10 Huge Changes In The Live-Action Dumbo Remake

2. PETA Got Their Ending... Sort Of

In a 2015 letter to Tim Burton, PETA requested that the live-action Dumbo remake end with Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo leaving the circus to live at a sanctuary. This does not happen, although the two do manage to escape the abusive nature of circus life. In fact, Medici overhauls his entire circus so that absolutely none of the animals are kept in captivity.

Medici's new animal rights policy echoes the 2015 decision to free elephants from The Greatest Show On Earth, although the circumstances in Dumbo are unclear. The monkey, the mice and Holt's new horse all appear to continue performing. Their new living arrangements are never shown, and the audience is left to simply assume that things are better than they were before.

As for Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo, there will be no more circus. After escaping Dreamland, the two are transported away and released back into the wild.

This looks great on film, but it raises questions about their chances of survival. Dumbo has spent literally his entire young life with humans, and it can be hard for baby elephants to adjust when leaving captivity. Some animals find reintroduction a bit easier as part of a community, and Dumbo does wind up living with a herd of other elephants. Even so, the transition may be difficult for an elephant so reliant on human friendship.

How does PETA feel about this? They actually seem pretty happy about it. As long as Dumbo dies out in the wild where we don't have to see it happen, all is well.