Disney has released the first trailer for “Black Beauty,” an Ashley Avis (“Adolescence”) directed modern-day adaptation of Anna Sewell’s 1877 novel of the same name. The remake stars Mackenzie Foy (“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”) as Jo Green, a spirited teenager to develops a bond with a wild stallion she names Black Beauty and shows the strength of that relationship throughout the course of their lives as the titular horse passes through several owners.
This new take also sees the title horse voiced by Kate Winslet. But just because it features a talking animal doesn’t mean that the film will be just another movie with talking animals. Instead, it provides narration and other plot details to the story
Here’s the official plot synopsis for Black Beauty:
This modern-day reimagining of Anna Sewell’s timeless classic, follows Black Beauty (Kate Winslet), a wild horse born free in the American West. Rounded up and taken away from her family, Beauty is brought to Birtwick Stables where she meets a spirited teenage girl, Jo Green (Mackenzie Foy). Beauty and Jo forge an unbreakable bond that carries Beauty through the different chapters, challenges, and adventures of her life.
The five previous cinematic iterations of Sewell’s novel of the same name focused more on Black Beauty’s perspective, creating more of an autobiography of the horse. However, this Avis’s take seems to be more concerned with Jo and Black Beauty’s relationship. Which is a nice change of pace for a film adaptation. It should be interesting to see what other creative changes were made for the film in order to keep the story fresh.
The film also stars Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”), Claire Forlani (“Five Feet Apart”) and Calam Lynch (“Dunkirk”).
JB Pictures’ Jeremy Bolt (“Polar,” “Monster Hunter”) and Robert Kulzer (“Polar”) from Constantin Film are producers and Martin Moszkowicz, Edward Winters and Jon Brown are executive producers. Dylan Tarason is a co-producer, and Moonlighting Films president Genevieve Hofmeyr (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) is the South African producer.
“Black Beauty” makes its debut exclusively on Disney+ on November 27, 2020.
