Entertainment
This Iconic Disney Classic Never Got a Sequel, but Its Lost Trailer Shows What We Almost Had
In the early 2000s, Disney’s strategy included fewer remakes but many more sequels. Yet these were not major theatrical releases; they were direct-to-video sequels that not only continued the more recent Disney Renaissance films, going back to some of the company’s biggest classics. Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, and many other films got a continuation, but one of Disney’s best films did not receive the same treatment: Dumbo. Dumbo had good company in this, with memorable films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and The Aristocats never got an official sequel, but Dumbo is unique in how close it came.
The animation studio promised fans a Dumbo sequel that was never released; however, a lot of work went into it before it was eventually canceled. Back in 2001, Dumbo II was well underway, to the point that for the 60th anniversary of the original film, Disney released a look at the sequel, giving the fans an idea of what they were planning. Though it never came to fruition, this trailer shows fans what they are missing, and while not every direct-to-video sequel from this era is remembered fondly, the brief insight into Dumbo II proves the idea had potential.
‘Dumbo II’ Plot: What Disney Planned for the Cancelled Sequel
The heartwarming tale of a young, outcast circus elephant who learns to fly has managed to stand on its own for 85 years, making a sequel unnecessary. Yet, while the story doesn’t need it, Dumbo II could have provided an interesting opportunity for the characters, especially as the sequel promised to solve the mystery of Dumbo’s father. However, that wasn’t planned as the central storyline. The Dumbo II content Disney released in 2001 is less of a traditional trailer and more of a sneak peek, featuring director Robert Ramirez and other members of the crew discussing the characters and showing off the concept art, but it provides a sense of what they were planning.
Taking place shortly after the original, the story was set to follow Dumbo and other circus children as they are separated from the train and get lost in the big city. In addition to Dumbo and Timothy Mouse, the film would have introduced a zebra named Dot, Penny the ostrich, Godfrey the hippo, and a set of bear cub twins named Claude and Lolly. Interestingly, this would have given Dumbo a group of friends, which he notably didn’t have in the original film, allowing him to grow up slightly, and the idea of growing up would have been central to the film. Each of the new characters was inspired by a phase of childhood development, from the stage of questioning everything to the “I can do it myself” phase, allowing for a wide range of personalities as it explored childhood, and making it relatable to the intended audience. Although we only know so much about the film, this idea certainly holds potential, especially considering the other direct-to-video sequels that Disney pushed forward. Yet Dumbo II never did make it to release.
Why Disney Cancelled ‘Dumbo II’ After Years in Development
The story of the Dumbo sequel exemplifies the long process of filmmaking, considering how long Dumbo II was under development before its cancellation. Progress was clearly underway by 2001, when the trailer was released, yet the film faced repeated production delays and wasn’t cancelled until years later. Reportedly, Joe Grant, an animator on the original film, was unimpressed by the test footage, sending them back to the drawing board, literally. The film was still in development until 2007, when DisneyToon Studios was combined with Walt Disney Animation, where John Lasseter served as Chief Creative Officer. Known to dislike the direct-to-video sequel model, Lassester put an end to these films, with The Little Mermaid III: Ariel’s Beginning being the last. While Dumbo II was one of several films cancelled in this process, it represented many years of work, showing the fickle nature of the industry.
Though fans will never see it, Dumbo II remains an interesting concept that had the potential to be one of the better direct-to-video sequels. Admittedly, the charm of the original Dumbo would be difficult to capture, especially after it managed to make such a lovable protagonist who never utters a word. Understandably, the team behind Dumbo II took their time in hopes of making a worthy sequel, but unfortunately, fans can only imagine what it would have looked like.
DUmbo is streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.
- Release Date
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October 31, 1941
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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Samuel Armstrong, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson
- Writers
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Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Otto Englander
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