When Pirates of the Caribbean splashed into multiplexes back in 2003, Disney's live-action studio witnessed its trajectory change forever. Suddenly, movies based on their theme park's attractions were viable means of creative synergy for the company. Since then, a number of movies based on Disney rides have been made, but a number also never escaped the drawing board.
It's a shame because for Disney nerds and theme park obsessives, a lot of these scrapped ideas sound like incredible ideas. Hopefully, they're just on the back-burner and Disney will return to them soon! Even if they're destined for Disney Plus, they'd still be welcomed.
The Rock's Tomorrowland
Back in 2008, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was attached to an adaptation of Disney's entire Tomorrowland section. Eventually, Disney put that project on hold and adapted it with George Clooney and director Brad Bird instead.
While Bird's Tomorrowland examined the ideological implications of the location itself and based itself mostly on the Carousel of Progress, the version with The Rock seems like it was more attached to the theme park's adventurous spirit and (specifically) Space Mountain. The 2015 version has its merits, but it would have been cool (and arguably better) to see The Rock ship out to space in the name of human progress.
Pirates Of The Caribbean 6
After the dwindling returns of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Disney planned to take a sixth Pirates film in a new direction with a new lead. Johnny Depp's return as Capt. Jack Sparrow was in doubt, but names like Emma Watson and Karen Gillan were tossed as his possible replacements. Instead, Disney scrapped a sixth Pirates film and is moving forward with a spin-off instead, starring Margot Robbie.
Ever since it exploded in popularity thanks to the films, the Pirates ride took a new direction by revamping Redd (or The Redhead) from a bar lady into a pirate after an encounter with Capt. Sparrow. Rumor has it that Robbie will be Redd while Depp will return as Capt. Sparrow in some capacity. It would be cool to watch a new swashbuckler take to the seas but the continued story of the original cast will always be yearned for.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Rumors of a film based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a Frontierland roller coaster, have long been gestating at Disney. The only leap beyond the amusement park that Big Thunder has experienced is in sound effects used by Lucasfilm.
In terms of close calls, the closest Big Thunder ever got was to get a full on live-action adaptation was an ABC pilot back in 2013. For one reason or another, the "Big Thunder Mountain" series never made it to air. It's a shame. After all, who doesn't want a family-friendly Deadwood?
The Matterhorn Bobsleds
Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds ride was partially inspired by 1959's hokey adventure film Third Man on the Mountain. As deep a reference as that may be, plans for a Matterhorn movie were developed in 2011 before it was quickly abandoned.
The only details ever revealed about the project, which was tentatively titled "The Hill," where it would be an adventure film from a screenplay by American Sniper screenwriter Jason Dean Hall. The exact story details are unknown, though it would have been truly chilling to see the Yetis demolish mountain carts on the big screen.
The Enchanted Tiki Room
In 2010, Ahmet Zappa and Michael Wilson penned a screenplay entitled "Tiki," which was inspired by their trip into Adventureland where they witnessed the Enchanted Tiki Room show. Since the attraction is mostly just cute birds singing songs, the two took a lot of liberties and developed an action movie grounded in Polynesian mythology instead.
The script was so engaging that Disney acquired the rights to the story but they chose to do nothing with it. Polynesian culture is so fascinating, and it would've made a great blockbuster.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a bizarre Disney attraction because, basically, Mr. Toad goes to hell! Unsurprisingly, this one does not appear in all of Disney's parks. Based on The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a Fantasyland staple and a classic dark ride that's become a cult favorite among Disney fans.
Back in 2012, it was reported that Disney was prepping the attraction for a new film that would have blended the ride's story with the original Kenneth Grahame narratives. Pete Candeland was attached to the film with a focus on live-action and CGI mixing but for one reason or another, the project fell through. By far, this is one of the most innovative pitches based on a Disney ride.
It's A Small World
A movie based on the classic Sherman Brothers-anchored It's a Small World in Fantasyland has long been in development. Announced as early as 2014, many names have been attached including Jon Turteltaub, Jared Stern, and Dan Lin.
The most recent update came from Turteltaub, who insists that he's still attached to the film and is seeking a way to ensure that the adaptation would be full of the ride's heart rather than just being outright ridiculous. Between this and the next entry on the list, theme park movies might be experiencing a revival at Disney.
Tom Hanks & Tim Allen's Jungle Cruise
Set for a theatrical debut in 2021, the Jungle Cruise attraction was lucky enough to get none other than Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt as its stars! From the trailers alone, Jungle Cruise seems like a fun adventure and will hopefully inspire more Disney World-based stories.
That being said, a different version of Jungle Cruise never came to be. It was originally slated to star Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in a Toy Story reunion that would have definitely centered more around the ride's humor. Details of this version's story are scarce but it would've certainly been something of a buddy-comedy given Hanks and Allen's rapport as compared to The Rock and Blunt's upcoming action-adventure.
Guillermo del Toro's The Haunted Mansion
Back in 2003, Eddie Murphy helped bring The Haunted Mansion to the big screens. His efforts bombed among fans and critics, as it didn't strike the right balance of scariness and silliness found on the classic Disney attraction.
Since 2010, there have been a long-gestating developments surrounding a new adaptation of the spooky attraction. At one point, Guillermo del Toro was attached and sought to imbue reverence for the ride. Ryan Gosling's name was bandied about for a little while as well. As of now, del Toro left the project and Katie Dippold is penning a new treatment.
Various Attempts At A Magic Kingdom Adaptation
Last but not the least is the granddaddy of them all. Beyond adapting rides, Disney has long been in production on a film that would encapsulate its entire hub theme park, the Magic Kingdom itself. In 2012, it was announced that Jon Favreau would take a Night at the Museum approach with Disney's theme parks in an Avengers-type ensemble event film.
Through years of development, updates, a potential Disney Plus series, and a collaboration with Pixar, no concrete plans for Magic Kingdom have emerged yet. However, there is no doubt that it would be a massive success as fans are still clamoring for it! Given Disney's ever-expanding library of characters, worlds, and stories that now includes almost all of Marvel Comics and the galaxies of Star Wars among other things, a Magic Kingdom adaption is a great success waiting to happen. All it needs is the right filmmaker to bring it to life.