To look at David Lowery's mostly live-action remake of Pete's Dragon is to see very little that's reminiscent of the 1977 original. The musical aspect is gone, the 2D animation is nowhere to be found, but the key change is in the tone, which is decidedly darker. The first teaser was downright grim, which is obviously not what Disney wants to project before the film arrives this summer. The latest trailer corrects course by injecting a hopefulness that is downright Amblin-esque.
Lowery (of the neo-Western Ain't Them Bodies Saints) makes the jump to blockbusters, directing Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence, and Oakes Fegley. The live-action/CGI hybrid centers on Pete, a mysterious boy living in the woods who claims to be friends with a giant dragon named Elliott. This draws the attention of the locals who seeks to find out the truth about Pete's past and his dragon companion.
Disney plans to release Pete's Dragon in theaters on August 12th. Check out the trailer, some new images, and a poster below.
