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Guillermo Del Toro Says 'The Haunted Mansion' is Still Happening

by Ben Pearson
August 8, 2012
Source: Collider

This past Saturday, I was at Disneyland with a few friends and while we were waiting in line for the Haunted Mansion ride, we lamented the fact that Guillermo del Toro's version of The Haunted Mansion hasn't come to pass yet. Back in 2010, it was announced that the Pacific Rim director would be writing and producing a revamped take on the ride (ignoring the Eddie Murphy movie completely), but we haven't heard anything about it in quite some time. Thankfully, Del Toro recently spoke with Collider and offered a few updates on the film's progress, including some speculation about who could end up directing it. Read on!

Here are some key quotes from Collider's interview with del Toro:

I delivered my last draft five weeks ago. I have a meeting with them in three weeks. I know they like the screenplay. I need to meet with them in three weeks. That’s what I know. I know their reaction to the draft was good. We have a bunch of conceptualist art, but you never know, to predict anything else is hard for me to know.

I still would love to make that movie. I came on board originally as a writer and producer, the decision I think [Disney] may be waiting, is for me to say I’m directing the movie. Or am I directing it next, which is too early for me to know what I’m doing next in live-action. I’m in the middle of Pacific Rim and I don’t know what I’m going to do next.

So the basic gist of it is that he's very much still interested in the project, as of now it's still happening, and he might end up directing this one if the scheduling works out. Disney should make whatever sacrifices are necessary to make sure that del Toro ends up directing this project, because there's absolutely no need to rush it. They've got plenty of other ride/theme park film ideas in various stages of development, including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen's Jungle Cruise, a live-action/CG hybrid of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, a sci-fi adaptation of Tomorrowland, and Jon Favreau's Magic Kingdom, so there's no reason why they shouldn't wait on del Toro to bring us what's sure to be an iconic take on one of everyone's favorite Disney rides.

Del Toro clearly loves this property, and he's one of those filmmakers who isn't shy about hiding his passion for material that he ends up directing. At Comic-Con 2010, he told Latino Review, "Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. I couldn't be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains -- for me -- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!" He poured his heart and soul into The Hobbit and At The Mountains of Madness before he had to move on, so fans would love to see him tackle something he's equally excited about. Right?

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