Disney have been hard at work rebooting and remaking some of their classic movies recently and next on the list is Pete’s Dragon. According to THR Robert Redford is in early talks to join the fray as a local who ‘tells tall tales involving dragons that no-one believes’. The remake of the 1977 classic will be directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) with Oakes Fegley (This Is Where I Leave You) playing Pete.

The original movie told the story of Pete, a young boy who flees his abusive adoptive parents with his best friend Elliot the dragon. Apparently the remake will stay true to the original but change some small plot details to make it a modern tale. The location will change from a fishing village to a threatened forest where the dragon resides. Redford in his narrator’s role will likely play a logger who also lives in the forest. The remake will incorporate CGI instead of hand drawn animation.

Shooting will shortly begin in New Zealand. Redford is currently in Australia filming Truth with Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men). Redford will star as Dan Rather, the CBS News anchor who publicly slated President Bush and his corrupt past.

Gavin Logan – Follow me on Twitter