‘Game of Thrones’ Writer to Pen Live-Action ‘Sword in the Stone’
Disney has added yet another beloved cartoon classic to its roster of upcoming live-action remakes: The Sword in the Stone.
Variety reports that Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman will pen the updated take on the 1963 film. Originally written by Bill Peet — and based on T. H. White’s book of the same name — The Sword in the Stone told King Arthur’s fictionalized origin story as an orphan who proves himself worthy of royalty as he does the impossible by pulling a sword from a stone.
Cogman has written seven episodes of Game of Thrones over the course of the HBO show’s run. Most recently, he penned the fifth season’s most controversial episode, “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.” Cogman also wrote the series companion book, Inside HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’
The announcement of a live-action Sword in the Stone follows the immense success of live-action versions of Cinderella, Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland. Several other remakes have been announced recently, including Beauty and the Beast starring Emma Watson, Mulan, the Tim Burton-directed Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh and Tinker Bell starring Reese Witherspoon.
Last week, a live-action prequel to 1992’s Aladdin titled Genies was announced, with the script helmed by Freddy Vs. Jasoni scribes Damian Shannon and Mark Swift.
Later this year, the Jon Favreau-directed version of The Jungle Book starring Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson and Idris Elba will be released. The film will combine live action with animation.