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Guillermo del Toro speaks out at Comic-Con about developing THE HAUNTED MANSION! Plus an appearance by Cap'n Jack!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with another report from Comic-Con!
Disney had two surprises waiting for us after the Tron goodies. One was a three minute or so hello from Mr. Jack Sparrow… Johnny Depp in full costume and character, talking to all us nerds “or whatever.”
Jack was kicking back in a chair against a jungle setting, bottle of rum in his hand. He even said “As you may well know there are times when I prefer to look at the world through the bottle of a glass… rum… something like this!” and takes a chug.
“You may have heard rumors and whispers that Jack Sparrow be recruiting a crew to undertake a voyage to the fountain of youth. Not true. ‘Course not. But even it weren’t not true, you wouldn’t be interested in joining, would you?”
Audience cheered, then Jack began talking about the dangers to be found along the way. Mermaids, zombies, cut-throats and the vicious and vivacious Penelope Cruz. “That’s why I’m not going. No sir! It’s impossible to find the place anyway. Nobody knows where it is! Plus I’d have to have a bloody map… or a bloody Mary. Or both… That’s not a bad idea. Bloody Mary’s all around! It’s on the mouse!”
It was a nice gesture, but seemed to get lost where Disney put it. People were already walking out after Tron when Patton was trying to quickly bring out Guillermo del Toro to announce that his next project is a reboot/what?therewasalreadyahauntedmansionmovie? of Disney’s THE HAUNTED MANSION.
Guillermo’s long been a fan of the ride. Me, too. I have very vivid memories of visiting Disneyland when I was knee-high and talking my parents into letting me go on the Haunted Mansion ride. “It’s not too scary!” “Are you sure? It looks pretty scary. I don’t know if you can handle it!” “I want to go!”
I remember going into the first big room and feeling the nerves. A man lost his contact and everyone was down on their hands and knees helping him look for it when the stuff really started. When the room elongates and the lady hanged herself above our heads I started bawling.
But I love that memory of being genuinely scared. It wasn’t safe. Everything past that first bit was fine. I was in awe of it, actually. I still don’t get how those goddamn hitchhiking ghosts appeared so perfectly in the mirror between my mom and me as our cart spun by it! That ride is a masterpiece of live illusion.
While Guillermo didn’t say what his role in the film would be, he’s apparently said after he’s not locked in to direct, but he will definitely write and produce. It’s his baby.
- The film will be live action and in 3-D (there goes all the rumors that he ran from The Hobbit because of the 3-D talk).
- Guillermo’s bound and determined to be true to the art and aesthetic of the Disney attraction.
- Regarding the previous Disney movie version. “We are not returning Eddie Murphy’s phone calls!”
- “It has to be the Haunted House movie that will be remembered for generations.”
- The Hatbox Ghost will be the central character.
- It’s going to be a scary family film. “Kids will scream… but that’s a good thing!”
I love the idea of doing family horror films. We had a few good ones when I grew up, the tops probably being the fantastically eerie and atmospheric SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
So that’s the news!
I’ll be back tomorrow with the good word on The Walking Dead panel and Sony’s Panel (their last chance at doing some Spidey-related as they did nothing at their BATTLE: LOS ANGELES and SALT panel) which features The Other Guys, Green Hornet and Priest. See ya’ then!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Jul 23, 2010 2:55:48 AM CDT
When I first heard about the first film I was all "YAYYY!!!"
by zargotron
And then I heard the words "Eddie Murphy" and I was all "BOOO!!!!"
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Guillermo had a bunch of stuff on his plate lined up, was looking forward to seeing what kind of projects he had ready to go that were being pent up by him being stalled on The Hobbit. Getting a quick paycheck from Disney was not something I was expecting/looking forward to. But who knows, I was hugely pessimistic about Pirates and that turned out to be a fun movie, maybe this project will prove my skepticism misplaced.
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Don't really know the situation, but remember that for a couple years before Hobbit Guillermo was talking to Disney about developing family horror movies. I'm sure this was high on his priority list even then. The dude has original pieces from the ride in his house. I doubt this is just a paycheck project.
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didnt think so
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is if you resurrect the great paul frees and thurl ravenscroft for voice overs
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I can't tell you what this day meant to me. When Guillermo Del Toro and I first met, nearly 13 lucky years ago - we talked from 7pm till the sun rose in Austin the next morning at his Hotel. It was love at first site for both of us. Like finding a missing sibling. At that wonderful first meeting we dreamed alot together - and we both talked about two of our favorite things in the Universe. THE HAUNTED MANSION at DISNEYLAND and Forrest J Ackerman's FAMOUS MONSTERS.
