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The Real Housewives of New York City returns for Season 15 with some new blood, including Rebecca Minkoff.

Rebecca isn’t the only newbie thrown into the Rhony mix, either.

Racquel Chevremont and Rebecca were given Apples this season.

They will need to perform well against the Season 14 ladies if they hope to keep their full-time status.

Along with Rebecca and Racquel, the Rhony Season 15 cast features Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, and Brynn Whitfield.

When news was announced that Rebecca joined the Real Housewives franchise, fans couldn’t help but wonder if she was related to another Real Housewives star.

Is Rhony star Rebecca Minkoff related to Rhobh alum Crystal Kung Minkoff?

The timing of Rebecca joining The Real Housewives of New York City was very interesting because of her last name. See, Crystal Kung Minkoff had just announced she wasn’t returning for...

Hollywood is mourning a legendary actor. On Monday, following the death of James Earl Jones, dozens of celebrities shared tributes to the actor who voiced Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars. Jones died at his home in New York at the age of 93.

In a statement, George Lucas remembered Jones as “an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit.” The Star Wars creator and director added, “For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all...

Mark Hamill, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Colman Domingo were among the first Hollywood voices to pay tribute to James Earl Jones following news of his death on Monday.

Jones died at his home in New York on Monday. He was 93. His career spanned half a century of film, including Dr. Strangelove, Field of Dreams, Star Wars and The Lion King. He won an honorary Oscar at the 2011 Governors Awards.

Jones was also a celebrated stage actor, and earned two Tony Awards for his work in 1968’s Great White Hope and 1986’s Fences.

He won two Emmys, both in 1991, for his performances in Gabriel’s Fire and Heat Wave. He also won a Grammy in 1977 for best spoken word recording.

Hamill, who played the Luke Skywalker, son of Jones’ Darth Vader in Star Wars, was one of the first to react, writing on social media, “#Rip dad.”

Later the same day,...

Refresh for updates…Tributes are pouring in following the news of the death of distinguished actor James Earl Jones. Widely regarded as one the world’s great stage and screen actors, Jones passed away this morning at his home in Dutchess County, NY at the age of 93.

Jones, among the few entertainers to attain Egot status, is also well known as the voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and The Lion King’s Mufasa.

He made his big-screen debut in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) but burst into the national spotlight as America’s first Black heavyweight champion in The Great White Hope, for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Related: Remembering James Earl Jones: A Life & Career In Photos

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, son of Jones’ Darth Vader in Star Wars,...

The Intuit Dome, Inglewood’s newest $2 billion sports venue, will be home to the Los Angeles Clippers but the doors swung wide Thursday night for an official opening that hosted two music superstars.

Headliner Bruno Mars helped christen the stage by drawing a capacity crowd for the first night of back-to-back shows backed by his band, the Hooligans. The electric two-hour concert closed with two encores, the first of which delivered a slam dunk courtesy of Lady Gaga who shocked the crowd by hitting the stage close to 11:30 p.m. for a world premiere performance of their new duet, “Die With a Smile,” which dropped at 9 p.m. Pt after being announced Thursday morning.

“How you feeling, L.A.?” asked Gaga as she was seated behind a keyboard with an oversize blonde wig, white tights, and a shiny, pink-and-white minidress. As the crowd went wild, Mars took the mic with an introduction: “Ladies and gentlemen,...

Exclusive: Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) is set to direct Tenor by Night, a live-action comedy musical fantasy based on the Chinese-themed stage musical of the same name, created and produced by James Chiao.

Written by Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical franchise), the film is described as a whimsical, cross-cultural comedy about a Chinese American businessman who gives up his dreams of becoming a world-famous singer to build a successful mannequin business to support his family. Through a series of magical misadventures, a group of mannequins are brought to life which leads to a second chance to fulfill his dreams.

The project is believed to be the first Chinese-themed musical coming up for production in Hollywood since Flower Drum Song in 1961. Hope is for it to draft on the success of such recent Chinese American-themed box office hits as Everything Everywhere All at Once and Crazy Rich Asians. Casting for the pic is now underway.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Disney’s “The Lion King” (currently in theaters for a limited run), which coincides with the release of Barry Jenkins’ prequel, “Mufasa: The Lion King” (December 20). The 2D blockbuster and pop culture phenomenon (directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff) was an early digital pioneer. This was vital in introducing a live-action aesthetic with dynamic camera movement and dramatic lighting to its “Circle of Life” adventure story, starring Simba and company, set in the African Pride Lands.

