Who Plays Captain Hook In Peter Pan And Wendy?
"Peter Pan & Wendy" is Disney's latest adaptation of Sir James Matthew Barrie's work and is set to release on Disney+ on April 28, 2023. Since the story follows a group of quasi-immortal children, the cast is predominantly comprised of new, unfamiliar faces. But there are a few old, familiar talents hanging around, too — After all, even Disney isn't brave enough to cast a twelve-year-old as the piratical Captain James Hook, not yet. For the Disney+ original movie, Peter Pan's decrepit nemesis will be portrayed by none other than Jude Law.
The British actor is well-known for his many, many roles in high-profile projects. Law starred as Dr. John Watson in "Sherlock Holmes" and its sequel across from Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role. He played the titular role in "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" across from Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie. And he continues to portray Albus Dumbledore in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise.
But these are all heroes. Fortunately, Law's resume features no shortage of villains, too, the kind of role models that Captain Hook might look down to for inspiration. He voiced the dreaded Boogeyman in "Rise of the Guardians," where he fought against Chris Pine's Jack Frost and Hugh Jackman's Easter Bunny. He portrayed the manipulative mansplainer Yon-Rogg in "Captain Marvel," where he tried to control Brie Larson's Carol Danvers. And he appeared as one of the many evil faces of Tony Shepherd in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."
Was Hook always that ... old?
In an interview with Total Film, David Lowery — director and co-author of Disney's "Peter Pan & Wendy" — explained how he intended to differentiate Jude Law's portrayal of Captain Hook from all the previous iterations. He told Total Film that Law was the perfect actor to balance Hook's villainy and heartbreak, saying, "We really wanted to understand why Hook hates Peter Pan so much. Where does that anger come from? We did our best to build out a story for the two characters, and a sense of history, and a sense of mythology. ... You want someone who can lean into the moustache-twirling when it's appropriate but then also break your heart when you need that to happen as well. I can't think of anyone better to straddle those two things in the same way that he straddles the crocodile's jaw."
Law himself told Yahoo in late 2022 that he was excited to bring a more personal angle to the role. For his sake, however, let's hope that his personal angle isn't what caused the costume and makeup department to split fans over Captain Hook's new look. Seriously, take a look at the stringy, gray wig he wears in the trailers. Despite Law's vitality, Hook looks like his time was running out long before the crocodile ever got involved.
"Peter Pan & Wendy" will release directly to streaming on April 28, 2023.