There was some big Hunchback related news in 2023. So let’s over some big ones.
Gina Lollobrigida (1927-2023)
On January 16th 2023 Gina Lollobrigida passed at the age of 95. She was well known for playing Esmeralda in the 1956 film version.
New Quasi-Version
In April 2023 there was a new version of Quasimodo to get a movie. Broken Lizard’s Quasi was a spoof version of the Hunchback that served as a kind of sequel for the Bell-ringer. It was not good, in my opinion. It was Quasi in name only. It did give people a pay-check, so that is at least a net-positive. And it was the latest movie to feature the character since Hotel Transylvania.
Notre Dame de Paris Returns
In 2023 the World Tour Cast of Notre Dame de Paris had two returns. First it returned to Lincoln Center in New York City and then in November it went to Paris to the Palais des Congrès which was the show’s original venue in 1998.
Frollo in Limbo
And lastly the state of the so-called Disney Live-action remake is in limbo. In March there was a viral TikTok fancast that gave the Disney Live-action remake some attention. Josh Gad stated that the fancast was not real and added that he hoped “the powers that be will see this love and let us make the live action adaptation the original animated film deserves.” By May, Alan Menken said that the project was in limbo and in August it was being reported that Iger scraped the project but it wasn’t official just rumored but does seem likely.
The Disney versions of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Frollo, Phoebus, the gargoyles, and Djali did appear in the Once Upon a Time short along with 500+ characters and Quasimodo got one of the solos so that is a positive.
A 2nd Centennial
On September 6th The Lon Chaney version of Hunchback celebrated its 100 year anniversary.
A Sum-up
A mix-bag to say the least. I’m sure there are other news pieces of merits but these are the ones that just stick out the most.
Do you think Hunchback dodged a bullet with the live-action movie get scrapped? Is Disney too scared of the project? Will 2024 bring any new Hunchback news? It might since Notre Dame is set to re-open December 8th 2024.
Happy New Year!