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Guillermo del Toro to Direct Disney's Haunted Mansion Reboot

by Alex Billington
July 22, 2010

Disney just announced a HUGE surprise announcement at Comic-Con: Guillermo del Toro is directing a reboot of The Haunted Mansion. After the Tron Legacy panel, which just plain kicked ass, moderator Patton Oswalt asked audiences what Disney franchise they'd want to see rebooted. Then they rolled a brief teaser logo for The Haunted Mansion and introduced del Toro to the stage. They are making it live-action, and in 3D, and will be making the mansion the scariest place on earth. "If you take the children, they will scream," del Toro said. It's one his favorite experiences and he's excited to bring it to the big screen again.

Del Toro, who was there to give his brief take on what he'll be doing with The Haunted Mansion, said that they're staying true to the art and aesthetic of the original ride that the Disney Imagineers created. They are not making a comedy and Eddie Murphy definitely won't be back. He also says that they're going to make it scary and fun, at the same time. "But the scary will be scary," del Toro promised. And for hardcore fans of the ride, the mythology is going to be created around the "Hat Box Ghost." who is returning. The original Haunted Mansion ride opened at Disneyland in 1969 and has been updated and expanded over the years.

This looks like it is the project that, sadly, del Toro had to leave The Hobbit to take on. However, I trust del Toro and if he says he's going to deliver a scary, modern Haunted Mansion movie that could become a new classic for generations to enjoy, than I think he can certainly do that. My concern is NOT that he left Hobbit for this, I care more about knowing who his replacement is. What do you think - good news or bad?

Filed under Hype, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

beavis

i think it's RIDICULOUS to be remaking a movie so soon.
Wing It

Um... lame.
Benny

Holy crap I didn't see that coming. I'm actually really excited as a huge Disney and Guillermo del Toro fan.
doomcanoe

BOOOOO let that idea die
LINKFX

"this looks like it is the project that, sadly, del Toro had to leave The Hobbit to take on." ummm...this deal just came together, he didn't leave "The Hobbit" to make "The Haunted Mansion"... He already said why he left "The Hobbit"... either way, I thought he had like 10-15 other films he was planning on making? He shouldn't have to stoop to Disney level. Disney is finally showing the limit of their creativity. Don't they have any other rides they want to make into films? Come on!!! Disney is shooting themselves in the foot with all of these flops they push through like spoilt vodka sh*ts.
asfss

DUUUUUUUUDES YES!!!!!!!!
http://mynameisjay.com jay

Dammit do you see what Chris Nolan started??? Why did Batman Begins have to be so good? Now everything is getting "rebooted".
Cracky

God damn. del Toro is the real deal. Through and through. This will be amazing. Fuck The Hobbit. He obviously did not have the desire to direct that film... even with the fucking fanboys screaming like idiots. Apparently Disney is really stepping up their game, what with Tron Legacy on the horizon.
Paul

I could see GDT having a total field day with all the creepy colored lights, organ music and run-down New Orleans Victorian look. It's too bad the Eddie Murphy movie left a bad taste in everyone's mouths. Maybe we'll get a Matterhorn ride next - Yeti!
Nacmac

Wut? He left the Hobbit to make this???
http://www.cinebrooding.com Emily

Well yeah, the Haunted Mansion is stupid. And such an early remake is stupid. But it's still Guillermo del Toro..I'm not too concerned.
Spider94

i think this was a good choice and screw the hobbit,the project aint getting around anywhere unless it moves to another studio,maybe lionsgate with the hobbit?
MassieBoi

ummm i think this is an amazing idea ive always thought they should make a scary Haunted Mansion film...and to everyone saying this is a remake...the origional idea is from a ride...and i dunno if you lot heard Eddie Murphy wont be in it and its not going to be comedy its going to be focused around one of the Houses ghosts...so its not a Direct Remake...come on Guillermo Del Toro is Brilliant at what he does so give this movie a chance... and i dont think he left the hobbit for this... SHHHH lol
Solo Calrissian

In all seriousness, i dont think many people will care. It's not eddie's fault that Disney tried to make this a family film the first go round. And btw IMO Patton Oswald is a douche bag in real life. Horrible interview to people who genuinely liked him.
dac_fan

I'd rather get Hellboy 3.
D

LAME! just go on the ride. but at least he isnt doing The Hobbit so i dont really care about this.
SexMaster

del toro left deathly hallows for the hobbit, and now the hobbit for, this? really? its like he keeps getting lower and lower, and as soon as tim burton wants this del toro is out again! lmao
whomever