This propelled Jon Favreau’s photorealistic remake in 2019, driven by an innovative virtual production workflow and a Nat Geo-like doc aesthetic. Although it was marketed as “live action” and not submitted for animated Oscar consideration, this was clearly keyframe-animated by Mpc, which nonetheless earned a VFX Oscar nomination (production supervised by Rob Legato).

This, in turn, has led Jenkins to strive for greater emotional nuance and...

Back in 1994, The Lion King revolutionized family animated features. For one, Disney give it their all in terms of the animation style… and even 30 years on, no one can deny the significant impact the film’s score and voice acting have left. As funny as it may be now to see cat videos on the internet mimicking Scar and Mufasa’s “cliffhanger” scene, Mufasa’s death, back in the day, was the shocker of the millennium!

Mufasa’s final moments | The Lion King (1994), Disney

To see little Simba try to wake his father after his fall was, and continues to be, a tearjerker. As harrowing as it is to see the light leave Mufasa’s eyes upon learning Scar’s betrayal, the scene continues to remain etched in our memories owing to the amazing performances of Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones.

The Lion King dealt a bold paw

Loosely based on Hamlet,...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

"The pitch for the story was a lion cub gets framed for murder by his uncle set to the music of Elton John. People said, 'What? Good luck with that.'" That's what producer Don Hahn said to Film School Rejects in 2018 of Disney's 1994 animated classic "The Lion King." It's an odd thing to say, given that it went on to become one of the most successful animated movies of all time. But that's looking back at it with the benefit of hindsight. At the time, it was viewed as a risk by the powers that be. It was a gamble that paid off handsomely, to put it lightly.

At the time, Disney was enjoying a fruitful period known as the Disney Renaissance,...

Disney Hits celebrates three decades of the 1994 animated classic “The Lion King” during “The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration” special, featuring exclusive, never-before-heard stories from the filmmakers paired with iconic music from the original soundtrack.

The Lion King30th Anniversary CelebrationListen on the App

Listen on the App

The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration How to listen

Stream “The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration” special anytime, anywhere, on the SiriusXM app, or catch it on-air on Disney Hits (Ch. 133) this weekend at the times below with more airings throughout the month.

Broadcast Schedule Saturday, June 8 1pm, 7pm, and 11pm Et Sunday, June 9 9am, 3pm, and 8pm Et Monday, June 10 12am, 8am, and 5pm Et

What you’ll hear

Exclusive interviews and never-before-heard stories from songwriters Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice, producers Don Hahn and Thomas Schumacher, directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, story supervisor Brenda Chapman, screenwriter Irene Mecchi,...

Disney has given fans some of the best happy endings in animated films, but it also gave the most heartbreaking scenes such as that of The Lion King. Mufasa’s death wounded many hearts, but there’s actually an alternate ending where it would carve a permanent scar.

The Lion King / Walt Disney Pictures

The story of The Lion King was adapted from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, one of the most famous English plays of all time. The early conception of the movie had a lot of brainstorming, and they decided to go with the less gruesome ending.

The Lion King’s Original Ending Was Too Dark For Disney Audiences

The early storyboards of The Lion King in 1993 revealed that Simba and Scar had an intense duel on Pride Rock, and the latter manages to throw the former off the cliff.

SUGGESTEDDirector Barry Jenkins Addresses The Biggest Criticism For Mufasa:...

Keep Memory Alive honored Blake Shelton at the 27th annual Power of Love gala on Friday, May 10 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton perform at the 27th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love gala in Las Vegas

Credit/Copyright: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

An esteemed lineup of entertainers came together to celebrate the country music sensation including Gwen Stefani, Jay Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.

The Power of Love gala is a vital platform to generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund, and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment, and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.

Other notable guests in attendance included Lisa Vanderpump,...

There are more shakeups in the world of the Real Housewives. Over the last several days, Bravo has dropped some of its key stars. Now, new housewives are being added to the roster. Rebecca Minkoff, the designer best known for her statement handbags, will join the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City for season 15. The news comes just one day after Crystal Kung Minkoff departed The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The connection stops there, though.

Rebecca Minkoff is set to join the cast of ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’

Rebecca Minkoff will join the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City. While it has been confirmed that Minkoff will be the newest cast member in the revamped series, it is unclear just how big her role will be. According to Deadline, Bravo has yet to announce if she’ll appear as a...

