‘Bad Hair’ Director Justin Simien in Talks for new ‘Haunted Mansion’ Film

Deadline is reporting that Justin Simien (Bad Hair) is in talks to direct a new film based on the iconic Haunted Mansion attraction.

Disney previously adapted the ride into a film starring Eddie Murphy back in 2003. Murphy starred as a real estate agent who finds himself trapped inside a mysterious mansion along with his family. The film performed modestly at the box office, though it has a small but loyal cult following to this day.

The new film’s most recent script was written by Kattie Dippold (The Heat), and Disney insiders have apparently said that the it will stand on its own with no ties to the previous adaptation which is ultimately a good thing for Simen or whichever director ends up taking on the project.

The Haunted Mansion has been a mainstay at Disney Parks since it first debuted back in 1969. The ride takes visitors on a spooky journey through a mysterious mansion where they come face to face with various ghostly visions and creepy settings.

Simien first burst onto the scene with his film  Dear White People back in 2014. The film won numerous awards appearing in prestigious festivals like Sundance. Its acclaim led to a series adaptation on Netflix which is nearing its run after four seasons. Simien followed that success with Bad Hair, a horror comedy that has gained a lot of attention since its release and can currently be seen on Hulu.

Just what this new adaptation of Haunted Mansion will look like, we can’t say, but we will certainly keep you posted on the project as it develops.

If, like me, you’ve never actually been to one of the Disney Parks (Land, World, or otherwise), you can take a look at the video below for a full walk-through of the Haunted Mansion attraction!