“Pete’s Dragon” is one of the movies you definitely don’t want to miss this summer as it is suitable for the entire family, ensuring to provide entertainment, excitement, and even some tears by the end of the film. The remake version of the live-action/animated classic from Disney revolves around the young boy Pete who is trying to find a new family to integrate back into society alongside his best friend, the enormous green dragon, Elliott.
While the storyline of the 2016 remake sounds quite similar to the original version, director David Lowery aimed to “reimagine” rather than just “remake” it, featuring a talented cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Karl Urban, and Wes Bentley. Below are six notable behind-the-scenes details from the making of “Pete’s Dragon”:
1. The visual effects team had to watch countless video clips on YouTube of various animals to draw inspiration for Elliott the dragon’s movements.
2. Elliott the dragon is designed to be a creature that feels incredibly soft. Therefore, director David Lowery decided to create Elliott’s appearance as a fluffy, soft dragon that people would want to hug.
3. The film was completely shot in New Zealand, a sacred land for numerous blockbuster films such as “Avatar,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”
4. The appearance of Elliott the dragon is a combination of many different animal traits, including the wings of the Australian flying fox, the fur of the North American bear, the sounds of various mammals, and the unique cat-like movements inspired by director David Lowery’s own cat.
5. Young actor Oakes Fegley, who plays Pete, had to undergo extensive training for several weeks with a specialist to master the physical movements required for portraying a wild character like Tarzan.
6. The original film from 1977 was a musical featuring over 10 songs. The 2016 version, however, is not a musical at all.
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