While there’s been plenty of nerd glee over Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s movie properties — X-Men and FF in the MCU, huzzah! — it’s not all good news.
Disney has canceled Fox’s adaptation of the fantastic comic series, The Mouse Guard, only weeks before it was to begin production. The movie, which had lined up the voice talents Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, and a number of other noteworthies, was considered to not quite fit into either Disney’s portfolio or where they intend to move the Fox studios line to (more PG-13 and R-rated films).
The Mouse Guard is referred to as “Game of Thrones with mice,” which is about 60% inaccurate. It is an extended saga of tribes of forest creatures with varying levels of medieval technology, focused primarily on the extended realm of field mice and the elite guard that serves as rangers, protectors, and warriors. Written and drawn by David Petersen, it’s beautifully illustrated stuff, with some strong story lines, and I was very much looking forward to what they were going to do with it in a feature film.
While unfortunate, Disney is letting the producers shop the property around, and some other studios have expressed an interest. So, like the doughty mice of its story, it’s Not Dead Yet.
Do you want to know more? Disney Cancels Mouse Guard, Starring Idris Elba and Andy Serkis
I’m assuming Disney is full up on popular mouse characters.
“Yo-ho! I’m Black Axe Mickey!”
That might have been a partial factor.