Disney's 'Haunted Mansion' Remake Reportedly Finds Leads

Once upon a time, Disney was considering letting Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water“) remake their Eddie Murphy movie “Haunted Mansion,” which is based on their beloved theme park attraction. As the name would suggest features a mansion filled to the brim with various ghosts. Flash forward to today, “Dear White People“s Justin Simien is set to direct the newest incarnation with a script penned by Katie Dippold (“Ghostbusters: Answer The Call“). 

READ MORE: New ‘Haunted Mansion’ Movie In The Works At Disney From ‘Ghostbusters’ Writer Katie Dippold

The Hollywood Reporter is now supporting previous chatter that Disney is indeed in talks with comedic actress Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield to take lead roles in “Haunted Mansion.” Stanfield will play a widower that moves into the New Orleans mansion, and Haddish plays a psychic hired to communicate with the dead. 

The actors and character details were first mentioned in a report by The Illuminerdi.

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Stanfield is coming off an Oscar nomination for his performance in “Judas & The Black Messiah” alongside supporting performances in pics such as Rian Johnson‘s whodunit “Knives Out,” The Safdie BrothersUncut Gems” and Jordan Peele‘s directorial debut “Get Out.”

Justin Simien is also attached to Lucasfilm’s “Lando” event series for Disney+ that will focus on the charming and seductive space pirate Lando Calrissian played by Billy Dee Williams last seen in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and more recently by Donald Glover in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” It’s actually unknown when that “Star Wars” series will begin shooting, but with “Haunted Mansion” taking priority with a fall shoot in Lousiana, it won’t be anytime soon. 

READ MORE: Emilia Clarke Appreciates The ‘Star Wars: Solo’ Love But Denies Involvement With The ‘Lando’ Series

It’s assumed that “Haunted Mansion” could be ready for a fall/winter release in 2022, given the production schedule mentioned in the report.