Disney may be stepping into familiar — and dangerous — territory yet again. According to entertainment scooper DanielRPK, the studio could be moving forward with a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, re-titled Aurora, and set in Mexico.
Disney is reportedly developing a new film titled ‘AURORA’
Described as a reimagining of ‘Sleeping Beauty’, but set in Mexico.
(via @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/8ONyZMN8Qj
— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) November 4, 2025
READ: EDITORIAL: Rachel Zegler PR Rewrite in Glamour Is Hollywood Fantasy at Its Finest
Yes — a Sleeping Beauty in Mexico retelling appears to be on deck, continuing Disney’s now-established pattern of reshaping classic fairy tales through cultural reinterpretation instead of creating new stories for today’s audiences.
And that decision is raising eyebrows for a simple reason: the last two times Disney attempted to reinvent a classic princess through modern cultural lenses — The Little Mermaid and Snow White — the results were cultural battlegrounds and financial disappointments. Neither project landed the triumphant reception the company likely hoped for. Instead, they sparked heated debate, fractured fan bases, and fueled months of social-media controversy.
Rachel Zegler singing the original song “Waiting on a Wish” from Disney’s Snow White live action remake – YouTube, Disney
Yet here we are again, staring down another legacy remake when consumers, analysts, and longtime Disney loyalists are saying the same thing: where is the original magic?
A Company That Won’t Course-Correct
It would be one thing if these experiments were winning hearts and wallets. But the last decade has been a cautionary tale, not a victory lap.
Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid may have had a loud cultural moment, but it struggled to justify its enormous budget, especially overseas where the film barely made a ripple. Meanwhile, Snow White — even before release — has been surrounded by such intense controversy that it became a trending case study in brand alienation. Cultural backlash, an outspoken political star, and a series of costly reshoots turned a once-beloved fairytale into a public-relations minefield.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
With those track records, one might imagine a strategic reset. Something bold. Fresh characters. Fresh lore. A return to Walt’s founding principle: tell the stories no one else can dream up. Instead, Disney continues circling legacy titles like they’re the only keys left on the ring.
Now this reported Sleeping Beauty set in Mexico pivot invites familiar questions, including the one many fans are already asking without needing to tweet it: if the goal is to celebrate Mexico and its incredibly rich mythology, why not create a brand-new Mexican princess and a brand-new world?
Disney already succeeded once in that realm with Elena of Avalor and the character was mostly embraced by the public and integrated well into the company’s theme parks. But rather than lift that character to the big screen, the company appears more interested in repurposing legacy icons than championing new heroines.
Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It isn’t the cultural celebration people object to — it’s the repetition and repurposing. The re-painting. The constant re-tooling of yesterday’s magic instead of forging tomorrow’s.
Nostalgia vs. Innovation
This rumored Sleeping Beauty Mexico project lands at a time when Disney desperately needs creative wins. Theme parks may keep the company’s gears turning, but on the cinematic side, the company needs an escape hatch from remake burnout, franchise fatigue, and a string of box-office underperformers. Audiences want wonder again — not lectures, not corporate messaging exercises, and not another polished-over reboot of a story they already own in four formats on Blu-ray.
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There is a wealth of global folklore waiting to be discovered and brought to life. Disney used to be the studio that unearthed new dreams. Lately, it feels like they’re hoping nostalgia alone can carry the castle uphill.
Final Thoughts
This may all remain rumor until Disney confirms it. But the pattern is unmistakable — and so is the risk. When Disney leans on legacy titles while reshaping their core identities for cultural headlines, it doesn’t generate excitement anymore. It generates skepticism.
Aurora in Sleeping Beauty – Disney+
If Disney truly wants to honor Mexico — or any culture — the most magical thing it could do is what it once did best: build something new that future generations will call a classic, instead of sanding down the legacy of the ones we already have.
Magic isn’t found in recycling the past. It’s found in daring to dream again.
Do you think Disney will create a Sleeping Beauty in Mexico movie? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Sounds like a real snooze fest.
Maybe sleeping beauty will be a 12 yo girl brought in by cartels to please disney executives.
Siesta Bonita.
I think this one actually has potential to be an authentic modern reimagining, just imagine a Mexican female presenting worker (Drag name: Aurora) stumbles across a magical potion (tequila product placement) and falls into a deep sleep which can only be awoken by consentual intimacy by a fellow member of the queer community (true love) meanwhile her evil boss (Straight white Male: Vincent) tries to oppress they/them for “drinking on the job” or “sleeping through the whole shift” which are both overtly racist and the equivalent to actual violence so they report him and have him thrown in jail. They then become the new owners of the roofing business which Male:Vincent had been wickedly ruling over his whole life, and live happily ever after in a polyamorous marriage.
This is great!
They can get Bad Bunnie to be the Prince and the whole thing can be performed in Spanish. If you want to know what they’re saying you have a year to learn the language.