According to insiders, Walt Disney Pictures is moving forward with a reboot of ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’, set in the same universe as the original franchise, and Josh Gad (‘Frozen’, ‘Beauty & The Beast’) has signed on to star. Rick Moranis starred in the 1989 original as scientist Wayne Szalinski whose invention accidentally shrinks his son and daughter as well as some neighbor kids, who must then survive in the backyard, fending off giant bugs and other threats. The original became Disney’s highest-grossing live-action movie, and spawned two sequels, ‘Honey, I Blew Up the Kid’ in 1992, and ‘Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves’ (direct-to-video) in 1997, with Moranis returning for both. A syndicated TV series, ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show’ launched in 1997 and lasted three seasons, ending in 2000, with Peter Scolari replacing Moranis.
The new film, described as a “legecyequel,” will reportedly simply be named ‘Shrunk’. Gad will play the role of grown-up Nick Szalinksi, the son portrayed by Robert Oliveri in the original movies. Like father, like son, Nick is also an inventor and he also shrinks his kids. ‘Shrunk’ is reportedly being developed as a theatrical release, not a project for Disney+.
What is coming to Disney+ is a new Muppets series that Gad is developing, called ‘Muppets Live Another Day’, and a live-action family sitcom. Gad has a lengthy relationship with Disney, voicing Olaf in the various ‘Frozen’ projects, including the upcoming ‘Frozen 2’. He appeared as LeFou in ‘Beauty & The Beast’, and in the upcoming ‘Artemis Fowl’ as Mulch Diggums.
In non-Disney projects, Gad is attached to star in ‘Avenue 5’, a new science fiction comedy coming to HBO, and he will lend his voice to musical animated comedy ‘Park Avenue’ with his ‘Frozen’ co-star Kristen Bell, as well as Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, and Stanley Tucci.
There is no word on when ‘Shrunk’ is expected to arrive, but check back for updates.
Source: /Film
