Okay... maybe they're a little over the hill NOW....

Quietly slipping through the news over the weekend, it looks like Disney will be creating the next great action movie of 2016 or 2017 -- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. And oh, yes, it will be live action.

Pitched by commercials director Robert Rugan, the film will be a live-action CGI hybrid like Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Smurfs and Guardians of the Galaxy. (Yes, I'm betting they know kids are going to go crazy for Rocket Raccoon -- "Quick, Bob, what other talking animals do we have in our stable who could interact with human stars?")

Originally launched in 1989 on The Disney Channel, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers was part of the fabled Disney Afternoon syndication block, rendered moot by the Disney Channel itself and now... well, Disney honestly has not shown a heck of a lot of love to their Disney Afternoon, and a whole generation may have no concept of the concept at all.

You'd never know....

But they do love Chip 'n Dale.

For those looking for some kind of base, if you go to the far end of Toon Town in Disney, you can still see the remnants of the Disney Afternoon heyday in the form of Gadget's Go Coaster. A female mouse and genius inventor, Gadget served as a more hands-on "Q" for the Rescue Rangers, and provides the theming for a good "kid's" roller coaster at Disneyland.

The original series was a decent kids' adventure in its own right, alongside Duck Tales, Darkwing Duck and even Tale Spin, featuring Baloo the Bear. Other CG/live-action hybrids have loaded on the ironic distance for adults, but really, this could be done just straightforwardly, being a Rescuers for the 21st Century.

Don't be afraid, Disney. Embrace the sincerity!

Excited? Puzzled? Always wondered what that roller coaster was about? Comment on our Facebook page!

Derek McCaw