Disney is known for successfully establishing brand identity across mediums. One of the multimedia conglomerate’s strategies includes cross-connecting elements, such as tie-ins between films and attractions. For example, in 2003, Disney developed a family-focused horror film entitled The Haunted Mansion, which tied to its equally successful attraction by the same name. Although it was an interesting project, it wasn’t a novel idea.

This was not Disney’s first foray into building its markets through cross-market branding betwixt film and its theme park attractions. Disney first did so in 1997 with the theme park ride Tower of Terror. The film to follow was a television movie with Steven Gutenberg and Kirsten Dunst playing the lead roles, and remarkably, it is also due to get a remake. But the ultra-successful Pirates of the Caribbean earmarked the strategy as highly replicable. It was a golden maneuver. As The Hollywood Reporter states, “Pirates of the Caribbean spawned five films earning $4.5 billion combined.” And the most recent film released in the same vein, Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne the Rock Johnson, only solidifies the success of such moves.

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Erecting The Haunted Mansion

     Walt Disney Studios

According to Insider, Disney opened its popular Haunted Mansion attraction in 1969 at Disneyland Park. It was a rousing success. Smithsonian Magazine says, “In a single day shortly after its debut, more than 82,000 people passed through the Haunted Mansion.” At the time, it was not entirely clear how a successful attraction would translate to success for a film project. But, of course, time would bring greater revelation.

In 2003, Eddie Murphy stepped into the role of patriarch and salesman to entertain filmgoers in the hilariously spooky feature film The Haunted Mansion. While not outstanding, it was a solid and entertaining offering. As Roger Ebert penned on his platform rogerebert.com, “It was a triumph of art direction, inspired by the Disney World attraction and by every haunted house ever crept through by Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Christopher Lee, Peter Crushing, Abbott, Costello, et al.” Given the film’s moderate success, one would think there would be no need to revisit this cinematic offering. Yet, given the news of the upcoming reboot, such reasoning seems baseless.

According to PopSugar, a remake was announced seven years after the release of the original. At the time, Guillermo del Toro was on board. Reported the storied director and writer went to work penning a screenplay for the proposed rework. In 2013, Del Toro submitted the script. However, it was rejected. The reasoning behind the denial, as PopSugar notes, is “it was judged too scary.” A former writer from the prominent motion picture Ghostbusters Kate Dippold then took the mantle, scribing a vision for a rework, and the rest is history. But, of course, the confirmation of the completion of the upcoming feature film raised questions.

Is The Remake Strategy or Fever?

Things are often volleyed in the mind but never come to fruition because they sound better in theory. No one expects anything from a rumor or what seems like a scatterbrained notion. However, during the D23 Expo, an update revitalized interest in what was once thought a passing idea, a Haunted Mansion remake. At that point, the primary issue was whether such a move was purely strategic or a fevered dream.

Remakes are certainly nothing new. According to Film School Rejects, while the earliest remake can’t be pinpointed, it is believed to date back to 1896. However, while this repackaging of entertainment is old hat, the trend has gained momentum over the past two decades. According to Film School Rejects, “the 2000s had the most remakes of any decade, with 19 made in 2005 alone.” Inarguably such points to fevered activity.

It Will Generate Revenue

     Disney

Posing such an idea is not to decry the validity or question the integrity of a reworking of a film. Because it is not so much that remakes are being offered to viewers. It is more so because it is being done so often and for no solid basis. The original Haunted Mansion was not a failure. It is also not something fans petitioned to be redone. So why do a rework?

Related Link: Jamie Lee Curtis Says New Haunted Mansion Movie Will Be Both Scary and Funny

It makes sense in dollars and cents. ScreenRant makes a solid point, “A live-action Haunted Mansion reboot headed by popular celebrities is a smart marketing move for Disney.” And when someone discovers a cash cow, they don’t stop milking it until the liquid gold dries up. One cannot deny that Disney has had some success with its remakes. In fact, according to CNBC before Maleficent and Mulan, “Including the first week of “Lion King’s” box office run, Disney had made more than $7 billion in those last nine years from re-imagining’s of its classic tales.” So why not a Haunted Mansion remake?

The re-imagined Haunted Mansion is set to open to moviegoers in August 2023. A fantastic cast, including Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Lakeith Stanfield, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Devito, and Jared Leto, are in place to bring an old haunt to life for another generation. Since it’s being offered, why not be entertained?