Dumbo ending: Peta urges Tim Burton to set Jumbo free in Disney reboot
The elephant with the big ears could find himself flying out of captivity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Animal rights campaigners are urging Tim Burton to change the ending of Dumbo in his live action remake of the Disney classic.
Peta has written an open letter to the Big Eyes director suggesting that “the young elephant and his mother can have a truly happy ending by living out their lives at a sanctuary.”
In the 1941 animation, the ending sees Jumbo the flying elephant reunited with his mother and given his own luxury cabin on the circus train.
Peta’s senior vice president Lisa Lange says the film shows the young elephant “continuing to be imprisoned and abused in the entertainment industry”.
She writes: “We love the original Dumbo because it tells the story of the heartbreaking abuse that elephants in circuses endure, and we hope you will keep this storyline in the new film.
“A bullhook is a sharp metal weapon used in circuses to control elephants — and it’s the same tool used by elephant trainers in film and television. And just like in the circus, elephants used in film and television don’t perform because they want to. They perform because they’re afraid that they’ll be beaten if they don’t.”
It is unclear whether Burton, whose team announced the project earlier this week, is planning on using real elephants or CGI or both in the production.
The movie does not yet have a release date but is expected to be a mixture of special effects and live actors in the style of Disney’s other recent live-action films.
It will be the latest re-working of its classic animation, following Cinderella, Maleficent (adapted from Sleeping Beauty) and Alice in Wonderland.
Several other films are in development, including a modernised take on The Jungle Book due for release next year, Beauty and the Beast, expected in 2017, and Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments