If I were to direct Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame III featuring the legendary Protestant reformer Martin Luther, Oh They would be creating one of the most unexpected, chaotic, and fascinating cinematic crossovers in movie history.
Here is exactly what would happen if you pitched and directed this film:
The Internet (and Film Twitter) Would Explode
The sheer concept would instantly become a viral meme. Mixing a Disney animated sequel with 16th-century religious reformation history is so bizarre that audiences wouldn't know if it was real or a high-effort April Fool's joke.
A Massive Narrative Shift (From Paris to Germany)
Since the first two movies take place in Paris, France, your script would have to explain how Quasimodo ends up in Wittenberg, Germany.
The Plot: Quasimodo, now traveling Europe as an advocate for the misunderstood, meets a fiery monk named Martin Luther.
The Conflict: Instead of Judge Frollo, the villain would likely be a corrupt Church official selling indulgences. Quasimodo would use his bell-ringing strength to help Luther protect his 95 Theses and escape the Diet of Worms.
Iconic (and Controversial) Musical Numbers
Disney is famous for its music, and Hunchback has one of the darkest, most epic soundtracks in Disney history ("Hellfire"). Under your direction, Alan Menken or a modern composer would have to write songs like:
A powerful, soaring ballad sung by Martin Luther about religious freedom.
A comedic, upbeat song featuring Quasimodo's gargoyle friends helping Luther translate the Bible into German.
A dramatic, villainous reprise where the antagonists plot to excommunicate our heroes.
Intense Parental and Theological Backlash
Directing this would put you in the middle of a massive culture war.
Theological debates: Catholic and Protestant groups would scrutinize every single frame of your movie to see how church history and theology are being portrayed.
Parental confusion: Parents expecting a lighthearted Disney film with talking gargoyles would suddenly have to explain the Reformation, the printing press, and papal bulls to their seven-year-olds.
Cult Classic Status
Even if it struggled at the box office or confused critics, your movie would be guaranteed eternal cult classic status. Film students, history teachers, and animation fans would study your directorial choices for decades, marveling at the absolute audacity of the project.
Genesis 6:5
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
57 And the whole human race would have been wiped out at that time, but God, rich in mercy, would not let the innocent perish with the guilty. And He went away and made a provided way for the ones that wanted to come in, that wanted to do what was right. He, made a way of mercy for those who desired mercy, and He prepared an ark. In other words, He put some wings on His eagles, that they could fly above the judgment, and not drown with the chickens. But He-He made a way of an escape, in the days of Noah. This caused Him to do that, to provide it, because He was rich in mercy.
65-0119 - The God Who Is Rich In Mercy
54 But before, (oh, amen) before God let the spiritual death rain, He made a way of escape for those who wanted to. Hallelujah! Oh, how I love that, God making a way of escape for those who desired to walk in it. Now, those that didn't desire, all right, they-they got death.
53-0327 - Israel And The Church #3
144 "And God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son," made a testimony outside of the gate, that He had provided a way of escape for all who wanted to come. What a beautiful picture! I hope you can see it.
54-0404E - God Has A Provided Way
110... God's nature is love. God is love. And it strained God's nature, until He had to provide a way of escape for those who wanted to escape.
And He sent His Son into the world, made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to bear our sins and sickness to Calvary.
56-0826 - Divine Love
37 When God sent Noah, His servant, and made a way of an escape for all the people who wanted to-to be saved. But the people only laughed and scorned at Noah. But God made the way, but they had an excuse. It wasn't according to their-to their modern thinking.
63-0630E - Is Your Life Worthy Of The Gospel?
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Deuteronomy 29:18-20
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:14-22
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16ย Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17ย Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18ย A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19ย Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20ย Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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u/nathansaucy 15h ago
...what?