Del Toro to Make Haunted Mansion for Disney

While making a surprise appearance at the end of the Tron: Legacy panel at Comic Con today, director Guillermo Del Toro announced that he will be bringing Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride to the big screen.

While making a surprise appearance at the end of the Tron: Legacy panel at Comic Con today, director Guillermo Del Toro announced that he will be bringing Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride to the big screen.
In an exclusive interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he went on to say that “It’s going to be a thrill ride for the whole family but it’s definitely going to be scary.”
For all of you holding your breath about this one, don’t worry, Del Torro’s film is in no way connected with the failed attempt made in 2003 that starred Eddie Murphy.  disney production head Sean Bailey stated:
“We want a scary movie that’s as scary as the ride. If you’re 11 years old, you can go on the ride but it’s still scary. Tonally we’re going to make a movie that is for families but is a fun and, at times, scary movie.”
Development on the film began with conversations between Del Toro and Bailey when Bailey visited Del Toro was in New Zealand (who was working on the Hobbit at the time) to talk about the horror-thriller Don’t Be Afraid Of the Dark, which Del Toro produced for Disney’s Miramax. Del toro admits that the ride is one of his favorites, and when he is depressed or has a problem, he likes to ride the ride to clear his head. When Del Toro walked away form the Hobbit, talks resumed on a possible Haunted Mansion project. Del Torro will be co-writing the screenplay with Matthew Robbins, his writing partner on 1997’s Mimic and the upcoming Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.
At this point, not much is known about the plot, other than the fact that the movie’s mansion will have 999 haunts and 999 ghosts… with room for one more.  The ghost is dressed in a clock and top hat whose head disappears and reappears in a box he carries, known as the Hatbox Ghost, will be central to the to the film.
“”There are several mansions around the world and he is the spider in the center of the web of these mansions around the world,” said del Toro. “He will be a pivotal figure in the screenplay.”Granted, at this time the film is still a way off, and both Del Toro and Disney are anticipating a very long development process.  Del Toro plans on taking his time with the project, not only writing the screenplay, but also developing the ghosts deigns for the film.  Stay tuned as more details as they emerge…