Comic-Con: Guillermo del Toro re-opens THE HAUNTED MANSION

From ComingSoon.net:

"Guillermo del Toro made a surprise announcement at Disney's panel for Tron Legacy that he will next co-write produce and [possibly] direct a 3D The Haunted Mansion reboot.

A teaser was shown with a very brief narration about the haunted house over animation that looked to be either done by Mike Mignola or Mignola-inspired. Mignola, the creator of Hellboy [which del Toro directed two blockbuster films based on Hellboy], also illustrated a poster for Guillermo del Toro's [Oscar-winning] Pan's Labyrinth.

'We are not returning Eddie Murphy's calls,' del Toro said, making a surprise appearance onstage, '...and we are not making it a comedy... We are making it scary and fun, but the scary will be scary.'

The story will be built around the Hatbox Ghost and del Toro hopes that he'll be reintroduced to the ride as well.

Here's the official announcement from the studio:



'Guillermo del Toro surprised the 6,500 fans gathered today at Comic-Con with the announcement that he is currently developing a new film for The Walt Disney Studios based on the classic Disney theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion.

'Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. After all, Disney himself was the father of some really chilling moments and characters - think Chernabog from Fantasia or Maleficent as the Dragon or the Evil Queen in Snow White,' said del Toro. 'I couldn't be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains- for me- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!'

'Millions of people from around the world visit The Haunted Mansion each year, but no one has ever had a tour guide like Guillermo del Toro,' said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. 'Guillermo is one of the most gifted and innovative filmmakers working today and he is going to take audiences on a visually-thrilling journey like they’ve never experienced before.'

Since August 1969, foolish mortals have dared to trespass on the macabre grounds of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. A hallowed landmark in Disneyland’s New Orleans square, it’s the dwelling place of 999 happy haunts dying to meet new visitors each day. The plantation-style of the mansion’s facade is a sweet deception for visitors. Inside, ghostly doom buggies line the hallways. Since its construction, the mysteries of the mansion have transcended the attraction with stories surfacing about horrifying encounters with the supernatural. Versions of the daunting edifice have been built at other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris."

So del Toro's doing the first modern Disney horror film. I say modern because Disney once before dabbled in the world of horror - The Watcher in the Woods.

But del Toro himself said, "We won't be returning Eddie Murphy's calls."

Disney Double Dares Guillermo del Toro!

From ComingSoon.net:

"With a special video recording from New Zealand, Guillermo del Toro announced, moments ago, his partnership with Disney for a new label entitled 'Disney Double Dare You', featuring 'full family' films with horror bent.

The label will include books, merchandise and films. The first film in the series will be titled Trollhunters and will be followed by a series of films, all developed by del Toro.

The stories will apparently be tied together by, the words of del Toro, 'One feature that shall remain secret, but that you shall soon be very familiar with.'

Here's the full press release sent out after the announcement was made:

'The Walt Disney Studios, in collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, The Hobbit), is launching a new production label called 'Disney Double Dare You' (DDY), to create new animated films full of chills and thrills for audiences of all ages, it was announced today at the D23 Expo by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. All films will be produced under the guidance of del Toro, who originated the concept and the design of DDY and who will also direct certain projects. The first project in development for the new label is called Trollhunters, an original del Toro story which he will produce.

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, 'Guillermo is a brilliant and visionary filmmaker, and we're excited to be launching this new label with him. His knowledge and appreciation for Disney films, along with his penchant for creating worlds of fantasy, presented a great opportunity for us to explore a whole new genre of filmmaking for moviegoers of all ages. We have admired Guillermo's imaginative approach to filmmaking for some time, and now we're proud to be working with him to create films full of imaginative delights and lots of thrills at the same time.'

Del Toro added, 'As a director, I love to take audiences into fantastic new worlds and provide them with some anxious moments in the process. It is part of the Disney canon to create thrilling, unforgettable moments and villains in all their classic films. It is my privilege for DDY to continue in this tradition. To partner up with The Walt Disney Studios, with the support of Dick Cook and John Lasseter, is to belong to a storytelling partnership that I admire deeply. It is a true honor. I look forward to coming up with fresh and original stories that will take Disney films in a whole new direction. The emphasis is on fun, and we have some great ideas already on the storyboards.'

Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth received six Academy Award® nominations in 2007, including one for his original screenplay, and went on to win three awards. That film also received a BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English Language. His other directing credits include Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The Devil's Backbone, Cronos, and Mimic, among others. Del Toro is currently directing back-to-back feature film adaptations of the Tolkien classic, The Hobbit, for release in 2011 and 2012."

There's a collaboration I didn't see coming. Family films with a horror bent, huh? Maybe something like The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It.