Meet the newest Bravolebrity. Rebecca Minkoff is joining the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City for season 15.

Minkoff will appear in the upcoming season of the Bravo show, according to a report from Deadline. However, it’s not clear whether she’ll join as a full cast member or appear as a “friend of” the Housewives.

Rhony recently underwent a full reboot, with an all-new cast replacing the Og stars. All six of those women will return for season 15. That includes designer Jenna Lyons, the former creative director of J. Crew.

Who is new ‘Rhony’ cast member Rebecca Minkoff? Rebecca Minkoff attends the 2022 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in New York City | Taylor Hill/Getty Images Related

Rob Minkoff Reacts to Crystal Kung Minkoff’s ‘Rhobh’ Exit

Minkoff is a fashion designer known for her line of clothing, handbags, and accessories, which are sold at Nordstrom.

Crystal Kung Minkoff is leaving The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, much to the disappointment of her husband, Rob Minkoff.

After Crystal revealed that she wouldn’t be returning to the Bravo reality series for season 14, Rob shared his own reaction to the news. He hinted that his absence from the show would deprive viewers of some quality content.

Rob Minkoff planned to ‘bring it’ on the next season of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Rob Minkoff and Crystal Kung Minkoff | Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

“And I was really planning to “bring it” this season,” Rob commented on his wife’s April 15 Instagram post, where she announced she was exiting Rhobh after three seasons.

Crystal and Rob made their Rhobh debut in season 11. One of Rob’s most memorable moments on the show came in season 12, when he showed off his dance moves at Garcelle Beauvais’ 55th birthday party.

Crystal Kung Minkoff has announced her departure from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” after three seasons.

“I just wanted to share the news that I will not be coming back to film Season 14 of ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’” Minkoff said in an Instagram video. “It’s very bittersweet. Never did I think I would’ve been asked to do this show in a million years, let alone film it for three seasons. “Every single year I was asked back, it was a blessing. It was an honor.”

Minkoff, who is married to filmmaker Rob Minkoff, joined “Rhobh” in 2021 for Season 11. In her video, she noted that “being the first Asian American on ‘Beverly Hills’ was a lot of weight on my shoulders that I have since just have really understood the magnitude of what that means for people.”

“I just wanted to thank you guys for being such an incredible support for me,...

Crystal Kung Minkoff is officially out at the Rhobh after three seasons. The wife of Disney’s Rob Minkoff confirmed her departure via her Instagram after the news started to circulate. Keep reading to see what she had to say about exiting the series.

Crystal Kung Minkoff Out At Rhobh

After joining in Season 11, Crystal Kung Minkoff will not be back for Season 14 of Rhobh. The biggest question mark for the upcoming season has been Og Kyle Richards. She had been through a lot in the past two seasons between issues with her sister, Kathy Hilton, and separating from her husband, Mauricio Umansky. Dorit Kemsley was also up in the air as fans had questioned if she was worthy of being asked back for full-time status. Now, Crystal has been dropped from the series, according to Daily Mail. An insider shared that the reason for her being not asked back was a lack of storyline.

Crystal Kung Minkoff and Bravo are not feeling the love tonight. After three seasons as a full-time cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Minkoff’s time with the franchise has come to an end. She will not return for the show’s upcoming 14th season.

“It’s very bittersweet,” Minkoff said in a video posted to Instagram on Monday. “Never did I think I would have been asked to do this show in a million years, let alone film it for three seasons. Every single year I was asked back, it was a blessing. It was an honor.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Crystal Kung Minkoff spoke out about an incident at home when she and her husband, Rob Minkoff, and their children were out of the country.

Crystal and her family were in Japan on spring break a few weeks ago. They weren’t present when intruders broke into their home after she shared that she wasn’t home, but her housesitting friends were there.

Four intruders entered the Minkoff home and came face-to-face with the friends staying there while Crystal and Rob were out of town.

The Rhobh star opened up about the incident and the aftermath while appearing on Jeff Lewis Live.

Changes are being made to ensure another incident like that doesn’t happen again, but Crystal wasn’t interested in divulging all the details.

This wasn’t captured while the cameras were up, but should they begin filming soon, it will...

Rhobh cast member Crystal Kung Minkoff is the latest star of the show to be the victim of a home invasion. She recently shared the terrifying details of what happened and where she was when it occurred. Keep reading for all of the information.

