Pan ... a new trailer for the imagined origin story of Peter Pan

It's not all happening at Cannes; Warner Brothers has just released a new trailer for the J.M. Barrie inspired Pan. One of the movies on this year's list of movies (loosely) based on books, Pan is the origin story of Peter Pan, the boy who could fly, the lonely little lost boy whose story no doubt brightened your childhood. I can't imagine a little boy—or girl—who hasn't grown up knowing the J.M. Barrie tale by heart. This story is a prequel of sorts to the book written over a hundred years ago. 

The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

As a woman I hope that the character of Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) is drawn in with strong, deep and powerful lines rather than a quick supporting sketch; it's difficult to tell from the trailer which does seem to be all about the boys: Peter Pan (Levi Miller) Captain Hook (Garrett Hedlund) and the imagined participation of Black-beard (Hugh Jackman) who was not, as near as I can recall, in Barrie's Peter Pan. Jackman looks quite creepy here with his darkly shadowed eyes, sickly pallor and blade-like facial hair. 

As the mother of a young man, who once upon a time was a young boy who devoured and was inspired by stories of heroic deeds, impossible quests and journeys, I hope the world remembers how boys need that sense of mission providing self-discovery. 

In our quest for equality, for partnership between the sexes,  let's not forget the boys and men need to feel that somewhere out there, someone welcomes the strength their arms provide. 

The film is directed by Joe Wright based on a script by Jason Fuchs. Fuchs (giggle giggle) is the writer of the upcoming Wonder Woman film featuring a very strong female indeed. Wright last gave us the disappointing Anna Karenina BUT thankfully the failure of that film wasn't due to a lack of imagination; if Pan proves as good as its trailer, we'll be swept away by the colorful vision.

Levi Miller, the young actor who plays Pan fits the requisite bright-eyed brave boy template. The cast includes Nonso Alonzie, he was wonderful as the captain of the guard in Cinderella, Cara Delavingne as a gorgeous mermaid and Amanda Seyfried as Mary. Let's see how it all PANS out when Pan opens October 9th