Just as Disney’s remakes of animated classics have been a mixed bag, the same can be said when making movies based on their amusement park attractions. Sure, Pirates of the Caribbean has been a massive success overall, but remember Tomorrowland? Or how about 2003’s The Haunted Mansion, which Eddie Murphy could only make a modest hit out of? Well, Disney is giving that one another go with Haunted Mansion, a reboot led by Rosario Dawson and directed by Dear White People filmmaker, Justin Simien.
Based on a script by Ghostbusters writer Katie Dippold, Haunted Mansion stars Dawson as a single mom who moves into a weirdly-affordable New Orleans mansion with her 9-year-old son. And it isn’t long before they find out why the price was so cheap. The place is haunted, and so she enlists a priest, a local psychic, a historian, and a widowed psychic-turned-failed paranormal expert to exorcise the home.
Simien says, “As a lifelong fan of the Haunted Mansion attraction, I’m beyond excited to share the teaser trailer for our new film adaptation featuring an incredible cast. Our team has worked tirelessly to create a scary, funny and cinematic otherworldly adventure for both new and die-hard fans to enjoy! I can’t wait for audiences to experience this big screen version of the iconic Disney attraction.”
The impressive ensemble includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Chase W. Dillon, and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost.
Haunted Mansion opens in theaters on July 28th.