Rhobh Crystal Kung Minkoff Victim Of Home Invasion

Over the years, there have been few notable home invasions on the Rhobh. Right after Kyle Richards moved into her new home several seasons back, it was burglarized. All of her most valued possessions were taken including items that her late mother had left her. This was devastating because there were handbags and jewelry she had been collecting that were never retrieved. The most notable home invasion happened in Season 12 to Dorit Kemsley. She was held at gunpoint when her husband, Pk was out of town.

Rhobh Season 13-Bravo

Her children, Phoenix and Jagger were asleep in another...

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson enjoy a night on the town while attending the Unforgettable Evening gala on Wednesday night (April 10) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The longtime couple were just two of many stars who attended the gala at the Beverly Wilshire, which benefited the Women’s Cancer Research Fund. Others on the guestlist included the likes of Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards.

In total, there were more than 25 stars on the red carpet. Since it was such a well-attended event, we pulled together photos so that you could easily track who was invited and what they wore!

Head inside to see all of the photos…

Keep scrolling to see all of the photos of the celebrities who attended An Unforgettable Evening…

Kayla Ewell

Tanner Novlan

Linda Thompson

Demi Moore

Carly Steel

Cynthia Bailey

Lisa Rinna

Nia Vardalos

Melanie Griffith

Anastasia Soare

Jesse Johnson

Chord Overstreet...

Top 10 animated movies of all time ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we explore a curated selection of the greatest animated films ever crafted. If your favorite isn’t included, don’t worry; there may be a follow-up if this piece strikes a chord with readers. Animated movies, particularly those tailored for young audiences, have traditionally been led by Disney and its offshoot Pixar. Despite their continuous reinvention of beloved tales, both studios have gifted us a wealth of timeless animated treasures. So, without delay, let’s begin our cinematic voyage through the enchanting world of animation.

10. Cars (2006)

Director: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director) Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75% IMDb Score: 7./10 Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes Available on: Disney Plus (US & India)

On his journey to the most important race of his career, Lightning McQueen gets separated from his hauler truck,...

Crystal Kung Minkoff dished some dirt about The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13 reunion, and fans are going to love it.

The reunion was filmed over a week ago, with Rhobh fans waiting for details about the season rehash session.

Kathy Hilton made a guest appearance, which surprised many since she wasn’t part of Season 13; well, at least she hasn’t been so far.

As Monsters and Critics previously reported, the rumor mill has been buzzing that Sutton Stracke was taken away in an ambulance.

Crystal spilled some tea on both hot topics and said that she and Dorit have words over the infamous child bride remark.

Although Crystal did a clap back at the comment on social media, the subject was, of course, brought up by Andy Cohen at the reunion show.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Crystal Kung Minkoff 孔令华 (@crystalkungminkoff)

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...

Exclusive: Independent Artist Group (Iag) is making a big push in lit with the hire of A3 Artists Agency’s Adam Kanter.

The company is looking to bolster its ranks with directors and writers with Kanter becoming Head of Motion Pictures at the company.

Kanter, who spent three years as Head of A3’s Motion Picture literary department and partner, will bring a slew of clients with him including Girls Trip’s Malcolm Lee, Get Smart’s Pete Segal and There’s Something About Mary’s Bobby Farrelly.

The move was just announced internally by Iag CEO Jim Osborne and EVP, Head of Content Development Kyle Loftus.

The move will see Iag, which was created after APA merged with music touring agency Artist Group International last summer, look to build out its director and writing clients, bringing in more agents and helmers and scribes.

The Motion Picture Department that Kanter will...

Crystal Minkoff has given us some memorable moments since she joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in Season 11.

However, because she’s a full-time cast member we also get a glimpse into her personal life with her husband, Rob Minkoff, and their two kids.

Rob often stays in the background and allows his wife to shine when we see them together on the show.

However, Crystal’s husband is a big-time Hollywood producer and animator despite his laid-back persona.

Crystal and Rob appear to have a solid marriage that hasn’t fallen victim to the reality TV curse.

We’ve learned quite a lot about Crystal over the past few years, but let’s get to know more about her husband, Rob Minkoff, his job, net worth, and everything else.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rob Minkoff (@robminkoff)

Rhobh star Crystal Minkoff’s husband Rob...

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills can’t seem to catch a break in the casting department.

There were high hopes for Annemarie Wiley when she was revealed to be joining the cast last year following the departures of one-and-done Diana Jenkins and longtime pot-stirrer Lisa Rinna.

Over the last few weeks, viewers have watched Wiley speak with no filter about co-star Sutton Stracke’s esophagus.

It’s been a lot, and Wiley is now reacting to the fierce criticism from viewers, fellow Real Housewives, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

The Asa got embroiled in the drama on Friday with an Instagram statement calling out Wiley for seemingly misrepresenting her qualifications on-screen.

“The Real Housewives know a fake. Anesthesiologists are medical doctors,” the organization wrote alongside an informational photo comparing anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists criticized Annemarie

The company doubled down, saying that “title misappropriation...

Editor’s Note: This review originally published during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia Pictures opens “Thelma” in U.S. theaters June 21.

“We’re not what we were.” “There is no good death.” “You want to see what’s going to happen to the ones you love.” Writer/director Josh Margolin squeezes surprisingly funny freshness from the musty themes of aging, death, and lost autonomy in his poignantly written “Thelma,” a seriocomic “Mission Impossible” remix that casts June Squibb as the titular action hero in a slow-moving but still quietly epic revenge flick about elder fraud.

The debut filmmaker’s tribute to his extraordinary grandmother (the story supposedly recounts an actual experience of hers and features a clip of the real Thelma during the credits) almost sounds like the premise of a raunchy Melissa McCarthy romp or gender-swapped “Bad Grandpa” riff. When scam artists mess with the wrong 93-year-old woman — successfully...

Crystal Kung Minkoff of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills had an eventful weekend attending BravoCon in Las Vegas and an upcoming episode of the Bravo reality series will see her celebrate her 40th birthday in Sin City.

Minkoff said she “had a great time” at the three-day fan convention despite the drama she was thrown into when Flipping Out alum Jeff Lewis said unpleasant things about her during the “Ask Andy” panel, the first one of the weekend.

“I think that’s just his style,” Minkoff told Deadline about why she thinks Lewis was coming after her. “Normally I take the high road and I don’t say anything but I just felt like … I had to say something and I’m happy he apologized. I wasn’t going to stay quiet anymore and I just thought he needed to know that it was too much.”

With over 150 Bravolebrities at BravoCon,...

Crystal Kung Minkoff typically screens new episodes of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” with her husband, Hollywood producer Rob Minkoff, but not this week!

Wednesday night’s episode finds the women in Las Vegas celebrating Kung Minkoff’s 40th birthday with drinks and debauchery at the Magic Mike male revue. We won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say they women put their dollar bills to good use.

“So I saw the episode yesterday,” Kung Minkoff told TheWrap on Wednesday before the episode aired. “Last night I was with Rob and we were chatting. And he goes, ‘Oh, you’ve seen it already?’ I just kind of ignored him. He usually screens it with me, but I don’t really want him to watch it. Eventually he will, but I’m gonna try to avoid as long as I can.” she joked.

Previews for Wednesday’s...

Crystal Kung Minkoff is once again in the hot seat, and this time the questions aren’t from her “Real Housewives” castmates.

In a clip from Wednesday’s episode of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” the Real Coco co-founder and her husband, Rob Minkoff, are probed about dating age differences by her brother, Jeff.

Crystal met her future husband when she was just 20 and he was 40.

“Crystal, if I brought home somebody 20 years younger, would you be okay with that?” Jeff asks his younger sister while dining at Gracias Madre.

“Ok, hold on,” she replies, the wheels spinning. The scene then cuts to a confessional, where Jeffrey recalls the first time he learned Crystal was dating the older Hollywood director.

“My red flags went up!” Jeff admitted.

Cut back to lunch and Jeff’s initial question, where Rob replies, “If they are as smart and mature as Crystal was!

Among fans of all things spooky, Spooky Season -- the extended holiday period leading up to Halloween -- is generally recognized as beginning on July 5, since Halloween is the next major commercial holiday after Independence Day. Disney seems to have embraced this idea with the release of "Haunted Mansion," a family-friendly spookfest based on the Disney parks attraction, directed by Justin Simien ("Bad Hair") and starring Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Unfortunately for the ghosts and ghouls of "Haunted Mansion," the movie had two things working against it: a bloated $150 million budget, and a release date slotted for the weekend after Barbenheimer, the surprise team-up of Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" that has blown the box office away. Earlier this week, projections for "Haunted Mansion" pointed to a $30 million opening weekend, but after the movie grossed just $9.9 million on Friday including Thursday previews,...

