As many movie premieres were canceling last-minute plans, Disney called full steam ahead on the opening of the new Haunted Mansion film. Even though it might have looked a little different than the entertainment giant had intended, Disneyland took on a new task last Saturday night; hosting the world premiere of the company’s newest film without any of the cast on the red carpet.
After the vote in favor of a SAG strike last week, Hollywood stars around the world have been missing from press events, beginning with the cast of Oppenheimer, who walked off the red carpet after the announcement. It was no surprise that the Haunted Mansion event was missing its all-star cast, including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost. Instead, the red carpet was filled with Cast Members and characters. Maleficent, the Evil Queen, and Cruella De Vil were among the classic Disney Villains who were in attendance, along with, of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
To the disappointment of Director (and former Cast Member) Justin Simien, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger was also missing from the event:
I would really love to sit down with him and talk.
I don’t if how he meant it is how it felt to me.
I would love to talk to him about the reality that we all face as artists to make the impossible happen every day.
Jason Simien to Variety
The new film Haunted Mansion, inspired by the famous Disneyland attraction, lands in theatres on July 28th in Northern America, though it won’t be seen in some other parts of the world, including Australia, until August 31st.
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
