Disney’s Peter Pan & Wendy Casts Jim Gaffigan As Mr. Smee

Jim Gaffigan is set to play the role of Mr. Smee in Disney’s live-action Peter Pan & Wendy. A plethora of adaptions centering around the iconic characters Peter Pan and Wendy have been released across a multitude of platforms since the 1950s. The original animated classic Peter Pan was released in 1953 and was based on the work of J.M. Barrie. The story follows a young boy who never grows up and spends his endless childhood creating mischief with the Lost Boys in Neverland. The character of Peter Pan has been tackled by many filmmakers in movies like Hook (Steven Spielberg), Pan (Joe Wright), and Wendy (Benh Zeitlin).

The new film Peter Pan & Wendy will be directed by David Lowery, who previously directed the Disney live-action adaption of Pete’s Dragon in 2016. His adaptation appears to be a somewhat classic approach to the narrative, but no official synopsis has been released for the film. The most notable announcements so far have involved a variety of exciting performers signing on to the project. The cast for the film is stacked with other talented actors like Jude Law, who will play Captain Hook, and Black-ish start Yara Shahidi, who will play Tinker Bell. Additionally, Alexander Molony will star as Peter Pan alongside Ever Anderson as Wendy. Meanwhile, Alyssa Wapanatâhk will take on the role of Tiger Lily.

After lots of speculation over who might play Mr. Smee, The Wrap is reporting Gaffigan will ultimately take on the role of Captain Hook’s lovable sidekick. Voice actor Bill Thompson voiced Mr. Smee in the original film, in addition to many other notable Disney characters in Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and The Aristocats.

Smee’s character has always provided a sense of comic relief to the story of Peter Pan, making comedian Gaffigan the perfect person to play Captain Hook’s loyal, but sometimes useless confidant. Gaffigan most recently starred in the films Tesla, Troop Zero, American Dreamer, and Light from Light. In addition to his upcoming role as Mr. Smee in Peter Pan & Wendy, he is set to star in the forthcoming film Linoleum.

Gaffigan has a somewhat uncanny resemblance to Smee’s animated character in the original film, making it fairly easy to picture him doing well in the role of Mr. Smee. It’s unlikely many predicted a Law and Gaffigan villain duo, but it’s exciting to see Peter Pan & Wendy fleshing out its cast and bringing together a unique group of actors for the live-action film. Production on Peter Pan & Wendy will begin in March 2021, with the movie releasing straight to streaming on Disney+.

Source: The Wrap

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