And the Summer of product adaptations and remakes continues! Last weekend Barbie just about blew the doors off the box office and the multiplex in a virtual tsunami of pink perfection. Hey, if a toy can revive the ticket sale doldrums, why not a flick based on a ride from the Disney theme parks? After all, those Caribbean Pirates spurred quite a profitable “tentpole” for the studio. But then there were costly flops like Tomorrowland and who remembers The Country Bears (maybe they just needed that “nose candy”). Well, this concept was exploited nearly twenty years ago, so this is also, technically, a remake (without any of the main human characters from the first time). Perhaps the modest success of the other remake a few months ago, The Little Mermaid, is lifting the “ahem” spirits of the mouse house. So, even though Halloween is months away, are filmgoers in the...

Disney’s interest in making films based on its theme park attractions stretches back to 1997 and the now-forgotten Wonderful World of Disney TV movie, Tower of Terror. Since then offerings like Jungle Cruise, Tomorrowland, and of course the one time it worked, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, have all made it to the screen with varying degrees of success. And with each outing, filmmakers have tried to impose traditional narratives on experiences that are more sensory and immersive than story-driven.

Still, one of the most enduring attractions at many of the Disney parks, the Haunted Mansion, would seem to be a natural for a cinematic adaptation. However, the first attempt in 2003, which starred Eddie Murphy and directed by Rob Minkoff, was a critical disaster and only a tepid box office performer (it’s since gotten somewhat of a reassessment). Still, Disney is always one to try and try again.

For director Justin Simien, his new film “Haunted Mansion,” based on Disney’s popular amusement park ride, hit a lot of the beats that he wanted to pursue as a filmmaker. For starters, it’s an ensemble comedy, it utilizes practical effects, it’s set in New Orleans and it features a predominately Black cast.

“My sense of Blackness is really rooted in Louisiana,” Simien told TheWrap. “That’s where my mom’s family is from. And I just felt like the version of New Orleans that I know and that I grew up with is beautiful and it’s Black. There’s something political and radical about realizing it properly in a movie like this that actually complements the ride and complements what the ride is trying to say thematically.”

The film tells the story of Ben Matthias (Lakeith Stanfield), a grieving astrophysicist brought in to help a single...

Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Lakeith Stanfield, and Owen Wilson in Haunted Mansion. Photo: Jalen Marlowe It would be interesting to see the version of Haunted Mansion that star Lakeith Stanfield seems to think he’s in—one where his jaded, grieving, scientist-turned-wannabe believer in ghosts could see his grounded performance...

Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Lakeith Stanfield, and Owen Wilson in Haunted Mansion.Photo: Jalen Marlowe

It would be interesting to see the version of Haunted Mansion that star Lakeith Stanfield seems to think he’s in—one where his jaded, grieving, scientist-turned-wannabe believer in ghosts could see his grounded performance...

In 2003, audiences watched Eddie Murphy drop into “Haunted Mansion” in Rob Minkoff’s poorly received riff on Disney’s famous ride. Now 20 years later, Justin Simien, director of “Dear White People” and a former Disneyland ride operator, is trying his hand at putting the “grim, grinning ghosts” of the popular theme park attraction on the big screen — and the results are impressive.

Simien’s “Haunted Mansion” is a wondrous blend of horror and comedy, tinged with emotional resonance in its story of grief and how we try to connect with those we’ve lost. Anchored by a phenomenal performance by Lakeith Stanfield (“Atlanta”) and a solid ensemble, “Haunted Mansion” is a worthy take on the ride and a sleeper hit for families looking to find a fun summer film.

Ben Matthias (Stanfield) is a brilliant astrophysicist who’s given up on life after his wife’s death. When he’s...

20 years before Disney's latest attempt at a Haunted Mansion movie, the studio tried and failed to recreate the magic of the theme park ride.

This July, Disney is releasing "Haunted Mansion," an adaptation of one of its most beloved theme park attractions. The company has been trying to get this project off the ground for well over 13 years, with Guillermo del Toro, a Haunted Mansion superfan, at one point attached to direct. Justin Simien of "Dear White People" and "Bad Hair" fame is helming the finished project, and the comedy horror features a starry cast including Lakeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, and recent Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis. With a reported budget of over $157 million, it's a risky bet for Disney, which has seen a handful of commercial disappointments this year, including "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Whether or not general audiences are intrigued by a theme park ride adaptation remains to be seen,...

