It’s being reported that Will Smith has entered into talks to star in Dumbo, one of Disney’s many live-action remakes of their classic animated features, which is set to be directed by Tim Burton.

It’s stressed that these talks are in the early stages, and a done deal is far from happening. But if ink does meet paper, Smith joining the adaptation could impact another big project, Bad Boys 3.

If a deal is reached, it’s said that the actor would play the father of two children who become friends with the title elephant after seeing him perform in the circus.

Will Smith also has the next movie in the Bad Boys franchise, officially titled Bad Boys for Life, planned for the near future. According to reports these two projects are on course to film around the same time, meaning Smith may have to choose one over the other. If he were to choose Dumbo—which would make sense, as his latest release Collateral Beauty has not performed well at all and these live action Disney remakes have done pretty darn good at the box office—it could mean a delay for the new Bad Boys…or could even lead to it being shelved indefinitely. Not something fans of the action series will be excited about.

Another big name actor also possible for a role is Academy Award winner Tom Hanks. It’s said that Hanks has been offered the role of the villain in the movie, but it’s not clear whether he has any interest in it at all and he might instead choose to star in the World War II drama titled The Grey Hound.

Burton will direct the movie from a script written by Ehren Kruger (The Ring, Transformers: Dark of the Moon).

Next up for Disney’s live-action remakes is Beauty and the Beast, which stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Luke Evans.

[Source: Variety l Deadline]

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