Why Disney's Classic Franchise Deserves a $1.6 Billion Reboot After 27 Years

Disney, known for its family-friendly movies, has a variety of successful franchises. While best recognized for its animated films, the studio has also produced popular live-action movies that have become classics in their respective genres. Now, after almost thirty years, it may be time to reboot one of Disney's most underrated franchises.

With the acquisition of different brands and franchises, Disney has expanded its reign in the entertainment industry. Alongside well-known franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, Disney continues to grow and bring new content to its audience. The success of one franchise under Disney's umbrella bodes well for another similar franchise that could benefit from a reboot after a long hiatus.

The Ant-Man Franchise Shows How Great A Modern Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie Could Be

Nick, Amy, Russ, and Ron holding hands in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids - The Ant-Man Franchise Shows How Great A Modern Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie Could Be

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, also known as the MCU, is one of Disney's most successful and popular franchises. It consists of individual franchises for major superheroes, each having at least three solo movies and team-up films. Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd, is a key superhero in the MCU introduced in the Infinity Saga, and he will have a significant role in the upcoming Avengers movies at the end of the Multiverse Saga. Ant-Man has starred in three movies, two of which he shared the spotlight with Wasp, and has been well-received by audiences.

"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" was a major hit when it was first released.

Ant-Man’s success in the MCU demonstrates the potential for a modern adaptation of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, highlighting the similarities between the two franchises. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, a sci-fi action comedy film directed by Joe Johnston, was released in 1989. The movie follows the story of Wayne Szalinski (played by Rick Moranis), a quirky scientist and inventor who unintentionally shrinks his kids (and the neighbors’ children) to the size of a quarter-inch using a ray gun machine he had been developing. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was a major hit upon its release, becoming Disney's highest-grossing live-action film at the time, maintaining this position for five years.

Both Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Ant-Man share a common theme of a miniature world, albeit with different approaches and outcomes. Additionally, both franchises emphasize the importance of family dynamics. Amidst the action and battles, the Ant-Man movies focus on family relationships, mirroring the central theme of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. With advancements in technology, a modern rendition of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids could offer a more realistic portrayal, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Why Disney Hasn't Made A New Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie In 27 Years

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-Rick Moranis - Why Disney Hasn't Made A New Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie In 27 Years

In the era of sequels, remakes, and reboots, Disney has seized these waves with a variety of movies, and it started to do so with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in 2018.

The success of the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids led to a franchise with two sequels (released in 1992 and 1997), a TV series, and theme park attractions. In the era of sequels, remakes, and reboots, Disney has jumped on these trends with a variety of movies. They began this trend with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in 2018 by working on a reboot movie called Shrunk, set to be released on Disney+.

In 2020, Rick Moranis agreed to reprise his role as Wayne in the project. However, plans for principal photography to begin early that year were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the following year, it was announced that Shrunk would be a legacy sequel aiming for a theatrical release, with Josh Gad playing the role of Nick Szalinski, Wayne’s son.

Sadly, in 2023, Josh Gad shared that Shrunk had been put on hold indefinitely. Since then, there haven't been any updates on the project. Disney seems to be missing a great opportunity to revive the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise, leaving its future uncertain.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing perspective on the potential for a modern reboot of the classic film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." The author draws parallels between the successful "Ant-Man" franchise and the original movie, highlighting the shared theme of a miniature world and the emphasis on family dynamics. While Disney's initial attempts to reboot the franchise with "Shrunk" have been met with setbacks, the author suggests that the studio could benefit from revisiting the project.

However, the article also acknowledges the current uncertainty surrounding the future of the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" franchise. With no updates on the status of "Shrunk" and Disney seemingly focusing on other projects, it remains to be seen whether the studio will ultimately decide to revive the beloved film series. Despite the challenges, the article leaves readers hopeful that Disney will recognize the potential of a modern adaptation and bring the iconic characters and their adventures back to the big screen.