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Jan 26, 2024

Haunted Mansion Director Wants to Make a Captain EO Movie

Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien wants to direct another Disney ride movie in the form of the late Michael Jackson's 3D movie Captain EO. Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien wants to reboot

Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien wants to direct another Disney ride movie in the form of the late Michael Jackson's 3D movie Captain EO.

Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien wants to reboot Michael Jackson's Captain EO short film on the big screen.

In an interview with Screen Rant at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, Simien was asked what defunct Disney theme park attraction he would love to make as a movie following his adaptation of Haunted Mansion. His surprising response was the George Lucas-produced 3D space adventure that starred the King of Pop. "Captain EO, let's go," Simien said. "Listen, I know it is out of commission, okay? I know that's not technically a ride, but I am ready. I need some singing and I need some dancing and I need some jheri curl juice in outer space immediately."

RELATED: Another Disney Attraction Deserves the Haunted Mansion Treatment

Captain EO was a Star Wars-style fantasy short that Jackson developed with executive producer Lucas and directed by Lucas' mentor, the legendary Francis Ford Coppola. The 17-minute movie starred Jackson as the leader of an alien space crew who land on a rotting planet run by the Supreme Leader (Angelica Huston). With powers that turn the Supreme Leader's henchmen into agile dancers to the tune of Jackson's "We Are Here to Change the World," EO transforms the Leader and her planet into a peaceful paradise.

Released in 1986 at Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, Captain EO made use of the 4D style where the movie itself required 3D glasses while the theater was equipped with lasers and smoke effects timed to the movie. Captain EO came at a time when Jackson's career had peaked following the release of his groundbreaking album Thriller which had gone on to become the biggest-selling record of all time. The attraction remained at Disney parks until 1998 and was revived in 2010 just one year after Jackson's untimely passing at age 50.

RELATED: Disney 'Missed the Memo' on Haunted Mansion's Summer Release, Says Box Office Analyst

If Simien were to get a Captain EO reboot off the ground, it would likely star a new actor while capturing the feel of the original 3D short. Capturing the essence of what made the ride popular was something that Simien took to heart as a director when he tried to differentiate his Haunted Mansion reboot from the 2003 movie starring Eddie Murphy. "I had a little bit of beef with the first film because the first thing you've got to give the kids is the candy of the mansion that they know and love," Simien said.

Haunted Mansion is now playing in theaters.

Source: Screen Rant

André Joseph is a movie and television news writer at CBR. Based in New York City, he freelances as an independent filmmaker, teacher and blogger of all things pop culture. His interests include Marvel, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Robocop, wrestling, and a wide range of movies and TV shows.