Either that's one messed up typo, or del Toro isn't making At the Mountains of Madness. Pffft...del Toro and Disney. Fucking WHY?? Biggest disappointment of today, and that's consider my city is getting buried under 10 feet of water.
Dan Dassow

At least Disney is not making a film based on “It’s a Small World”, “Hall of Presidents” or “The Tiki Room”.
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

Kudos to Disney for being able to keep this a secret for so long. No one in your past posts even mentioned The Haunted Mansion as a possibility.
Ani

everytime i go to disneyland, or world, its the saddest thing ever. I understand its the original Disney Ride but seriously they are going to make a movie thats scary and is based on the ride, seriously they need to change the ride but not make ANOTHER HAUNTED MANSION MOVIE! It is just going to be a downer, like all remakes. But intresting, we will just have to see.
Gary M

If GTD is behind this, then im behind this all the way. Also, LOTR movies are awful.
Alejo

i think everyone is missing the point here. del toro is getting in bed with disney. he is doing what nolan did - finding a studio that will allow him to make a huge fuckin' interesting movie down the line. we didnt get inception or tdk without batman begins. del toro knows what he is doing considering the hobbit debacle. mark my words, if he pulls this off and it makes money, he will have carte blanch on anything he wants with a studio that pay however much they want.
Craig

I have faith in GDT so I'll certainly see it, but I have to say that it doesn't sound particularly inspiring, especially when compared to all the other projects he has planned. @ 22: LOL, whatever you say.
L

#8 "This will be amazing" & "Fuck the Hobbit"? You gotta get your priorities straight, haha.
liako

AMAZING NEWS!!!! I love the Haunted Mansion and I was so disappointed with the film! what a surprise! can't wait for this one!!!! let's pretend the previous film never existed...
Voice of Reason

#15: Me Toooooo. While this news doesnt thrill me, I feel as though I can put my trust in Del Toro but frankly would have preferred him to take on another project. And yes, being wrangled by Disney is kind of a put-off.
http://www.internapse.com Scott

Turns out this is not his next directing project, which he will announce next week: http://www.latinoreview.com/news/sdcc-2010-exclusive-guillermo-del-toro-gives-clarification-on-haunted-mansion-10593 "Only producing and co-writing with Matthew Robbins for now. I would love to direct it if the timing allows it but I already have the next directing project ready to be announced in a week or so."
DanTHEman

hahaha @#19 I won't be surprised if it's not too far around the corner lol. As for this Idea, I'm honestly very excited about this. Not only has the haunted mansion been one of my favorite rides at disney, since I was a child, but also Guillermo is by far one of my favorite directors out there. The art direction in his movies simply beautiful and worth paying for a full price ticket for, even if the story's trash. It's seems like people are complaining about it being too soon to do a remake. The main point here isn't the fact that it's "too soon" to make a remake (look at the "Hulk" movies), the fact of the matter here is that the first movie was a complete failure of a film in the first place, and also this man can direct. Is he the best? Opinions obviously vary. But he is excited and passionate about the project, and that's the key. When a director has a passion for his project then 9 times out of 10 it's going to be a great movie (EXCLUDING, M. Night Shamalangadingdong, of course).
Eli

This is good news only because GDT is attached. At the same time, this idea they're trying to press on us just isn't doing wonders. I could see this being a well made and well written film but it doesn't always mean it'll be anything more than mediocre at best.
Brandon

I think it's awsome. If people say it sucks, thats just their own problem...IT IS NOT A REMAKE, IT IS AN ENTIRELY NEW THING TO STAY EVEN MORE TRUE TO THE ORIGINAL RIDE. BTW, the ride rocks! I love this idea, because after the first one, it really did need somthing to reboot its popularity and put the spirit back into the fans of the ride. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise did and and is still doing awsome, whereas the original movie was cheesy...at least this gives it a chance to also become more exillerating! Overall, I definitely think this is a great idea, and I will see it opening weekend!
Tyree

That sounds STUPID.
paul

i think that the haunted mansion movie remake will be great to see.hope they dont leave out the leota character.to see it in 3d will make it scary though for little ones. i think it will be more for the older crowd and teenagers.this remake i got to see.the attraction itself is a classic.now that they fixed it up a bit. also hope to see the hitch hike ghosts in the movie.