HAUNTED MANSION _Spirits Give us a Sign_ Trailer (2023) Owen Wilson, Winona Ryder, Tiffany Haddish

HAUNTED MANSION _Spirits Give us a Sign_ Trailer (2023) Owen Wilson, Winona Ryder, Tiffany Haddish

HAUNTED MANSION "Spirits Give us a Sign" Trailer (2023) Owen Wilson, Winona Ryder, Tiffany Haddish, Comedy, Ghost Movie
© 2023 - Disney

The Walt Disney Company has become no stranger to adapting its original attractions into feature films. Certainly, the most well-known and successful example is the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which had a grand total of five films and created a modern pop culture icon with Captain Jack Sparrow. Since then, Disney has always been looking to make their theme park attractions into feature films, with examples including The Country Bears (2002), Tomorrowland (2015), and Jungle Cruise (2021). It's a concept that's showing no signs of stopping, with Hawkeye (2021) directors Bert & Bertie set to helm a film based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The one ride at Walt Disney parks that should be a no-brainer to adapt though is the Haunted Mansion. With its iconic visuals and surprisingly deep lore, it should be the perfect candidate for a feature film, and Disney did try to capitalize on the popular attraction nearly two decades ago with 2003's The Haunted Mansion, starring Eddie Murphy. With a comedian like Murphy in the lead role, you could probably imagine that his take on the ride was very comedic. Now it's true that the ride has always had a very on-the-nose sense of humor, but the film adaptation lacked the creepy charm of the ride and leaned too heavily on the jokes, not to mention iconic characters like the Hat Box Ghost and the Black Widow Bride were nowhere to be found.
Director Justin Simien, the filmmaker behind Dear White People (2014) and a former Disneyland cast member, looks to make his own cinematic adaption of the beloved attraction, complete with a prestigious number of creatives and an absolutely star-studded cast on board. From what was shown at their presence at 2022's D23 Expo, it's looking to be an incredibly promising adventure-horror hybrid. To get the scoop on the information that was shared at D23 behind closed doors as well as everything else we know so far, simply continue to read below.
What Is the Release Date for Haunted Mansion?
The spirits of the Haunted Mansion are set to receive your sympathetic vibrations on July 28, 2023. The movie was originally scheduled to release on March 10, 2023, then moved to August 11, 2023, and finally brought up to its present date. Tickets for the movie are now on sale so grab yours as soon as you can!Fans of the legendary attraction were treated to the first public look at Haunted Mansion when the spooky teaser trailer premiered on March 2nd. The footage opens up with the character of Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her young son Travis (Chase W. Dillon) as they enter their new home which of course is the titular Haunted Mansion. It doesn't take long for them to realize that the home is infested with restless ghouls, leading to them contacting an ambitious priest (Owen Wilson), a down-on-his-luck tour guide (LaKeith Stanfield), and a wise medium (Tiffany Haddish) to uncover the mystery behind the unsettling abode. Also seen in the trailer are some recognizable ghosts from the ride, such as the Black Widow Bride and the Hat Box Ghost (Jared Leto).
We also got an extended look at the film when Justin Simien took the stage at the Disney & Pixar Studio Showcase at D23, he premiered an extended trailer introducing the characters and world of this new version of Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately for those who weren't able to attend the showcase, the footage was exclusive to the panel and hasn't been released online. Thankfully Collider's own Therese Lacson was in attendance and wrote an in-depth description of the footage reveal which you can check out by clicking here.

To give a brief summary, the trailer opens by introducing the main characters of Ben, Kent, Gabbie, and Harriet, as they explore the mysterious mansion and eventually find a room that resembles that of the one that Madame Leotta resides in, otherwise known as the sorceress head trapped inside a crystal ball. The rest of the trailer shows more creepy ghost-like imagery and introduces even more wacky characters like an eccentric college professor (Danny DeVito).