Some of the most eagerly anticipated movies (or shows) every year include live-action adaptations of animated classics and popular video games. A primary reason behind the excitement is the popularity of the original source – the animated work or the game – itself. This is why it is not surprising that the upcoming live-action movies of 2025 are adaptations of some of the best-known classic stories told through hand-drawn or computer-generated moving visual styles.

Three of the most-awaited new live-action movies are from Disney’s stables — Moana, Lilo & Stitch and Snow White. The other two confirmed releases come from Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. There are two more whose release dates are not clear but there has been positive development in the production of at least one of them in 2024, indicating that it will certainly be available either in 2025 or 2026.

With regard to upcoming live-action adaptations, some may argue that horror movies such as Popeye The Slayer Man and Pinocchio: Unstrung, to be released sometime in 2025, fall into this genre. However, it is not so because there is no connection between the horror retellings and the original source except for the main characters, which, too, are twisted beyond recognition perhaps even to the dislike of genuine fans of the original story.

That said, we do have a decent line-up of movies to watch in 2025 and beyond that, at least, promise to be as good as (or maybe better than) the original source.

Live-action movies of 2025 (and beyond) we can’t wait to watch

Snow White

Release date: 21 March 2025

The German fairy tale was first published by Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm, better known as the Brothers Grimm, in 1812 and revised by them in 1854. The story had been adapted into several live-action films and one animation film before Walt Disney adapted it into the acclaimed animation film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). No other adaptation – be it on the small screen or big in any format – has been as popular since.

The upcoming Snow White is a new live-action adaptation of the 1937 animation. It stars Rachel Zeglar as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman and Andrew Burnap as Jonathan are the other key actors. Much is expected of the film as its screenplay has been penned by Greta Gerwig with Erin Cressida Wilson. Snow White is Gerwig’s first project in any capacity after Barbie (2023), for which she received an Oscar nomination (her fourth overall) for Best Adapted Screenplay.

It is also noteworthy that another Snow White film, titled Snow White and the Evil Queen, will also be released in 2025. Produced by conservative media house The Daily Wire for their streaming platform Bentkey, the film stars Brett Cooper, a popular commentator and supporter of Donald Trump, as Snow White.

A Minecraft Movie

Release date: 4 April 2025

Not only is A Minecraft Movie one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Warner Bros. movies of 2025 but is also one of the most-awaited live-action video game adaptations of all time. Starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen and Jennifer Coolidge among others, the film revolves around a bunch of people in the real world who find themselves mysteriously teleported to a magical world of cube-shaped formations known as Overworld. They come across a master crafter named Steve, played by Black, who joins the visitors in an adventure that would not only take them back home but also help them understand how to set their personal lives in order.

The trailer of the film, which is directed by Jared Hess, promises a fun-filled action-adventure storyline with skeleton armies and “dark forces who want to destroy this world” threatening the unlikely gang.

For the uninitiated, Minecraft is a renowned video game developed and published in 2011 by Mojang Studios, which is now owned by Microsoft. It is the best-selling individual video game in history with more than 300 million units sold across platforms by October 2023. (Super Mario is the world’s best-selling franchise with over 800 units sold across iterations and platforms.)

Lilo & Stitch

Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp, this is the first live-action adaptation of the famous children’s animation film of the same name from 2002. The film was in development hell for a long time before it was given the green signal in 2022.

The remake revolves around a little Hawaiian orphan named Lilo who befriends a koala-like alien creature she names Stich who crash-landed on the island. It stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Chris Sanders, the creator of Lilo & Stitch, as the voice of Stitch. Cast alongside them are Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere and Zach Galifianakis among others.

How to Train Your Dragon

Release date: 13 June 2025

One of the most-anticipated upcoming live-action movies of 2025, How to Train Your Dragon aims to replicate the phenomenal success of the animated franchise of the same name that started in 2010. It stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and Astrid Hofferson, respectively — the two main characters in the story. Among the prominent cast members are action film icon Gerard Butler and English comedian Nick Frost. Butler reprises his voice role of Stoick the Vast from the animated films and is the only returning actor.

