Muppets Haunted Mansion Special Coming to Disney+ This Fall
Written By: GN
What do you get when you put a fan-favorite Disneyland ride and a classic show together? A spook-tacular Halloween! During its Halfway to Halloween event, Disney announced the first-ever Muppets special, Muppets Haunted Mansion, with a video featuring Gonzo and Pepe the King Prawn.
Although no definite date is set, the much-awaited Muppets special is slated to drop on the streaming platform just in time for the scariest time of the year.
Muppet mash-up
Beloved Muppets Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Beaker, and Fozzie the Bear are all expected to star in the special. Meanwhile, delightful surprises are also in store for viewers as the official synopsis hinted at “celebrity cameos and all-new music.”
The synopsis also revealed that the special will revolve around Gonzo being challenged to spend one night in the Haunted Mansion. Those who are familiar with the theme park mainstay know that the ride is a feast for thrill seekers in the mood for enchanted rooms, a few talkative ghosts, and even a couple of song numbers. The prospect of seeing the Muppets cast interact with the Haunted Mansion’s spectral inhabitants is surely an exciting one!
Expanding the Disney world
Disney acquired the intellectual property rights to the original Muppets Show back in 2004. The cast became regular features to Disney parks shortly after, with movies like The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets From Space, and the 2011 commercial and critical success The Muppets being released in the next decade. There was also an ABC-produced TV show Muppets Tonight that was cancelled after a few episodes. The complete seasons of the Muppets Show are now also available to watch on the Disney+ streaming platform.
While this new Halloween special marks the first time the Muppets will fully crossover into original Disney content, the Muppets are no stranger to the Haunted Mansion. In 2012, they were featured riding the doom buggies in a series of pins. In 2019, Uncle Deadly gave a dramatic reading as the Ghost Host in the Haunted Mansion panel at D23 Expo.
Disney-fied
The Muppets have been pop culture icons since the 70s and have steadily maintained their onscreen presence through the years. However, aside from appearing in a few movies and being park guests, they have not been able to build off that momentum since the Disney acquisition in 2004.
More than just crossing over into Disney property, this new venture will also see the Muppets crossing genres into horror. How Disney will find the balance between the ride’s haunting qualities with the Muppets’ trademark humor and wit, only time will tell. The Muppets Haunted Mansion special will set the tone for how Disney plans to utilize the characters from here on out—and from the looks of the announcement video, they sure are taking the classic characters in an exciting direction.
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