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Disney+ Lands Live-Action Casper with Dark Twist
29 Apr
Summary
- A new live-action Casper series is in development at Disney+.
- The project is expected to have a dark edge, similar to Wednesday.
- Steven Spielberg is executive producing the reboot.
A live-action series centered on Casper the Friendly Ghost is in development at Disney+, following a competitive bidding war. This new iteration is described as a modern update with a darker tone, reportedly inspired by the approach taken with 'Wednesday' and the Addams Family lore. Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston, known for their work on Disney+'s 'Goosebumps', are writing and executive producing, with Steven Spielberg also serving as an executive producer.
The project is expected to utilize CGI effects, reminiscent of the 1995 live-action film. This series represents a rare instance of Disney+ developing a show based on established intellectual property not originally from the Disney ecosystem. The development deal is described as premium, and if it proceeds to series, it would mark Universal Studio Group's first series on Disney+.
Casper's origins trace back to animated shorts from the 1940s and 50s, followed by numerous comic books and television series. Universal Pictures released a live-action film in 1995, produced by Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. Ownership of the character has shifted over the years, with Universal Pictures parent NBCUniversal ultimately involved in this new co-production with DreamWorks Animation TV and UCP.
