My Hope for Tim Burton's Dumbo: 'Big Ears'

***PLEASE READ THIS!!!!!!***

From the moment I saw that 'Tim Burton' and 'Dumbo' were trending on twitter...at the same time...that could only mean one thing. What was difficult for me is this...I hate the idea of a Dumbo remake! And here I was expecting for them to get a directer I had never even heard of or be unimpressed by. But boy was I wrong...it makes it hard for me to hate it when I love the director. (Even if he IS responsible for all these remakes being made in the first place.)

This does not make me any more enthusiastic about the project! If anything, it makes me even MORE apprehensive. But at the same time...I have the tiniest sliver of hope.

JUST HEAR ME OUT BEFORE YOU START POINTING YOUR RIFLES AT ME! 

Some of Tim Burton's best works revolve around misfits with abnormalities, i.e. Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, etc. So with Dumbo, it's crazy, but it's actually a perfect fit. Besides, we HAVE seen Tim make films that aren't overdripping with haunting, black and white surreal qualities. Just take a look at Big Eyes. I imagine if he were to make the film like that and throw in a human storyline that would coincide, give it a bit of a Water for Elephants vibe and it MIGHT be a sucess. We all know it'll rake in plenty of cash either way. But if Tim is going to do this story justice, I would like to see it do well. Dumbo is a very special little guy to me, and I'd HATE to have a pointless remake made if they're just going to use CGI most of the time anyway. So why not add in a story about a girl that could be inspired by the little misfit. And of course you'd have Timothy and the Ringmaster, and yes, even the Crows involved. While I dislike the idea of remaking it all with animation, I think something that would help drive it along would be a human storyline. Kinda like Racing Stripes or Charlotte's Web. 

Which is kind of along the lines of what I've made here.
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My wish/prediction for the remake, if they really MUST make one is along these lines:

The film should follow the EXACT same storyline as the original. No twists, no cruel plot devices. Merely expansions with a human cast that parallel what's happening with the animals...and it's all driven by that special baby elephant.  Here's what I'd imagine...trying to keep it in a sort of Burton-y way of telling it; heartfelt and tragically beautiful. 
During the events that are happening with Dumbo, we would get to know a girl named Helen who is a young attendant traveling with the circus. She aspires to be a performer like her own mother in the sideshow, but no one is giving her a chance. She is very athletic. She can juggle, do acrobatics and perform a perfect tightrope walk blindfoled.She doesn't have any physical deformeties like her pachederm counterpart, aside from the fact that she can't read.  But no one believes she'll amount to anything, except her mother of course. Sadly, her own position with the circus is on the line, due to the questionable direction that the twisted Ringmaster is taking with the circus. She and Dumbo help each other through their rough scrubs and with friends like Timothy the mouse, a clown named Bumpy and a roustabout named Cliff, the misfits of the circus band together to help each other out as best as they can. They inspire each other and grow as a family. And when Dumbo soars, the rest of the misfits realize that there's so much more to them. All by seeing an elephant fly.
My Cast would be as follows:
Chloe Grace Moretz as "Helen": An aspiring acrobat with the circus, saddled with the job of a stablegirl. She dreams of so much more, but puts the needs of an abused elephant before her own to help him realize that he's meant for more than being a clown.
Helena Bonham Carter as "Madame Pearl Haroldini": Helen's mother who is a fortune teller in the Circus' sideshow. Her position is hanging by a thread and she's trying her best to support her daughter. She and Helen rely on each other to stay with the circus. (She might also voice Mrs. Jumbo.)
Chiwetel Ejiofor as "Cliff Aberson": An underappreciated roustabout who sees everything in the big top. He is kind and passionate and lends a helping hand whenever he can. He believes in Helen and Dumbo and wants to see them make it big. (Chiwetel would also perform the voice of Jim Crow, whom in this version would be a 'Crow Crooner'.)
Johnny Depp as "The Ringmaster": The villain of the story who is willing to take 'bold and daring' new risks with his acts, even if it means risking their safety and wellbeing. He is cruel and manipulative with a charismatic ability to win over the harshest of audiences. He feels a need for dominance among the misfit performers having being picked on in his younger days for his eccentricity.   
Paul Reubens as "Bumpy the Clown": A secondary antagonist-turned-comic relief, Bumpy just wants respect among the other clowns. He's always made the butt of the clown's jokes and routines. When Dumbo comes along, he takes it on himself to dish out exactly what was dealt to him. After seeing what Dumbo has been going through however, Bumpy reconsiders his position in the circus and supports Dumbo. (Paul might also perform the voice of Timothy Q. Mouse, Dumbo's pint-sized friend and manager from Brooklyn. In addition to helping Dumbo, he also is the voice of reason to Helen.) 

PLEASE LET ME BE CLEAR: DESPITE MY USING THE ORIGINAL ANIMATED VERSIONS OF THESE CHARACTERS, THE VISUAL STYLE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME IN THE NEW FILM. THEREFORE, DISNEY'S USUAL ARSENAL OF VOICE ACTORS WOULD LIKELY NOT BE USED. (Unfortunately.) I can't say what the re-imagined characters would look like, but I know for sure they probably wouldn't use any of our favorite unsung hero voice actors, if they were to allow any of the animal characters to talk at all. For all we know, they could make all animals completely mute like they did in the 101 Dalmatians remake.
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I know it sounds stupid, weird and cliche. What with what I'm imagining, it's no wonder I'm not working for the company and a good thing too. But I just thought it'd be a better idea than making Dumbo fight off an army of cards or make him solve a Headless Horseman mystery. What I'd love is for Dumbo to have a misfit human companion. Still keeping as close to the original as possible...and reminding people why this story has been beloved for as long as it has. 

I ain't gonna ask for any liking. I myself don't even like the idea now that I've put it out in full. But hey, I figure I may as well offer something. I still hate this idea and the fact we're getting a remake at all. We don't need a Dumbo remake, and I feel ashamed for adding to the possibility. But I can't help but feel that if Tim played his cards right, he MIGHT be able to save this with or without my crummy idea. All I know is with him onboard, this is either gonna be really successful or really terrible. I'm just hoping for the best since at this point there's no changing Disney's mind about this. 

I know it's a bad idea, so please be nice if/when you comment. I already feel bad about this already.

All original film characters, names and logos belong to and are © Disney.
All new characters are mine I guess.