Scarlett Johansson is on the verge of making what is likely her final appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Black Widow movie, but the actress isn't cutting all ties with the Walt Disney Company. Yesterday it was revealed that Johansson will both produce and star in a movie based on the popular Tower of Terror thrill ride, found at several Disney Parks around the world.
As one might expect, people have opinions. A Tower of Terror movie is just another in a long line of films based on Disney theme park attractions, and Pirates of the Caribbean notwithstanding, those films don't have the greatest track record. This isn't even the first attempt at making a Tower of Terror movie, and some, possibly ironically, really seem to love that film.
While details are light on the new movie, the only thing we know beyond Scarlett Johansson's involvement is that the script duties are being handled by Toy Story 4 writer/director Josh Cooley, what's potentially most interesting isn't the details we have, but what's missing. The movie is simply being called Tower of Terror and not Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which is the name of most of the attractions of this type. It would appear that the new movie will, like the aforementioned TV movie that came before it, not use the Twilight Zone name, which has some fans concerned.
There is one Tower of Terror that is not themed after Twilight Zone at all, and never was, the one found at Tokyo DisneySea. It uses an original character, who himself is part of a whole universe of connected theme park characters. Some fans are hoping that this is the jumping off point for a Tower of Terror movie that could lead to a whole new cinematic universe.
And the fact is that we know that a new Disney+ series starring the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is in development, so it's certainly possible that a Tower of Terror movie could be designed to tie into that series.
Of course, whatever the plot of Tower of Terror is, the question remains how Scarlett Johansson would fit into the story. The original version of the attraction sees five people get zapped by lightning while inside an elevator in a hotel in the days of old Hollywood, so we could certainly see Johansson play a golden age starlet if the movie goes that direction. Although, some fans have other ideas about what role the actress could play.
SInce the Tower of Terror doesn't even have a director or a finished script, we're clearly at least a couple of years away from this movie actually happening, but there are certainly people who are already quite invested in the idea and will be watching to see just how it all turns out.
