‘Pete’s Dragon’ Cast, Updates: Oscar-Winner Robert Redford Believes Magic, Storytelling Helps Trying Times

‘Pete’s Dragon’ actor Robert Redford believed that magic and storytelling will help trying times in a modern world. The Oscar-winning actor is set to play a character named Mr. Meacham.

During an interview with E! News, Redford admitted that magical films will bring hope to an otherwise negative world. He said, "It's the kind of film I think we can use more of right now with the world so dark around us and so much violence and so much racism and all these negative things… [It's] not a bad idea to have a movie that has hope and imagination and magic."

Redford added, "What is going to happen with America… That is a good question that I don't have an immediate answer to, only that I am worried. I think we've lost civility. I think we've lost a certain degree of passion. I think passion unfortunately is directed into negative areas. I think it would be nice if we could switch back to positive areas. There's a lot to be positive about. We're very lucky to be in this country considering where the world is."

The Oscar-winning actor is set to play wood carver Mr. Meacham, Bryce Dallas Howard’s on-screen father. Redford said of his character, “He’s the only person to have claimed that he’s seen the dragon… Nobody believes him, but they like him and he’s a part of the community. He’s isolated, not because he’s an outlaw, but because he believes in magic, and I thought that was a wonderful character to have in a film.”

He added, "I believe in storytelling, so I told my kids stories. I think it’s really invaluable. In fact, I think ‘once upon a time’ is one of the greatest phrases imaginable. When you’re a kid and you hear ‘once upon a time,’ it’s ‘ah, I’m going to get something now’.”

Joining Redford and Dallas Howard are Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence. Child actor Oakes Fegley is set to portray the titular role of Pete, an orphan who lives in the forest and serves as protector of Elliot the dragon, who is voiced by John Kassir.

According to TV3.ie, director David Lowery praised Redford’s performance as Mr. Meacham. He said, "Thank goodness something about it resonated with him… Because he really brought a wonderful dimension to the character."

The upcoming fantasy-adventure film is a remake of the original 1977 film of the same name from Walt Disney Productions. According to IMDB, the classic directed by Don Chaffey and Don Bluth has an estimated $10 million production budget and grossed $36 million in the United States on the year of its release. The first film received generally positive reviews with its song ‘Candle In the Water’ receiving an Academy Award nomination.

‘Pete’s Dragon’ is scheduled to be released on August 12, 2016. It is produced by Walt Disney Productions.