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Disney’s Secretive Sorcerer Film: Millions Spent, No Movie

For nearly a century, The Walt Disney Company has been at the forefront of bringing timeless stories to life, first through animated classics and later through live-action adaptations. The success of films like The Jungle Book (1994) and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1996) paved the way for a new era where animated favorites found fresh audiences in live-action form.

From Beauty and the Beast (2017) to The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney has reimagined many of its most cherished films, leading to box office gold.

A man in a red coat holds a sword aloft while standing on a table in a lively, crowded tavern. The patrons around him appear to be cheering and clapping. The setting includes medieval decor, with a boar crest on the wall and various costumed characters; it's as if from Disney villain prequels.
Credit: Disney

Related: Disney To Change Forever in Two Months With New Live-Action Remake

However, not every animated classic is deemed fit for a live-action transformation. Sensitivities have shifted, and as a result, projects like Pocahontas (1995) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) have not been greenlit for remakes.

Now, a newly uncovered report has revealed that Disney invested millions into a project that never even made it past pre-production.

Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame
Credit: Disney

Related: Fans Shocked As Live-Action ‘Moana’ Photos Go Viral

The Abandoned Merlin Saga

According to Forbes, Disney spent nearly $5 million on developing a film about Merlin, the legendary wizard from The Sword in the Stone (1963). Initially envisioned as “The Merlin Saga,” the film was meant to be based on T.A. Barron’s 12-book series chronicling the early years of the famous sorcerer.

At the peak of the remakes’ popularity Disney even planned live action versions of books based on characters which had become famous in its animated fairytales. One was The Merlin Saga, based on author T.A. Barron’s 12-book series about the sorcerer’s early years prior to his appearance in Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.

Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the screenplay for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings series, King Kong and The Hobbit, was appointed to write the script and Disney went on the hunt for an acclaimed director.

In January 2018 Variety claimed that Ridley Scott was deep in discussions with Disney about helming a live action remake of The Sword in the Stone, but opted to make The Merlin Saga for the Mouse instead. In early 2019, a rumor even spread that casting was underway for the blockbuster which would start shooting at the end of the year. It was not to be.

Merlin in The Sword in the Stone
Credit: Disney

Related: Why Did Disney Cancel Its Live-Action ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’?

By early 2019, rumors swirled that casting was underway and that filming would commence later that year. But the project soon stalled, and by 2022, Scott firmly denied his involvement, stating:

“[Disney] wanted me to do a wizard film, and I don’t do wizard films. It wasn’t a good idea.”

Despite its failure to materialize, Disney had already spent millions on early development and even set up a UK-based production company in preparation for shooting.

Merlin and Archimedes in The Sword in the Stone
Credit: Disney

A Stalled Dream, But No Official Cancellation

Disney has yet to officially scrap “The Merlin Saga,” leaving a sliver of hope that the film could eventually be revived. However, with no recent updates, its fate remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Disney continues its push for live-action adaptations, with several projects lined up for the coming years.

Upcoming Disney Live-Action Remakes:

  • Snow White (March 21, 2025)
  • Lilo & Stitch (May 2025)
  • Moana (2026)
  • Hercules (In development)
  • Robin Hood (In development)
  • The Aristocats (In development)
  • Bambi (In development)
  • Tangled (In development)
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney's live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Credit: Disney

Disney fans are split on the cancellation of “The Merlin Saga.” While some believe the film had the potential to introduce audiences to a rich, lesser-explored piece of Disney lore, others think that focusing on original content or revamping existing classics is a smarter move for the company.

Would you have liked to see Disney bring Merlin’s early years to life on the big screen? Do you think Disney is investing too heavily in live-action remakes? Let us know in the comments!

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

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