This weekend, Walt Disney Studios is finally getting back to unveiling big-screen movies based on their beloved theme park rides with the release of Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. At the same time, the House of Mouse is getting in line for a new Haunted Mansion movie, as it has reportedly cast two talented leads that have us ready to hitchhike with ghosts.
Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield are the names being conjured up to front the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie that has been in development again since last August. The Girls Trip star and Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah actor are in “negotiations” to play a psychic and widower in the Disney live-action film, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Tiffany Haddish is apparently being eyed to play a psychic who is hired to commune the dead, whilst Stanfield will play a “lifeless” tour guide in New Orleans’ French Quarter who lost his wife and once had suspicions in the world of the supernatural. This Haunted Mansion movie is apparently not connected to the 2003 movie starring Eddie Murphy in any way.
Back in April, Dear White People and Bad Hair director Justin Simien signed on to direct the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie, and it looks like it’s moving right along. The movie is now gearing up to start rolling its cameras in Louisiana this fall. The setting is perfect considering Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion takes place in the theme park’s New Orleans Square section of the park.
The tone of the upcoming Haunted Mansion is still a little foggy after this recent casting news. Tiffany Haddish is known as a comedian, so there’s definitely sure to be some laughs in the Disney movie. Plus, Katie Dippold wrote the script following other funny works including The Heat, 2016’s Ghostbusters and Snatched. With LaKeith Stanfield on board, who also starred in Get Out, Uncut Gems, Sorry to Bother You and the FX series Atlanta, there’s also a sense that the project might have something more to say aside from foolish mortals running from ghosts.
Haunted Mansion is one of Disney’s most near and dear rides, as it is over 51 years old and still kicking. The ride first opened in California’s Disneyland in August 1969, and has also since opened in Orlando, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong. Back in 2010, Guillermo del Toro was developing a movie based on the time reportedly set to star Ryan Gosling, but the project was later dropped and sat on a dusty shelf until this recent new venture.
Before we can get on Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Jungle Cruise is hitting theaters and Disney+ Premier Access this Friday, July 30. The studio is also developing a Space Mountain movie, Tower of Terror movie and more Pirates of the Caribbean movies. If only our Fast Passes worked outside the parks for these exciting projects.
