In 2019, Tim Burton presents his live action version of the cult cartoon “Dumbo”. In the casting, we find Eva Green in the skin of a high-flying trapeze artist, Colette Marchant. But before accepting the role, the actress had some reservations.
Dumbo by Tim Burton
For several years, Disney has decided to adapt its classic cartoons into films in real shots. Thus, after having had great success with The jungle Book (2016) and The beauty and the Beast (2017), the live-action version of Dumbo hits theaters in March 2019. Director Tim Burton is chosen to direct it.
Contrary to jungle book and to The beauty and the Beastthe Dumbo by Tim Burton is not a shot-for-shot rereading of the cartoon. The director moved away from the source material to offer a more original story featuring the adorable baby elephant with big ears.
Thus, Tim Burton imagined a whole gallery of human characters who did not exist in the 1947 film. two children, who will take care of the baby elephant.
On the bad side, Michael Keaton plays Vandevere, a toothy entrepreneur, owner of an amusement park who sees Dumbo as just another accessory. to bring him money. Alongside her, Eva Green plays the role of Colette Marchant, an aerial acrobat who will take the baby elephant under her wing.
Eva Green terrified before filming
Dumbo marks the third collaboration between Eva Green and Tim Burton after Dark Shadows (2012) and Miss Peregrine (2016). If she was delighted at the idea of working again with the director, the French actress had however some reluctance towards this role. Indeed, the physical part of the role frightened him because it involved high stunts. So she said:
I was absolutely terrified of the height. It was a real phobia! And, at first, I told Tim Burton that I wasn’t sure if I could do my stunts.
Fortunately, Eva Green was able to count on the help of aerial acrobat Katharine Arnold and choreographer Fran Jaynes, to have her rehearse for many months. They helped her gain confidence, and she was able to perform her stunts:
I had to train for four or five months because you have to be very strong when you’re an aerial acrobat. Your arms should be very muscular, as should your abs. It’s like dancing in the air. You have to find the right position, the postures and the right gestures (…) it’s incredible to swing very high, to perform pirouettes and to do such aerial choreographies. It was a real challenge and I admit that I am quite proud of myself.
Eva Green’s first steps did not, however, not been easyas acrobat Katharine Arnold revealed:
We put her in the chandelier, which is one of the props we use in the movie. I just gave it a little trick and it didn’t work. But we worked hard, and she turned out amazing.
