Although both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are on strike, Disney still held the premiere for its new movie, Haunted Mansion, based on the Disney Parks ride of the same name.
©Disney
Disney’s Haunted Mansion movie premieres on July 28th. Although a movie premiere was set to happen in Disneyland on July 15th, the SAG-AFTRA strike prevented the film’s cast from attending the premiere. The premiere DID happen, though, but Disney replaced the actors with characters.
The Haunted Mansion movie stars Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, and more. Because those actors are on strike, they did not walk the red carpet at the premiere, which was held in front of the ride followed by a screening at the Hyperion Theatre in Disney California Adventure.
The #HauntedMansion red carpet is set up for the film’s world premiere at Disneyland tonight. pic.twitter.com/N4YM1GCabT
— Variety (@Variety) July 15, 2023
Instead, Disney brought out characters from the Haunted Mansion ride and movie for the premiere, including the Tightrope Walker from the portrait in the Stretching Room.
The press has been informed there will be no interviews conducted at the #HauntedMansion premiere — not even with director Justin Simien. Instead, Disneyland characters are walking the carpet. https://t.co/ozgw9lMm8J pic.twitter.com/P43FmPFz8v
— Variety (@Variety) July 16, 2023
While fans attended the event, a live band played music.
There's a band playing the carpet at the #HauntedMansion premiere in Disneyland. https://t.co/ozgw9lMm8J pic.twitter.com/xQiOycLPpF
— Variety (@Variety) July 16, 2023
Disney villains also walked the red carpet, including Cruella de Vil…
The fictional character Cruella de Vil has arrived at the #HauntedMansion premiere in Disneyland. https://t.co/ozgw9lMm8J pic.twitter.com/kKnSzCsH1j
— Variety (@Variety) July 16, 2023
…Maleficent…
With a SAG-AFTRA strike in effect, the #HauntedMansion premiere at Disneyland is seeing characters like Maleficent walk the carpet. https://t.co/ozgw9lMm8J pic.twitter.com/1oG9dE850K
— Variety (@Variety) July 16, 2023
..and the Evil Queen.
Following appearances by dog hater Cruella de Vil and the villainous Maleficent, the Evil Queen hits the red carpet at the #HauntedMansion premiere in Disneyland. https://t.co/eLEAwMwpc1 pic.twitter.com/9329QePfk6
— Variety (@Variety) July 16, 2023
Haunted Mansion premieres in movie theaters on July 28th. Note that actors from the film will not be available for any promotions while they are on strike. We’ll continue to keep you updated on how the SAG-AFTRA strike, as well as the WGA strike, continues to impact the Walt Disney Company and the entertainment industry, in general, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
DATE ANNOUNCED: Haunted Mansion Will Temporarily CLOSE in Disneyland
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This all sucks for everyone, but that was a clever way for Disney to handle the Premiere.