The Wind In The Willows

In February 2003, it was announced by Disney that an animated film based off of the Kenneth Grahame book of the same name The Wind in The Willows was in the works.

Plot

Animals live in a segregated society on the riverbank, looked down upon by humans, except for the wealthy Toad family. The Chief Weasel, a radical pro-animal leader, aims to establish dominance, leading to the weasels, stoats, and ferrets taking over Toad Hall. Mole, Ratty, and Badger would try to help Toad after his obsession with motorcars lands him in trouble. The Wild Wood would be depicted as a creepy, nightmarish slum, playing tricks on the mind.

Development

When the film was announced in 2003, it was a pitch by the legendary Guillermo Del Toro which he offered to Disney, and also which he co-wrote with Matthew Robbins. According to Del Toro, he wanted to pay adherence to the book's natural and atmospheric elements. and it was going to be in the same world like The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad. The film was also said to be a mix of live action with CG animation.

By November that year, Del Toro confirmed that he was no longer attached to the project. "The approach I planned proved to be very expensive and probably weird to the studio. I cherish a scene in which Mr. Toad was paraded though London a bit like The Elephant Man. No wonder they found it weird." In 2008, he further explained why he chose to leave the helm; "It was a beautiful book, and then I went to meet with the executives and they said, 'Could you give Toad a skateboard and make him say, "radical dude" things?' and that's when I said, 'It's been a pleasure ...'"

Why It Was Cancelled

1. Unfortunately, the studio executives at the time wished for more comedy and merchandise appeal.

Results

• The film was permanently cancelled, and The Wind In the Willows remains as a book.

Gallery

Concept art of characters in an environment.