Disney's 'Magic Kingdom'

[Tom Morrow]

Disney's 'Magic' ride (registration required) Theme park to star in film Variety While Disney is giving its more popular theme park attractions, like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion," the bigscreen treatment, what happens when it runs out of rides to adapt? All roads may lead to the Magic Kingdom, with the Mouse House considering making one of its theme parks the setting of a family adventure similar to Fox's Night at the Museum franchise. Ronald Moore, behind the recent reboot of the Battlestar Galactica TV series, already penned a script based on his own pitch for the project that Marc Abraham and Eric Newman will produce through their Universal-based Strike Entertainment shingle. The initial plot took place inside Disneyland. But Disney and the producers are looking to develop Magic Kingdom further with a new scribe, who has yet to be hired. While executives say the project isn't a top priority, it is one they're keeping their eyes on as a potential platform that could showcase a number of high-profile Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse and friends. In other words, it would feature well-known Disney-owned icons rather than hint at them the way Enchanted did in 2007. Idea of a park-to-pic adaptation is nothing to scoff at, considering the Pirates franchise has earned $2.7 billion worldwide since the first set sail in 2003. But Magic Kingdom brings with it a number of complications, given the precious real estate and iconic characters involved — one creative misstep could create one very expensive headache for a studio that's starting to get back on track at the box office. Magic Kingdom had already been in development before Rich Ross took the reins of the studio and tapped Sean Bailey as president of production. Also in development are scripts based on the Jungle Cruise ride and Tomorrowland, an outer space adventure that loosely ties in with the themed area of Disneyland. by Marc Graser complete article (registration required)

Submitted by Ezra

[GoofyFlamingo]

Is this really the best they can come up with? Why don't they try to make a deal with the guy that wrote Kingdom Keepers and make those books into movies.

[emman]

I think I already read the book. KINGDOM KEEPERS!!!!!

[CostaFreak]

*pulls gun out of drawer and points it to temple*

...oh, didn't see you there.

[Chris Lang]

VF's official stance on this: "Lame"

[bodhran105]

^ But if they made it into a Kingdom Keepers movie like stated before, that stance would change to a: "Ohh heck yes! I'm gonna see that!" Unless it turns out to be a bad movie, they I won't see it. But hey, I'm a Newsies fan, and look what it was like at the box office and versus now?

[Big Disney Fan]

VF's official stance on this: "Lame"

I don't know, I always wished they did do a movie in the theme parks. It'd be really great.

[bodhran105]

I don't know, I always wished they did do a movie in the theme parks. It'd be really great.

But it's not a movie taking place in a park. That would something like Kingdom Keepers. What is being described here is a movie ABOUT the parks. Like a live-action park that has a storyline based around the idea of the Magic Kingdom. Which really makes no sense of how it will work. Not like a documentary. That's how it sounds to me.

[KrakatoaCoo]

Why don't they make a movie about Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, or even the Jungle Cruise? Maybe Expedition Everest anyone?

[bodhran105]

^They are making a jungle cruise movie

[CostaFreak]

^They are making a jungle cruise movie

So their making a movie based on a ride based on a movie? Ok, now things are going WAY too far.

[tuckere7]

Actually, they did make a movie in Disneyland! It was called "40 Pounds of Trouble". It starred the recently deceased Tony Curtiss. It took place in the late 50s or early 60s. I think VHS copies of it are still available on EBay if anyone is interested in checking it out.

[Big Disney Fan]

But it's not a movie taking place in a park. That would something like Kingdom Keepers. What is being described here is a movie ABOUT the parks. Like a live-action park that has a storyline based around the idea of the Magic Kingdom. Which really makes no sense of how it will work. Not like a documentary. That's how it sounds to me.

I wouldn't mind seeing something about the parks on the screen, though. And besides, who says that a movie set in the parks must be about Kingdom Keepers?

[ScaryTrees]

I had my own idea for a story that I would have titled "The Magic Kingdom" about an actual magic kingdom based off of Disneyland and instead of Sleeping Beauty's castle it would have been Walt Disney's castle. I didn't have much of a plot but it would have been about a kid from our world going on an adventure in this kingdom kind of like Chronicles of Narnia. Tomorrowland would have had a space port that goes to a space station called Space Mountain. Most of the other rides would have been involved as well but it would not have been a story about a theme park but a whole new magical world.

[Executioner]

I am not feeling this idea from Disney. That alone would then change the parks to become more like the movie and not what they were created for or as before the movie was made. Picture them doing to the park what they did to POTC if this film or idea even makes money.
I have to agree with Chris and VF's "official" stance on this LOL. Lame.