It was not lost on me today as I watched that astonishing TRON LEGACY footage - and the special sneak announcement of Guillermo Del Toro doing HAUNTED MANSION - that a serious, legitimate passionate love affair had come true for him... and that I knew that just 3 hours later, I would be announcing my own. Guillermo and I spoke about his announcement & my announcement about 3 weeks ago, shortly after my medical incident. He called and we spoke about a whole host of OFF THE RECORD things - one of those was HAUNTED MANSION (at the time). I was so incredibly jealous of Patton Oswalt up there talking with him, because seriously I would have loved to have just killed 3 hours publicly loving upon THE HAUNTED MANSION and FAMOUS MONSTERS with Guillermo.
This isn't an assignment for Guillermo... this is something he MUST do. Must, because there isn't another filmmaker alive that understands the SOUL of THE HAUNTED MANSION like Guillermo. He is the genetically perfect being to make something that right now, everyone on the planet hasn't even a notion of desiring to see... because that Eddie Murphy version so tainted THE HAUNTED MANSION, that the last 3 times I went to DISNEYLAND I could get in under 10 minutes - and if all was right in the world, had that film never been made... it would have taken an hour. And I'd love that hour. Reading the tombstones - looking at that mansion and dreaming of the haunts I wished to join.
This was a great day. For those that can't see it now. Go on. Be cynical. That's fine. THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY CHANGE ONE DAY - and I don't blame you in the least. This is such a better fit for Guillermo in my eyes than THE HOBBIT, I have no doubt he'd have made a great film out of that... but this, for me, it takes me back to that first night where we had drinks and dreamed of a future that we each got to live today. Well done Guillermo, well done! -
From The Hobbit to this?
Wow.
I guess Guillermo gotta eat! -
Did you guys spoon after the sun came up? Did you at least have the decency to give him a reach-around?
Just fuckin' with ya mate. -
Seeing Guillermo make the jump to family fair entertainment is like a kick in the balls because it's not the move I'd expect out of him. Granted The Hobbit certainly would have been the most kid friendly thing he would have done to date even though parts of that are dark. But to see him make the full leap from what I know of him with his films to doing family fair? I dunno. I am going to be a skeptic and hope that this will satiate whatever desire he has in him to make this since it's a passion of love. I just wanna see him return to the dark adult fairy tales and horror he's known for.
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sorry it's late and I am tired. Yeah Hellboy certainly was more family friendly then anything he's done but it was based on an awesome comic book and he did nail the essence.
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and it was even better when I saw it knowing that the dust witch was Pam Grier...loved the "harem tent" scene!
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Jul 23, 2010 3:26:06 AM CDT
Castle Dracula - Wildwood, NJ. - Greatest Haunted house ever!
by scrapplejoe
on the boardwalk..
that was the scariest haunted house ever created... Too bad it burnt down... In this politically correct world, the ride would of had to of made changes today. Info on the ride and its history and shock:
http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0940/
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I'm looking forward to this and GDT if you are reading. I loved The Strain.
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Dark Fantasy! Not enough of it. Someone at Disney is starting to realise that Tim Burton and GDT let loose, makes money!
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That's a cool story. Personal passion projects are what drive creative minds but seldom ever come to light. Nice to hear dreams can come true.
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He has so many other interesting projects he could be doing instead of this. I guess this is his 'one for the bank'.
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continues unabated.
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Getting back to his old self it appears. If he stayed on The Hobbit much longer he might have started to look terminally ill like PJ.
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... I have faith.
Guillermo Del Toro is without doubt one of my favourite directors of all time. And whilst this isn't one of the many projects of his I wanted to hear I reckon he can pull this off.
Hell the first Pirates movie was a success (so were the other 2 but I didn't like them) and I believe the first Haunted Mansion was rushed to catch the hype after Pirates... Del Toro will definitely make it ROCK -
maybe Del Toro could redo Tower of Terror which had Steve Guttenberg in it
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At the Space Mountain of Madness. Cthulhu and Yog-Sothoth invade Disney Land and devour entire families.
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...The Movie.
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when the Iranian mechs no nuclear.
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...you're not that gay cunt from 'Torchwood' are you? Fuck, but that guy needs to die from cock-related AIDS.
No, I'm not kidding. Barrowman, die from AIDS. -
Don't do a Disney movie, Guillermo, please?! Look what happened to Burton - AIW was fucking terrible and a massive step-down. Disney will have you on such a tight leash and it'll likely end up crap. I'm not a Middle Earth fan, but I'd rather see Del Toro waste his talents on The Hobbit than a fucking Disney film. I'm going to go and cry now.
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And I hope he realizes it is the best way out and commits seppuku.
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I can already see the awesome costumes, set design, and monsters he's going to cook up for this film. I guess just imagine Hellboy's Troll market but in a haunted house. Awesome!
