The all-star “Haunted Mansion” remake is coming a little sooner than expected. The original 2003 film starred Eddie Murphy as an overworked realtor who gets trapped in a ghost-infested mansion with his family. That version was heavily panned, earning a 13 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, so it remains to be seen if the remake can improve upon the concept.
Both “Haunted Mansion” movies are based on a Disneyland ride of the same name. The attraction, which first opened in California’s Disneyland in 1969, was initially conceptualized as a walk-through by Walt Disney himself and soon turned into a ride that took visitors through an eerie mansion in Louisiana. Eventually, Haunted Mansions popped up in various iterations at Disney’s parks around the world.
The reboot was first announced in 2010, with Guillermo del Toro signed on to write and produce. But after del Toro submitted his script in 2013, it was judged too scary, and “Ghostbusters” writer Katie Dippold was brought on to write another screenplay. Justin Simien was confirmed as the director in 2021, and on Aug. 2, 2022, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Jared Leto had joined the cast.
Here’s everything we know about the new “Haunted Mansion.”
“Haunted Mansion” Cast
The “Haunted Mansion” remake stars Leto as the Hatbox Ghost, one of the creatures that appears on the Magic Kingdom ride. Jamie Lee Curtis will play Madame Leota, a psychic whose head appears inside a crystal ball during the ride. Other announced cast members include Winona Ryder, Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Tiffany Haddish.
“Haunted Mansion” Plot
The “Haunted Mansion” remake follows a single mom named Gabbie, played by Dawson, and her 9-year-old son, who move into a mansion in New Orleans. They quickly discover it’s haunted and turn to a priest (Wilson), a psychic (Curtis), a historian (DeVito), and a paranormal investigator (Stanfield).
“Haunted Mansion” Release Date
The movie will premiere in theaters on July 28, 2022, according to Deadline.