The first reactions to Disney’s Haunted Mansion have emerged following its world premiere, and it seems as if the studio has hit the mark this time around with a movie that might have viewers hurrying back…

Much of the praise for Haunted Mansion centers around it being just the sort of movie that will be enjoyable for adults, the little ones and die-hard fans of the iconic dark ride, with as many easter eggs as there are happy haunts. Check out some of the Haunted Mansion reactions below:

Happy to report #HauntedMansion is one of those family films that will spook kids, make adults laugh (a lot), and fans of the ride will keep pointing at the screen because it’s loaded with Easter eggs. Director Justin Simien & screenwriter Katie Dippold did great work. pic.twitter.com/07MfbUUCFC

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 16, 2023

#hauntedmansion is an entertaining movie for your whole family can enjoy.

Welcome Foolish Mortals. Disney’s Haunted Mansion opens up for business later this month, and a couple of new clips further previews the family friendly horror comedy.

Disney’s new live action Haunted Mansion movie will be releasing in theaters on July 28, 2023.

Watch two clips from Disney’s Haunted Mansion below, which centers around a failed attempt to summon Madame Leota. Fans of the original dark ride might notice that the chair sending psychic (Tiffany Haddish) out the door resembles the ride’s Doom Buggy.

Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) is directing the new live action adaptation of the popular, long-running Disney theme park attraction that’s home to 999 haunts.

Director Simien previously said in a statement shared with Bloody Disgusting, “As a lifelong fan of the Haunted Mansion attraction, I’m beyond excited to share the teaser trailer for our new film adaptation featuring an incredible cast.

Chinese film executive Han Sanping, who for a generation served as the boss of China’s powerful, state-backed studio China Film Group, will be the head of the competition jury for the next edition of the Asia World Film Festival. An annual showcase of Asian cinema held annually in Los Angeles, the festival is dedicated to driving greater recognition of Asian creative talent and foreign, independent filmmaking. Han served as head of China Film Group until 2014 and was involved in some of China’s biggest films during the decade prior to his resignation. In recent years, he has acted more as a behind-the-scenes cross-border producer, with recent credits including Midway (2019) and Greyhound (2020).

LA-based filmmaker incubator Stars Collective, launched in 2020 by the China-backed but Beverly Hills-based movie financier Starlight Media, has also joined the Asian World Film Festival as an official partner. In a new agreement spanning the next three years,...

Los Angeles, May 29 (Ians) ‘The Little Mermaid’ make-up designer Peter Smith King has clapped back at criticisms of the revamped Ursula look that actress Melissa McCarthy brings to life in the new live-action remake.

He specifically contends against a belief that a queer artiste should have landed the job.

Rob Minkoff, the character animator of the original 1989 film, pulled reference from the late drag performer Divine for Ursula, reports ‘Variety’.

When speaking with Time, Minkoff said: “Divine seemed like such a great, larger-than-life character, and it just seemed like a funny and quirky idea to take (Ursula) and treat her more like a drag queen.”

Since the first footage of McCarthy’s Ursula was revealed, King’s iteration of the aquatic villain has been met with criticism from some drag performers.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 14 contestant Kerri Colby responded to a video on Twitter, stating that “(this is) absolutely why...

“The Little Mermaid” makeup designer Peter Smith King has responded to criticisms of the revamped Ursula look that Melissa McCarthy brings to life in the new live-action remake, specifically contending against a belief that a queer artist should have landed the job.

Rob Minkoff, the character animator of the original 1989 film, pulled reference from the late drag performer Divine for Ursula. When speaking with Time, Minkoff said “Divine seemed like such a great, larger-than-life character, and it just seemed like a funny and quirky idea to take [Ursula] and treat her more like a drag queen.”

Since the first footage of McCarthy’s Ursula was revealed, King’s iteration of the aquatic villain has been met with criticism from some drag performers. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 14 contestant Kerri Colby responded to a video on Twitter, stating that “[this is] absolutely why we should hire up and coming queer artists with a pulse on...

Despite the general disapproval of 2003’s Eddie Murphy-starring The Haunted Mansion, director Justin Simien is hoping that foolish mortals will join the queue for his take on the iconic Disney ride, as he hopes his spin will correct the errors from 20 years ago.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Justin Simien said he has just as many issues with the 2003’s The Haunted Mansion as most others. “I had a little bit of beef with the first film, because the first thing you’ve got to give the kids is the candy of the mansion that they know and love,” adding he “looked at [the film] a lot, mostly to see how easy it would be to go awry in certain spots.” But Simien did backtrack a bit, saying, “Not to dunk on the movie…It’s a movie of its time, and it’s also a movie that, frankly, a lot of...

