2 Attachment(s)
Haunted Mansion Movie Coming From Ghostbusters 2016 Writer
Katie Dipold will be working with Disney to reboot the Haunted Mansion franchise with another feature. The first movie released in 2003 and starred Eddie Murphy. It was based on the Disney Parks ride of the same name, and while the 2003 movie isn't as spooky as the ride given Eddie Murphy’s comedic tendencies, the Haunted Mansion movie was heavily inspired by the characters and the creepiness of the ride. Since the 2003 feature, Disney tried partnering with Guilermo Del Toro as a co-writer and producer, but the project eventually fell through.
According to THR, Dipold is writing a new feature based on Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride. Dipold, represented by Ziffren Brittenham, wrote for Parks and Rec before transitioning into movies, writing The Heat and the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. Dan Lin and Jonathan Elirich’s production company, Rideback, best known for the live-action adaptation of Aladdin, is also attached.
Developing a Haunted Mansion movie is a sign Disney is again looking to popular rides for new franchise ideas. Their most successful is the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but they're hoping to find box office success again with their newest addition, Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, which is slated to release July 30, 2021.
As for Haunted Mansion, Dipold's past work indicates her script could feature a strong woman lead. Since the 2003 movie took more inspiration from the ride and created a new storyline around Murphy's character, Dipold could also utilize the many characters - like the skeletal Bride, for example - who already exist as an established character within the ride. A common issue with reboots and films that take inspiration from already existing content is finding a twist or something that renews the franchise. By taking the original characters and modernizing them, Dipold could revitalize the Disney park ride and the Haunted Mansion story.