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It's not scary due to the morbid nature, because the whole thing is played pretty goofy, but the characters and things you see just look a little unsettling, period. Which is obviously intentional.
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I remember when it was first announced that Disney was planning movies based on their rides, and everyone thought it was a bad idea and it was just a money-grubbin' move by Disney. THEN, Pirates comes out and blew away a lot of people's expectations, and was hugely successful. Then Haunted Mansion came out and stunk up the screen. But since Pirates and its sequels, Disney's made a big push with the Pirate theme and made a lot of money off it. At the parks, they've got all sorts of pirate stuff aimed at kids. With that big a success, I can see why they're not willing to just give up on the Haunted Mansion concept. Most people don't remember the other one existed, so why not?If they do well with this, I bet they try something else. A lot of their rides have "storylines". If they got the right people, I can see good movies coming from the Jungle Cruise or Thunder Mountain, or whatever.
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Can't wait for Clint Eastwood's "Big Thunder Mountain".
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Doom buggy's in high gear for this one, Quint. Can't wait to see del Toro's with Phineas, Esler and Gus. Not to mention Madame Leota. Best ride at Disney by far.
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Just because it's popular again.
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I was looking forward to see Del Toro work with dwarfs in The Hobbit. Now that he's with Disney maybe he can still work with dwarfs. Personally, I always liked the Peter Pan Ride best but that movie has been redone to death.
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Splash Mountain is a great ride. It has fun and interesting characters, an enchanting setting, and terrific music. They should really make a movie out of that ride someday.
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DAMMIT.
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That was one of the most subtle and low-key examples of sarcasm ever have I seen on this site. Congrats.
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Doomed romance between Gracey and Elisabeth...and the happy ending as they're finally free to spend eternity in heaven together. With that said, I hope there is more of a reason that we can see a more gothic film.
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Make it a gallery of ghost children, kidnapped from theme parks and forced to sing the same song over and over for eternity at the behest of the Ghost Host. And they all wear stereotypical clothing from their region. And their feet are bolted to the floor as they twist helplessly, their lips moving uncontrollably with the spectral music. Sponsored by Mattel.
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what if Disney actually creates some NEW rides of the calibre of "Haunted Mansion"? Not a bloody roller coaster - a ride that's actually intriguing.
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As long as it's not a bunch of Disney-channel tweens and their goofy but lovable single dad trekking down the Amazon and running into danger, natives being exploited by an evil diamond magnate, and a beautiful ecologist love interest for the dad. I mean that one just can be seen from space without a telescope. Something along the lines of Raiders meets African Queen, where there's a real sense of danger. And real actors, not homegrown teen models who have six years of Disney-mandated acting and singing lessons from the same goddamn instructors under their belt which means they all act and sound like Miley Cyrus.
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Scared me so bad when I was a kid. Good times.
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As a very young child (6 or less) I was not frightened by the stretching room but was disturbed by ghoulish heads popping up from behind tombstones. I kept hoping that my doombuggy would not be right in front of a tombstone just as its hidden ghoul head popped up. I also remember thinking I needed to be brave like Kimba would be. I have read criticism that the ride is not actually frightening, but of course, it's not meant to be terrifying. Atmospherically, I think it works very well. I miss the giant spider they used to have where the doombuggies arrive. Or maybe that was put in again. "Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination. And consider this dismaying observation: This chamber has no windows and no doors. Which leaves you this chilling challenge: To find -- a way out! A ha ha ha ha ha..."
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Jul 23, 2010 11:21:23 AM CDT
Guillermo? The Haunted Mansion? There is a God!
by the reluctant austinite
Every time I wear my Haunted Mansion t-shirt somebody asks me, "Is that from the movie?" "No, it's not from that fucking piece of shit movie! It's from the ride!" I've offended numerous mothers with 5 year old kids with that response. Seriously, I thought that movie had ruined any chance we'd ever have of seeing another Haunted Mansion movie attempted in our lifetime. The use of the Hatbox Ghost is genius. If you don't know, the Hatbox Ghost (in spite of his wonderful design) wasn't in the Haunted Mansion very long. The effect used to give the illusion that his head disappeared and reappeared in the hatbox didn't work very well so the figure was removed early in the ride's history but he has developed a cult following in the days since. I literally became the weirdo I am today under the spell of the Haunted Mansion. I remember seeing pictures of the bluish, glowing ghosts in a Disney brochure my parents gave me on the way to DisneyWorld for the first time. I obssesed over "The Chilling Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House" (and its more obscure sequel) and had the Haunted Mansion board game. I went nuts last October when Disney Records released the "Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" on cd. Thank God the greatest dark ride ever created is in the hands of someone who "gets it" and cares!
