haunted mansion movie

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In 2023, the silver screen welcomed "Haunted Mansion," an American supernatural horror comedy film helmed by director Justin Simien, with a screenplay crafted by Katie Dippold. The movie boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto. This cinematic endeavor, a joint production by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, serves as the second big-screen adaptation of Walt Disney's iconic theme park attraction, "The Haunted Mansion," following the 2003 film of the same title. Within the storyline, Gabbie (played by Dawson) and Travis (portrayed by Chase W. Dillon) seek the assistance of a team consisting of Stanfield, Haddish, Wilson, and DeVito to banish the ghosts that haunt their surroundings.

The journey to bring this new adaptation of the Haunted Mansion to life began back in July 2010, when Guillermo del Toro, initially set to write and produce, envisioned the project in a realm of heightened reality, distinct from the real-world setting. However, by July 2013, Del Toro had stepped away from the directorial role. After languishing in development for years, Disney officially announced the Haunted Mansion project in August 2020, with Dippold entrusted to craft a fresh screenplay. Negotiations with Justin Simien to direct the film were successfully concluded by April 2021, and his official confirmation came three months later. The primary cast members were confirmed between July and October, and further additions to the cast were unveiled the following year. Principal photography occurred from mid-October 2021 to late February 2022, with a substantial budget of $150 million.

The grand premiere of "Haunted Mansion" took place at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 15, 2023. It subsequently hit theaters across the United States on July 28, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Although the film garnered mixed reviews from critics, it struggled to match its $150 million budget, earning only $114 million worldwide, rendering it a commercial disappointment.