By George Bate
Just a few minutes away from the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, fans were treated to a first look at the Haunted Mansion movie at D23 Expo 2022.
The new movie is the second attempt to bring Haunted Mansion to the big screen, the first being the 2003 film starring Eddie Murphy.
The new Haunted Mansion is directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) and written by Katie Dippold (The Heat, Ghostbusters). The film stars Rosario Dawson as a single mother who purchases a mansion in New Orleans that she soon learns is haunted.
Dawson’s character Gabbie soon realizes her mansion is haunted and enlists a whole cast of characters to help her out. This includes a priest played by Owen Wilson, a psychic played by Tiffany Haddish, a historian played by Danny DeVito, and a paranormal expert played by Lakeith Stanfield. Winona Ryder, Hasan Minhaj, and Dan Levy also appear in the footage.
The tone of the trailer shown at D23 was in keeping with the likes of Hocus Pocus – perfect balance of humor and horror for all ages. Fans of the Disneyland attraction will notice a similar atmosphere in the film as visuals evoke the themes and tone that make the ride so iconic.
In the trailer shown at D23, we got a first look inside the titular haunted mansion and lovers of the theme park ride will spot a few familiar faces. From the pictures that show a disappearing spouse to familiar ghosts and séance rooms, visually, we are instantly drawn back to the iconic, spooky Disney ride.
Although not shown in the trailer, Jamie Lee Curtis will also play a role in the new film. Curtis will play the floating head inside the crystal ball that is Madame Leota. To announce her role, Curtis came on stage in a doom buggy in what ended up being one of D23 Expo 2022’s greatest moments.
The Haunted Mansion hits theaters on March 10, 2023.