If you are a fan of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, get ready because Disney is reportedly creating a brand-new film about the attraction with Scarlett Johansson involved as both an actor and producer.
Now that we have seen the hype for Disney’s live-action Jungle Cruise movie come to life and the success of the film franchise of Pirates of the Caribbean, it seems Disney is ready to continue making movies about popular attractions in their theme parks. Since so many Disney attractions hold incredible backstories filled with intricate characters, creating a plot for a film based on a ride may not be as difficult as starting from scratch. Plus, there is already an established fanbase.
Although there is a very dated Tower of Terror film in existence, this new film will reportedly retell the story of what happened that one night in the service elevator.
Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson will produce Disney’s Tower of Terror movie, which will be developed as a starring vehicle for the studio’s Black Widow actress.
Johansson already has a great relationship with Disney, and now, it seems she is ready to tackle the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Widow and the theme park world as well!
This is not the first time we have heard rumblings of a Tower of Terror film in the works. Deadline released word on the idea back in 2015; however, the film did not yet have a writer and was in very early development. At the time, the film plot was said to revolve around five people inside an elevator at the Hollywood Tower Hotel from a treatment by John August and producer Jim Whitaker.
The theme park ride combines footage and narration by what sounds like the late Rod Serling doing a Twilight Zone episode, with a jaw-dropping elevator car that falls precipitously, and climbs back up. That classic anthology show isn’t part of this; indeed, it’s being developed as a freestanding movie at Warner Bros, produced by Appian Way with Joseph Kosinski. This will be a haunted house picture, and having a family brand tied to it might help it fare better than an original creation like Crimson Peak.
We are not sure if this version of the film is the same version that Johansson is producing, especially since this version had Warner Bros. involved. That being said, Tower of Terror becoming a live-action movie has likely been on Disney’s mind for a while now, and it is understandable as to why. Tower of Terror has an excellent storyline, and although it is no longer available for Guests at Disneyland Resort, Disney World fans love the attraction!
At Hollywood Studios, the story for the ride begins at the beginning of the strip on Sunset Boulevard as Guests see the looming hotel in the distance, with old billboards setting the scene. From the in-character Cast Members to the abandoned detailing on the ride, to the spooky preshow, Tower of Terror sets Guest on their own narrative, which will surely translate very well on-screen.
Guests at Tokyo DisneySea and Walt Disney Studios Park also enjoy different versions of the attraction, and in each Park, the attraction is very popular in its own right. Knowing this, it seems that the film will surely be loved by not only those who visit Disney Parks in the United States but also all over the world.
Having Scarlett Johansson helm, the project is also great news for many Disney fans. Johansson is known in the MCU canon as Avenger Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff). Now that her standalone film is releasing this July, it seems Johansson is ready to keep the Disney films rolling.
Stay tuned to Inside the Magic for all the latest regarding the upcoming Tower of Terror film!
What do you think of Tower of Terror becoming a live-action Disney film?