Disney has dropped the first look of the live-action “Lady and the Tramp” movie and its a bit of dog heaven here on Earth.
The remake of the classic 1955 animated film is coming to the Disney+ steaming service when it starts Nov. 12, but the dog photo preview gives fans a great bone to gnaw on until the first trailer drops.
There is an appropriate “Cuteness Alert” on the Instagram post. So if youre not ready to handle this, stop reading here.
The refined spaniel Lady is voiced by Tessa Thompson. The new Tramp (voiced by Justin Theroux) is a perfectly scruffy vagabond mutt with a real-life heartwarming story — going from a rescue shelter to movie stardom.
The mixed breed pooch, called Monte, was taken to a New Mexico shelter in early 2018 and transferred to the HALO Animal Rescue in Phoenix. While Monte was much thinner at the time of his original rescue, he was an infectiously happy dog with star quality.
“He’s so handsome and had the scruff factor that Tramp has from the original movie,” says Heather Allen, president and CEO of HALO Animal Rescue. “Plus, Monte has such a unique look as a mixed breed. He’s not going to look like any other dog that Lady would run into, especially as shes a pure breed.”
Theres hope that featuring rescue dogs will bring about positive change and encourage viewers to consider making “forever homes” for other pooches.
“It’s so cool to see a shelter dog, especially a mixed breed, in the movie. The mutts are going to shine on the screen,” says Allen. “Montes not just a movie star, he’s going to help mutts all over the world just by being in the movie.”
Not pictured is the top casting of Sam Elliott voicing the bloodhound Trusty. Janelle Monáe, as the Pekingese Peg, steps into the formidable paws of the original voice actor, Peggy Lee.
The reveal on the D23 magazine shows the film will be part of Disneys fan convention later this month. This is likely to win over even critics of the slew of live-action films coming from Disney. Featured Weekly Ad
Lady is an American Cocker Spaniel
Wondering what kind of dog is Lady from Lady and the Tramp? Well, the original Lady was inspired by a real dog breed: the American Cocker Spaniel. Not to be mistaken for the English Cocker Spaniel, this purebred dog breed is beloved by families around the world because of their adorable looks and affectionate attitudes. Perhaps this is why Lady has been such a popular dog in our culture for so many years.
What You Should Know About American Cocker Spaniels
Getting to know the American Cocker Spaniel will provide you with insight into Lady’s personality and temperament. The more you understand Lady, the more you can identify with her actions in the movie. The first thing you should know about American Cocker Spaniels is that they are the younger cousins of English Cocker Spaniels, but they’re bred to a different, smaller standard to accommodate the needs of American hunters. The first Cocker Spaniels came over to America about the same time the Mayflower did. But it wasn’t until many years later that the American Kennel Club decided to officially recognize them.
Although they were originally bred as hunters, American Cocker Spaniels typically live as house pets nowadays. Their medium size matches their medium energy levels, making them perfect for households living in apartments or houses. Their adorable faces are hard to resist, and their playful nature will keep people entertained for hours on end.
These lovable dogs require a great deal of grooming, which is something that isn’t addressed in the movie. In real life, Lady would need brushing several times a week and may even appreciate the occasional haircut.
These dogs love going on walks and enjoy spending time with other dogs, which is apparent in the movie. American Cocker Spaniels are highly intelligent and easy to train, although Lady certainly didn’t need any special training to enjoy her adventure. The trainability of these dogs might make one wonder why the pure breed wasn’t used in the latest live-action movie.
The dogs met for a casting session in a park, and their dynamic was clear from the start.
“She was definitely getting all the meatballs and keeping Monte away from them,” says Bean. “She was definitely the alpha in that situation, too.”
“We would have them cooling down while the rest of us were sweating, like the sweatiest people alive,” director Charlie Bean tells The Post.
“Rose was always the alpha in that relationship,” producer Brigham Taylor tells The Post. “[But] they became really close.”
The film team searched nationwide for rescues that looked like the animated characters. For Lady, they landed on Rose, an American cocker spaniel and hunting dog from Texas, whose family was looking to re-home her. The role of Tramp went to Monte, who is most likely a mix of schnauzer and shepherd and was found via an animal rescue group in Phoenix, Ariz. (Both dogs have now found homes with trainers from the movie.)