Reese Witherspoon to star in, produce live-action Tinker Bell movie

Reese Witherspoon is off to Neverland.

The actress is attached to star in and produce “Tink,” a live-action take on the “Peter Pan” pixie that’s in development at Disney, The Times has confirmed. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.

“Finding Dory” screenwriter Victoria Strouse is penning the script for the project, which is to put a new spin on the Tinker Bell character much in the same way Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent” subverted the “Sleeping Beauty” mythos.

Plot details have yet to be revealed, and the movie does not have a director or release date at this stage.

A supporting character in J.M. Barrie’s original “Peter Pan” tale and Disney’s 1953 animated adaptation, Tink has become one of the studio’s signature characters. In addition to making frequent appearances sprinkling pixie dust on the studio’s logo, the blond-haired, blue-eyed, green-clad sprite anchors the popular Disney Fairies franchise of direct-to-video animated movies, books and merchandise.

“Tink” comes as the latest addition to Disney’s ever-expanding list of live-action re-imaginings of its animated movies of yesteryear. “Alice in Wonderland,” “Maleficent” and “Cinderella” all became box-office hits, and the studio has versions of “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Jungle Book,” an “Alice” sequel, “Winnie the Pooh,” “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo” and “Mulan” in the works.

Neverland stories have also been in vogue on the big and small screens recently, with “Peter Pan Live” airing on NBC last December and Warner Bros.’ “Pan” set to hit theaters in October.

Elizabeth Banks was previously developing a live-action Tinker Bell movie called “Tink” at Disney several years ago.

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