Questlove’s ‘The Aristocats’ Live-Action Film Tabled by Disney: ‘There’s Over 20 Projects That I Could Get To Do’

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has revealed that his live-action adaptation of “The Aristocats” has been tabled, Variety has confirmed. The film was originally set to be directed by Thompson, continuing the streak of Disney’s live-action reimagined projects. 

In an interview with “Score: The Podcast,” Thompson revealed that the project had been scrapped by Disney. The news was revealed during conversation with Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. “I would have loved to do [The Aristocats], but there’s over 20 projects that I could get to do,” said Thompson. The musician revealed that he would have loved to direct “The Aristocats,” but has plans to work on four films over the next five years.

“The Aristocats” tells the story of Duchess and her family of three kittens, who find themselves kidnapped by their butler as a way to get their inheritance. When the cats are abandoned in the countryside far away from their homes, the cats meet Thomas O’Malley, a street cat who decides to help them find their way back to the heart of Paris. As the cats begin to get closer, and travel throughout Paris to get back to their owner, they begin to meet various animals such as an alley cat jazz band and ducks on their journey.

Previously, Questlove directed music documentaries such as “Summer of Soul,” “Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music,” and most recently, “Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)”. Thompson has worked with Disney in the past, when he played the role of Curley in Pete Docter’s “Soul.”