Disney Writer Hints at a Woke ‘Bambi’ Remake

The Walt Disney Company has been no stranger to controversy regarding its live-action remakes. It’s already been covered here and in multiple other media sources that it is a brand constantly called ‘woke.’

Related: Disney’s Carousel of Progress “Woke” Change Enrages Fans

Critics point to casting choices, changing classic Disney stories, adding warnings to old movies about cultural sensitivities, and increasing LBGTQ+ representation in films. In addition, people have viewed Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World Resort changing Splash Mountain as a ‘woke’ move.

Although the definition of the word ‘woke’ may vary slightly depending upon who is using it and how they are using it, it’s a word that nowadays carries a negative connotation.

Related: ‘Too Woke?’ Fans React Poorly to New ‘National Treasure’ Show on Disney+

Controversial Disney Remakes

The Walt Disney Company has been under fire lately for its constant live-action remakes. Aside from being viewed as a creatively bankrupt way to make movies, many also take issues with changes to the original Disney stories.

Some examples include adding girls to the Lost Boys in Peter Pan and Wendy (the Peter Pan live-action remake) and changing song lyrics in The Little Mermaid (2023).

Snow White Remake

There is also Snow White (2024) with Rachel Zegler, which has caused multiple controversies. The female star has criticized the Disney Park attraction, the original 1937 animated classic, and the studio has removed the dwarfs to replace them with magical creatures.

Related: Can Director of ‘Barbie’ Save ‘Snow White’ Remake

The latter part, because removing little people from the cast is an effort to be inclusive…somehow.

So when it came to light that Disney was going to continue with live-action remakes, many wondered if changing races, genders, characters, story plots, songs, etc., to avoid offending anyone would continue.

Related: Rachel Zegler Star of New ‘Snow White’ Enrages Disney Fans

Woke Bambi Remake?

It seems that Disney may be looking to double down in appealing to a modern social media audience. In a recent interview with Collider, writer and director Lindsey Anderson Beer said that the live-action Bambi script she was working on was being made to appeal to a more modern audience.

Appealing to a “modern audience” or having a modern twist is often a code word for changing the original to be more inclusive and/or ‘woke.’

Related: Here’s Why So Many Parents Die in Disney Movies

The writer didn’t get into specifics, such as what may change aside from the death of Bambi’s mother.

“There’s a treatment of the mom dying that I think some kids, some parents these days are more sensitive about than they were in the past. And I think that’s one of the reasons that they haven’t shown it to their children,” she said.

As expected, many Disney fans were upset about changes to the classic animated movie. Furthermore, people wonder what the writer could mean by changing the story to appeal to a “modern audience.”

Will it be a woke Bambi remake? We just have to wait and see…