Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield are in talks to star in Disney’s upcoming remake of The Haunted Mansion, which has already tapped Justin Simien (Dear White People) to direct.
Katie Dippold (Ghostbusters) has written the script, while Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce via their company Rideback. The duo previously produced Disney’s live-action Aladdin remake.
The film will be based on the studio’s iconic theme park attraction, which first debuted at Disneyland in 1969. It took guests through a terrifying manor filled with ghosts, ghouls and various other undead residents. Interestingly, it was one attraction where Disney employees were encouraged not to smile, a rarity at the supposed Happiest Place on Earth.
The studio previously adapted the ride into a film in 2003 with Eddie Murphy as the star. It broke even at the box office, grossing $182 million worldwide, but failed to meet the studio’s expectations. It isn’t well remembered, and Disney clearly thinks it’s time for another try.
While that version was more of a spooky family comedy, Simien’s take is said to be totally different, but details on exactly why haven’t arrived yet.
But with Dear White People and recent satirical comedy Bad Hair, Simien has proved adept at mixing genres and looks to be a good fit for this project. As long as Disney doesn’t micromanage him and actually allows him to direct the film his way, that is.
Haddish was recently seen in hidden camera comedy Bad Trip and alongside Billy Crystal in Here Today.
She’ll next be seen in Paul Schrader‘s The Card Counter and Jerrod Carmichael‘s On The Count Of Three, while she just wrapped filming on The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, the meta Nicolas Cage action-comedy.
Stanfield received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for his portrayal of William O’Neal in Judas And The Black Messiah. He’ll next be seen in Netflix’s all-Black western The Harder They Fall alongside Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, and Delroy Lindo.
Disney’s latest attempt at adapting one of their theme park rides into a film, Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, hits cinemas and Disney+ Premier Access tomorrow.
Will it find success similar to Pirates Of The Caribbean? Or will it join Tomorrowland, The Country Bears and Mission To Mars in the group of failed theme park adaptations?
#Peace.Love.TheHauntedMansion