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But he wouldn't wear the puffy shirt. He must be hitting himself now.There was a pretty nifty "Alien Encounter" ride in Tomorrowland, but they replaced it with a Lilo & Stitch theme ride because it was scaring the youngsters. Too bad. Will Jennifer Tilly reprise her role as Madame Leota?
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I only remember bits and pieces, like you could get stuck in the infinity hallway area, and I recall the general appearance of the game.
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Before you post about "why is he making this movie?" or "must be for the money!"
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Come on man! 2 was amazing!
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http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/21978/haunted-mansion-game
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This movie will be AMAZING! People can be cynical now all they want, it's going to make BANK at the box office in the creative hands of Del Toro. My money is already on Doug Jones appearing as the Hatbox Ghost or a Hitchhiker. I'm entirely obsessed with the Mansion, always have been, always will be, and even though the first one wasn't great, I still own it. I don't know if the people who aren't excited have never been on the mansion or what, but this is the best Disney film-related news I've heard in a decade.
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I really hope Del Toro writes a story that allows the ghosts to stay in the mansion this time. I want it to be haunted forever, none of this, "Oh look, they're all floating to heaven" business. WHen the ride was originally advertised, Walt set it up as though it was a retirement home for ghosts, somewhere they wanted to be.
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Thanks.
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I like your idea. Splash Mountain would be a fun family movie. You can bring all the little douches in your family and enjoy a big bag of poporn and an icy cold exlarge soda. See you at the concession stand.
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Do something original why don't you.
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Hell of a job on this film, For a family film I bet Disney would want a PG if possible, and with Del Toro he'll go with a PG-13. Regardless, the movie will be Awesome!
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Why they didn't take the same approach for the first movie that they did for Pirates, I'll never understand. If they had made a serious, creative movie instead of a cheap cash-in it could have been just as huge as Pirates was. At least they've realized their mistake and seem to be trying to atone for it now. I still remember the Haunted Mansion record I had when I was a kid (starring "Ronny Howard!"). It was very serious and, for a kid at least, damn scary. Hopefully Del Toro had that album too. If he takes a similar approach to this move, which it sounds like he is, we'll get the Haunted Mansion movie we should have had in the first place.
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As a certified HM freak I’m excited to see Del Toro tackling this. Very curious to see how he approaches it though. It will be a real challenge to get back to the roots when the ride was basically a hodgepodge of ideas, styles and aesthetics as imagineering greats battled it out after Walt’s death. Realistic corpses, pop up skulls and suicide victims are mixed almost haphazardly with Marc Davis’ humorous figures and tableaus. And then pile on a séance room from Rolly Crump’s original vision of a “Museum of the Weird” There was no story. Walt’s thing about the ghosts coming to live there was just an early concept on which to hang a radio spot. People have tried to meld bits and pieces of the ride elements into canon (the bride story, bleh) but forget it. It’s an amazingly beautiful camel designed by a committee of geniuses. Even the idea of making a cohesive story seems counter to the spirit of the attraction. But if someone’s going to tackle it I’m glad it’s a true fan like Del Toro. But please, Guillermo, even if the movie turns out great, please try to dissuade them from changing the mansion to conform to the movie!!! Don’t let them Depp the Mansion!
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...but scary...please...Mr. Toad was scarier...you ended up in HELL at the end of that one!
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I wonder if, some untold number of years from now, the Halloween changes that currently show Nightmare Before Christmas themes will be changed again to a scarier version of the original theme? Seeing as how they did that with Space Mountain. But maybe not, since Space Mountain is already a thrill ride and the park wouldn't want to drastically change people's experience with the fright level.
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THE HAUNTED MANSION deserved better treatment than it got with Eddie Murphy's version. Looks like Disney is all too eager to wipe away all memories of that movie.
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Bet del Toro will find a single thread of the story and take it from there. I hope they don't shove the whole ride down your throat like the first movie. I like the "Captain Gore" concept story the imagineers pitched to Walt in the late 50s.
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I always thought it was the voice over narrator who you see hanging above in the antechamber.
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Jul 23, 2010 9:34:48 PM CDT
I don't remember it being a woman either, but I could be wrong.
by cyberskunk
Some people have an interpretation that when the narrator says, "Of course, there's always *my* way..." he's saying he killed himself. I had the impression he was saying, "My way is to periodically scare you and lead you around as a tour guide," but I don't know what the writer had in mind.
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I'd go see 'em. The man is unstoppable.
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Yah, Eddie's HM movie - that was a great one. The entire plot turned on... some mysterious reason that the house owner disgraced himself by marrying... I don't know, beneath his station or something. The whole movie progressed without ever once MENTIONING that it was a race issue in 1840s New Orleans. It was just... bad that he had married this girl.
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Some of the creepiest fucking things I've ever seen and not just limited to The Haunted Mansion, but Pirates of the Caribbean, Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree.
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