Sci-Fi Storm

One of the early announcements from Comic-Con is that Guillermo del Toro, who recently left The Hobbit due to the constant delays, is making a new, scary version of Haunted Mansion for Disney, based on the park attraction – of which del Toro is a fan. There will be no connection to the previous version (an Eddie Murphy comedy vehicle), but it promises to be REAL scary. “It’s going to be a thrill ride for the whole family but it’s definitely going to be scary,” he said. “(Walt) Disney is one of the creators of some of the scariest images in my childhood. People forget that he not only made sweet images but also images of nightmare. We need to honor that side of the legacy.” Why would he leave The Hobbit (a potential gold mine, but in stuck in bankruptcy with MGM) for this? Well, it wasn’t just this movie but several projects that were in “deep freeze”, but this one he believes will need special attention and a long development cycle to do right. Hear hear…someone who won’t just stamp out something and depend on the name…

Speaking of David Fincher’s future plans, apparently Disney is reviving it’s plans for a new 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea version and is negotiating with Fincher set to direct. Just 7 months ago Disney scuttled plans for the movie when McG was the director, after Rich Ross took over the studio. Also negotiating to pen the screenplay is Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum).

Update: Apparently Fox wants their own high-octane version of the story, announcing their own edition with Tony and Ridley Scott producing, and Travis Beacham (Clash Of The Titans writing). The story has long been in the public domain so anyone is free to make their own version.

Disney announced at their upfront presentation that a Tron animated series is in development for the Disney Channel, and is to be aimed at 6-14 year olds, to appear following the release of Tron: Legacy. And prior to release there may also be a 10-part micro-series on Disney XD. Almost 30 years have passed, and now they smell franchise…I’ve even heard that they will dress up a WDW monorail to look a bit like a lightcycle. Also on the docket: An animated series based on The Avengers, courtesy of their Marvel acquisition.

Disney looks to be aiming the remake pen at another one of its properties – this time, The Black Hole, with the Tron: Legacy team of Joseph Kosinski and Sean Bailey and Clash Of The Titans scribe Travis Beacham involved. Although the original isn’t considered a classic (and is often derided) it did gain a cult following.

Confirmed today at the D23 Expo – the Star Tours attractions will finally receive an update! Having been pretty much the same since opening in 1989, the long rumored (and even announced by George Lucas himself in 2005) update will finally take place, with the attractions closing in 2010 (October, unconfirmed) and re-opening in 2011. New 3D technology will be used as well. It appears the starspeeders will encounter new problems – even joining a Pod Race on Tatooine for a short time. Read More for a HD video of the Pod Racer segment of the attraction.

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Some tidbits of the announcements Disney made during today’s sessions at the D23 Expo: The fourth Pirates Of the Caribbean installment has the subtitle On Stranger Tides (and announced with a fully decked out and in character Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow), fueling rumors it may be based on the novel of the same name by Tim Powers; the classic psychedelic Yellow Submarine will be remade in 3D with motion capture; the Muppets are returning in The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made; no plans to screen Captain EO in the parks as rumored, although they did consider it; and while talking about The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (opening July 16, 2010), Nicholas Cage was asked and agreed to star in National Treasure 3). Nothing Star Wars related – yet. That is expected tomorrow.

Disney is acquiring Marvel for about $4 billion in cash and stock. This will make for some very interesting interactions, as Universal Studios Theme Parks have rights to some of the characters…obviously those agreements will still be in place for the foreseeable future, but what happens when they expire is anyone’s guess.

I just spent a brief weekend down at Walt Disney World for Star Wars Weekend at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For those not familiar with it I thought I’ve give a rundown of what went on…

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