Logo of the Yellow Submarine film.
Yellow Submarine was a planned computer-animated remake of The Beatles' 1968 film of the same name. Director Robert Zemeckis was to incorporate the 16 Beatles songs and recordings from the original motion picture licensed from Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and EMI-Capitol Records, respectively, before it was cancelled.
Plot[]
A 3-D adaptation of the classic Beatles animated feature in which the British pop band traveled to a magical place called Pepperland in their yellow submarine to drive away the evil music-hating Blue Meanies.
Proposed cast[]
- Cary Elwes as George Harrison
- Peter Serafinowicz as Paul McCartney
- Adam Campbell as Ringo Starr
- Dean Lennox Kelly as John Lennon
- David Tennant as Chief Blue Meanie
- The Fabulous Four as performance capture for The Beatles
Production[]
Variety reported in August 2009 that Disney and director Robert Zemeckis were negotiating to produce a 3D computer animated remake of the film. Performance capture would be used, as with Zemeckis's previous animated films The Polar Express, Beowulf and A Christmas Carol.
Disney and Apple Corps Ltd. officially announced the remake at the inaugural D23 Expo on September 11, 2009. Comedian Peter Serafinowicz was cast to voice Paul McCartney, Dean Lennox Kelly as John Lennon, Cary Elwes as George Harrison, and Adam Campbell as Ringo Starr.
California-based Beatles tribute band The Fabulous Four was cast to do the motion-capture performance for the animated Beatles.
Release[]
According to the story, Disney hoped to release the film in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
In May 2010, Disney closed Zemeckis' digital film studio, ImageMovers Digital.
On March 14, 2011, Disney abandoned the project, citing the unsatisfactory yet successful performance of A Christmas Carol and the disastrous opening weekend results of Simon Wells' Mars Needs Moms. Criticism towards motion capture technology was also a factor.
Test footage[]
Additional test footage can be seen here.
Concept art[]
