2" (due 5/29/2020): Sequel to Disney's 2014 film that parallels the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Returning cast features Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning -- with newcomers Michelle Pfeiffer and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

That's it for films with a firm release date -- though many other live-action projects are in development:

"Oliver Twist": will render Charles Dickens' 19th-century novel, which in turn inspired Disney's cartoon "Oliver & Company" (1988); rapper Ice Cube is set to play Fagin in this musical version overseen by Thomas Kail, who won a Tony for Broadway's "Hamilton."

"The Little Mermaid": will be directed by Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Mary Poppins Returns") -- with tunes by Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Hamilton," "Moana") and Oscar-winner Alan Menken. (The latter composed music for the original, as well as "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "Pocahontas," "Enchanted" and "Tangled" -- what a resume!)

David Lowery, who directed the recent live-action update of "Pete's Dragon," will oversee a similar reboot of "Peter Pan," while Reese Witherspoon is slated to star in "Tink" -- a separate film about Peter's famed fairy helper.

Two other planned spin-offs: "Prince Charming," written and directed by Stephen Chbosky ("Wonder," "Perks of a Wallflower"); and "Cruella," with Emma Stone as the famed fur-seeker popularized in "101 Dalmatians."

Watch also for live-action updates of "Lady and the Tramp," "James and the Giant Peach," "Lilo & Stitch," "Snow White," "Pinocchio" and "Sword in the Stone."