14 Nov – "Maleficent" has proven that there is no harm in putting a little spin on a beloved movie by presenting it from another character's point-of-view. Taking a leaf out of the Disney movie retold through the villain's eyes, producer Peter Chernin is developing a live-action adaptation of author Victor Hugo's 1831 novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" – only it won't be told from the titular hunchback's perspective. Chernin is turning it into a female-led movie by focusing the story on Esmeralda instead, The Tracking Board reports. Esmeralda, described in the novel as a streetwise Romani girl with a pet goat named Djali, pities the deformed Quasimodo. He develops strong feelings for her and seeks to protect her from Claude Frollo, who is vengeful toward her for turning down his advances.
Arguably the most famous adaptation is Disney's 1996 animated movie of the same name, though in true Disney style, the movie highly differs from the novel in order to give it a happy ending. Basing the story on Esmeralda is nothing new for "Hunchback". It is something that's bound to happen since the novel has been adapted into movies several times over the years, the oldest adaptation being the 1905 French short silent movie entitled "Esmeralda". Chernin is producing the upcoming adaptation under his Chernin banner. The producer has produced movies such as 2015's "Spy", 2014's "The Drop" and 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" as well as its subsequent sequels. Apart from Chernin's live-action adaptation, another "Hunchback" movie is also in the works with Max Ryan attached to star.