Sarah Polley addresses why she reportedly left Disney’s live-action remake of Bambi. The project was originally confirmed in 2020, with Polley in talks to helm the re-imagination of the 1942 animated classic. However, in 2024, it was reported that the Oscar winner was no longer attached to the live-action Disney remake, which cast uncertainty over the upcoming movie.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Polley reveals why she’s no longer attached to the project. The Women Talking director revealed that while she had “one or two conversations” about it, she has never “officially” signed on as a director, clarifying that her rumored departure was more about her focusing on other projects. Polley shared that she was very interested in the “mother-dying-young aspect” of the remake. Check out her comments below:

I was never actually officially attached to it. I had one or two conversations about it, but there was no deal, I’d never signed on to it, so it was more of an internet phenomenon than a real thing. I did talk to them, but I was just working on a bunch of other things that I ended up being more focused on. I do think it’s a super-interesting thing to remake that movie, actually. I was also really interested in the mother-dying-young aspect of it. I could have delivered something very bleak. [Laughs]

What Sarah Polley’s Comment Means For The Bambi Remake

Many Of The Rumors Around The Bambi Remake Are Untrue

Ever since the director was no longer linked to the Bambi remake, there have been rumors about Disney canceling the upcoming project. Though the movie was expected to arrive some time in 2025 or 2026, there has been very little development. Polley’s exit also marks the latest update on the Bambi remake. However, it seems that the director’s choice not to take on the project may not have as big of an impact as many believe it did.

Polley’s comment about the news being “an internet phenomenon” rather than “a real thing” debunks the rumor. It also seems that the Bambi remake is still happening, despite being stuck in development over the years. Former Bambi screenwriter Lindsey Anderson Beer has previously shared that the remake may tone down the death of Bambi’s mother to avoid traumatizing today’s young audience. Polley’s interest in exploring the bleak themes may not have aligned with the creative direction of this project.

Our Take On Sarah Polley’s Bambi Exit

Bambi Is Still In Need Of A Director

Polley’s plan sounds compelling for a more mature version of Bambi. Lately, some of Disney’s remakes have not been doing well at the box office, including. The recent Snow White live-action remake disappointed at the box office. The lack of magic and charm has been a recurring theme among Disney remakes of their classic тιтles, and perhaps the key to the success of the Bambi live-action version isn’t to recapture the magic in the original animation, but to do something completely different.

Polley’s departure from the project barely qualifies as an exit, since she never signed on to the film in the first place. Her comment also serves as a reminder of how the truth may become distorted and dramatized in the media. On the other hand, it sounds like Bambi, like many announced Disney тιтles, is just waiting for the right time and the right people to be made. There is currently no director attached to the upcoming тιтle.

Source: Vanity Fair