'Haunted Mansion' director Justin Simien avoided remaking "any" of the original Eddie Murphy film.The filmmaker admits he had "a bit of beef" with the original 2003 adaptation of the Disney ride of the same name, which he has put right with the upcoming live-action flick.He told EW: “I had a little bit of beef with the first film, because the first thing you’ve got to give the kids is the candy of the mansion that they know and love.“Not to dunk on the movie. It’s a movie of its time, and it’s also a movie that, frankly, a lot of people grew up with and love hardcore. In theatres, I was a little too old for it, but what I appreciated was [director] Rob Minkoff. He’s a genius. And I appreciated the elevation that they were going for. They had this beautiful book of all the production design,...

Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien is trying to please two constituencies: the fans of the Disney theme park attraction, and those who remember the Eddie Murphy and director Rob Minkoff film adaptation.

Simien told EW he did a forensic examination of the Murphy film.

“I had a little bit of beef with the first film, because the first thing you’ve got to give the kids is the candy of the mansion that they know and love,” Simien said.

“Not to dunk on the movie. It’s a movie of its time, and it’s also a movie that, frankly, a lot of people grew up with and love hardcore. In theaters, I was a little too old for it, but what I appreciated was Rob Minkoff. He’s a genius. And I appreciated the elevation that they were going for. They had this beautiful book of all the production design,...

Disney’s new live action Haunted Mansion movie will be releasing in theaters on July 28, 2023, and this week the official MPA rating for the film has been turned in.

Disney’s Haunted Mansion has been rated “PG-13” for…

“Some thematic elements and scary action.”

It sounds like the new movie will be going just a little bit harder on the family-friendly scares than the previous big screen Haunted Mansion movie, which is music to our ears.

Rob Minkoff directed the feature film The Haunted Mansion back in 2003, the first big screen adaptation of the ride. Eddie Murphy starred in the film, which was rated “PG.” The Haunted Mansion (2003) was labeled “PG” for “Frightening images, thematic elements, and language.”

Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) directed the new live action adaptation of the popular, long-running Disney theme park attraction that’s home to 999 haunts.

Lakeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson,...

Disney’s new live action Haunted Mansion movie will be releasing in theaters on July 28, 2023, and we’ve got a fresh new look at the cast today courtesy of the Summer 2023 cover of official magazine Disney Twenty-Three. Meet the cast by checking it out below.

Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) is directing the new live action adaptation of the popular, long-running Disney theme park attraction that’s home to 999 haunts.

Lakeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, and Danny DeVito star, with Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota and Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost.

Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and Hasan Minhaj will also appear in the new movie.

“In this mysterious adventure, a doctor (Dawson) and her 9-year-old son (Chase Dillon), looking to start a new life, move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans, only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for.

Second time's the charm? Disney is taking another stab at bringing the grim-grinning ghosts from its "Haunted Mansion" theme park ride out to socialize on the big screen. Its first attempt was in 2003 with Rob Minkoff's "The Haunted Mansion," a supernatural horror comedy anchored by Eddie Murphy that was basically Doa and has since been mostly forgotten. The studio is trying again 20 years later with "Haunted Mansion," a movie that defies the recent reboot trend by subtracting a "The" from the title rather than adding one.

"Haunted Mansion" comes from director Justin Simien and writer Katie Dippold ("Ghostbusters: Answer the Call"), both of whom have a clear affinity for horror-comedy. Indeed, the movie's trailer serves up equal-sized portions of laughs and scares, all set to the eerie tune of Roy Orbison's 1975 song "House Without Windows." Bear in mind, Orbinson's ditty on its own is more melancholy than spooky,...

"When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls ... wherever candle lights flicker, though the air is deathly still ... that is the time that ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight."

So runs the opening narration, provided by Paul Frees, at the entrance to the Haunted Mansion, easily the best thing Disney has ever produced as a company.

Justin Simien's new film "Haunted Mansion," due in theaters on July 28, 2023, is the third attempt to adapt the 1959 Disneyland attraction to the big screen. As Disneyland attractions go, The Haunted Mansion stands out. It's one of the few attractions that is meant to explicitly elicit fear rather than wonderment or thrills. There are ghosts and images in the Haunted Mansion that are still, to this day, genuinely scary. The Mansion is also, like many of Disneyland's early attractions, not attached to any...