We've gotten casting news about Tim Burton's reboot of the 1941 animated classic, Dumbo, before. However, most of this has just been the actors being "in talks" to play roles. However, we finally have a confirmed member of the cast: Danny DeVito. This isn't the first time DeVito and Burton have worked together. DeVito appeared in Burton's previous films, Batman Returns and Big Fish.
According to Variety, DeVito will be playing the ringmaster of the circus (Batman Returns featured DeVito as the leader of an evil circus gang, so insert shared universe theories here). DeVito is the only actor who has joined the cast so far. Eva Green is still in talks to play a french trapeeze artist.
Will Smith and Chris Pine were both in talks for the role of the protagonist, a father who works at the circus and whose kids befriend the titular flying baby elephant. However, both dropped out. Disney was also circling Tom Hanks to play the villain and owner of the circus. However, the Variety article states that the studio is searching for an actor to fill the role, so it's safe to assume that Hanks also dropped out.
So what are your thoughts on this reboot? Comment below.
Dumbo will be directed by Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd), produced by Justin Springer (TRON: Legacy), and written by Ehren Kruger (Transformers 2-4).