Dean DeBlois, who directed the three How to Train Your Dragon animated movies and received Academy Award nominations for each, helms the live-action adaptation. A synopsis of the upcoming film shared by makers Universal Pictures indicates that the live-action adaptation will likely follow the same storyline as the first film of the franchise and will, therefore, revolve more around the development of the friendship between Hiccup and the Night Fury dragon he names Toothless.

Moana

A still from the first Moana film showing the characters, Maui and Moana (R), voiced by Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, respectively. (Image credit: © 2016 Walt Disney Animation Studios via IMDb)
Release date: 10 July 2026

Moana is the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated film of the same name which was released in 2016. A blockbuster, the animated version earned over USD 643 million worldwide and was the 12th highest-grossing film in the year of its release. It was a major critical success, too, earning praises for the depiction of Polynesian culture, traditions and mythology. It received Oscar nods for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (for “How Far I’ll Go”). In 2024, an animated sequel, Moana 2, was released to critical and commercial acclaim. By mid-December, the sequel had earned over USD 600 million and was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2024.

The 2016 animated Moana launched the career of Auliʻi Cravalho, who starred as the voice of the titular protagonist alongside Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui, a legendary Polynesian demi-god who helps Moana save her coastal village. Both Johnson and Cravalho returned for the animated sequel.

But while Johnson is playing Maui in the Moana live-action adaptation, Cravalho has been replaced by Catherine Lagaʻaia in the titular role. The film, which is expected to follow the story of the 2016 original, will be directed by Thomas Kail.

Here you can see Johnson making the announcement of Moana live-action film in April 2023.

 

Voltron

Release date: TBD

After languishing in development hell for almost two decades, there has been a positive buzz around the much-awaited live-action film adaptation of the animated television series Voltron. What is more? It stars everyone’s favourite Superman — Henry Cavill. The involvement of the actor was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter in October 2024, making him the second cast member after Daniel Quinn-Toye to be associated with the adaptation.

The film is based on the acclaimed Japanese anime shows titled Beast King GoLion (1981–1982) and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV (1982–1983). These were clubbed, dubbed and re-released in English as Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984–1985) in the US. Voltron holds an IMDb rating of 7.9, indicating that it is still very popular among those who have seen the mecha anime series.

The series revolves around a group of space defenders who pilot large robots which combine to form an even larger robot named Voltron. Together they keep peace in the galaxy and protect it from dangers. However, neither the premise nor Cavill’s exact role in the live-action adaptation is known.

Amazon Prime Video holds the rights to the movie, having secured it in a bidding battle with Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. Rawson Marshall Thurber is directing the film, which he is also writing with Ellen Shanman. With Cavill and Amazon Prime Video in the project, Votron is certainly now one of the most keenly observed upcoming live-action adaptations with an anime origin.

Below is a trailer for Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016–2018), a reboot of the original animated series, just to give you a hint of what to expect in the live-action.

My Hero Academia

Release date: TBD

American streaming giant Netflix confirmed the live-action adaptation of the incredibly popular anime series My Hero Academia (2016–) in December 2022. Exactly two years down the line, there has been no further development with regard to cast, plot or specific release schedule. However, given that Netflix is involved, there is a greater chance that the film will go into production, if not already. Moreover, Netflix’s live-action One Piece series has been a mega-hit. Given that, the streamer has sound reasons to go ahead with its plans for one of the best-known anime series of all time.

Netflix’s original announcement also revealed that screenwriter Joby Harold is associated with the development of the film. The bigger highlight is that, according to Netflix, Shinsuke Sato, who directed the universally acclaimed Japanese Netflix thriller series Alice in Borderland (2020–), will helm the live-action film.

So what will be the story? According to Netflix, its protagonist is Izuku Midoriya (aka Deku), a young high school student in a world where 80 per cent of the people have a “quirk” (a power). Izuku has none, which is why his life is difficult. But everything changes when he meets his world’s top-ranked hero, All Might, who gives Izuku his power. You might as well want to catch up on all the action in the original anime series, a trailer of which is here.