While he's mostly known for directing his own work, Kevin Smith has been branching out as of late, directing episodes of The Flash and Supergirl. This has opened some doors for Smith, and the writer/director recently revealed that he would love to direct a remake of a classic, though nearly forgotten, Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Disney is remaking everything in their catalogue these days, and Smith thinks that now is the perfect time to resurrect the animation and live-action hybrid.
“Bedknobs and Broomsticks can be remade today. That movie can so fucking work today. In a world where Disney’s like, ‘Pete’s Dragon!’ and shit like that... Hey! I will fucking suck dick Disney to make the remake of Bedknobs and Broomsticks.”
Bedknobs and Broomsticks s some pretty old school and obscure Disney, but here's the skinny: set in World War II-era Great Britain, three orphan children find themselves under the care of a friendly witch who grants them a magic bed so that they can go in search for the witch's final spell. The film is something of a spiritual successor to Mary Poppins, featuring songs and combining live action with animated environments and characters. It starred Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson, and was based on a series of children's novels.
Well, that's one statement sure to get Disney's attention, despite it being NSFW. On his Fatman on Batman podcast, Kevin Smith got on the topic of Bedknobs and Broomsticks and threw his name in the hat for directing a remake. Disney has been making live action adaptations of all their biggest hits to great success, so it might only be a matter of time before they work their way down the list to the 1971 film.
In Kevin Smith's own words,
“That movie fucking has it all, dude: witches battling fucking nazis with fucking ghosts wearing armor...kids and cartoon under the seas where they play fucking soccer.”
Smith is pretty on the ball with his description of the movie, but here's the trailer in case anyone needs some of that put into some context.
Kevin Smith is probably well aware that Disney won't be calling him anytime soon, but stranger things have happened. While Pete's Dragon isn't from a very memorable age of Disney films, it still got the remake treatment, so the same could happen for Bedknobs and Broomsticks.