FILM · 2016 · USA
Pete's Dragon
23 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (23)
- #001
Robert Redford rescued an abandoned horse on the second day of shooting.
- #002
The film is set in 1977 and 1983. The original Pete's Dragon was released in 1977.
- #003
In the prologue, Levi Alexander, who plays Young Pete, and Gareth Reeves, who plays his father, are actually related. They are first cousins who had once been estranged.
- #004
Oakes Fegley performed all of his own stunts. He and Oona Laurence wore safety harnesses to prevent serious injuries.
- #005
Karl Urban replaced Michael C. Hall in the role of Gavin, while Wes Bentley replaced Casey Affleck in the role of Jack.
- #006
Oakes Fegley went through four auditions before he was finally cast as Pete.
- #007
Pete spends about 85% of the film barefoot, both in the city and in the forest.
- #008
In a 2019 interview about his lead role in The Goldfinch, 14-year-old Oakes Fegley was asked about mementos he took from the sets of films in which he starred. The first things he described were the fake rubber shoes made to look like bare feet that he wore while shooting the forest scenes in New Zealand on this film. They were made by Weta Workshops in Wellington, New Zealand, which made all the sets for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films.
- #009
Oakes Fegley's hair turns curly once it reaches a certain length. For this role he grew his hair to a certain length and added hair extensions.
- #010
Pete boarding the school bus is a nod to the time in the original film when Pete follows the schoolchildren.
- #011
While running through town, Pete at one point encounters a man holding a stack of cardboard boxes. This may be a reference to the scene in Pete's Dragon (1977) in which Pete bumps into a man holding a large stack of cardboard egg cartons.
- #012
Howard Shore was initially hired to compose the music. Daniel Hart, who had previously worked with director David Lowery, replaced Shore during post-production.
- #013
The original Pete's Dragon (1977) took place in the early 1900s.
- #014
Director David Lowery is married to Augustine Frizzell, who plays Miss Swanberg in this film. This is their second collaboration on a feature film.
- #015
This was to be made in 2013, but because Disney could not find time to shoot it in the summer of 2013, the film was pushed to the summer of 2016.
- #016
The book "Elliot Gets Lost" was written by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks, and illustrated by Benjamin Lowery.
- #017
It is the 250th live-action film produced by Disney.
- #018
This film is rated PG, but the original Pete's Dragon (1977) was rated G.
- #019
During the making of Pete's Dragon (2016), Robert Redford used Alex Hunt's Essential Movie Blog as an artistic source of inspiration.
- #020
Four actors in this film appeared in Marvel Comics films: Karl Urban in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Wes Bentley in Ghost Rider (2007), Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Bryce Dallas Howard in Spider-Man 3 (2007).
- #021
Footage of Pete riding Elliot recalls The Never Ending Story (1984). Perhaps it is because of the long-haired boy riding a furry dragon. Both films are partly set in the early 1980s.
- #022
This is not Isiah Whitlock Jr.'s first Disney film. He appeared in Enchanted (2007).
- #023
Bryce Dallas Howard played another character named Grace in Manderlay (2005).
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