Welcome, Foolish Mortals

Disney

The Haunted Mansion is one of the most iconic Disney rides. There are five ghostly haunts around the world: Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland, Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris, and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland. Each mansion is unique, with the Phantom Manor being the spookiest in my opinion. The latest episode of We Call It Imagineering goes behind the scenes of these spectral abodes that have kept us fascinated for over 50 years.

"We have 999 happy haunts here,

but there's room for a thousand. 

Any volunteers?"

Soarin' Across America

All images: Disney

Soarin' is getting another update next year. For a limited time, in both Disneyland and Disney World, it will become Soarin' Across America in honor of our 250th birthday. Imagineers are currently working hard to capture more than 12 new locations from sea to shining sea. And, of course, everyone's favorite chief flight attendant will be returning for this new version.

Soarin' Across America arrives in 2026.

Chocolate LEGO Frankenstein

Amaury Guichon

This year's Halloween creation from Amaury Guichon is a LEGO Frankenstein Minifigure with a Pumpkin Bucket, made entirely of chocolate. 

This creepy cute chocolate creature has had a good night trick or treating: his bucket is overflowing with pumpkin caramel filled LEGO blocks. Yum!

Her Place In Oz

All images: Universal

Both Elphaba and Glinda have been pushed into a new place in Oz. Elphaba is an outcast living in a magical tree house and Glinda has become an essential part of Emerald City, living in a penthouse. But both of them are terribly lonely. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at Elphaba’s new world.

And now a look at Glinda's.

Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21st.

R.L. Stine Quote

Viva Pictures

"There wouldn’t be so many stories about zombies and other weird creatures if they didn’t really exist."

- R.L. Stine, Zombie Town

Haunted Mansion Tombstones

The cemetery at the Haunted Mansion is always an eerie delight, especially at night. I love reading all of the rhyming epitaphs on the tombstones. For example, the bottom stone reads "Rest in Peace Cousin Huet. We all know you didn't do it." The stone on the left says "Here lies a man named Martin. The lights went out on this old Spartan."

LEGO Frozen: Operation Puffins

All images: LEGO/Disney

The next LEGO Disney Princess special returns to Arendelle for an all new adventure. In LEGO Disney Frozen: Operation Puffins, Anna and Elsa, alongside Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven, must save their kingdom from Duke Weselton and his band of mischievous puffins.

Here's the official synopsis from LEGO:

After the events of Frozen, Anna and Elsa want to start fresh in Arendelle, and make the castle feel a bit more comfortable. While they struggle to break free of the bounds of tradition, the Duke of Weselton has other plans for their beloved home alongside a flock of menacing puffins. 

LEGO Disney Frozen: Operation Puffins arrives on DisneyPlus on October 24.

Wicked & Good Featurette

Universal

Elpaba and Glinda's story continues in Wicked: For Good. While they've each chosen a different path to help the Ozians, they'll have to work together to succeed. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the story thus far and where it's heading next.

Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21st.

"Zoo" - Zootopia 2

Disney

It's nearly time to head back to Zootopia for another adventure with Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. And that means new songs from Gazelle (Shakira), too. This lyric video is for "Zoo".

Zootopia 2 arrives in theaters on November 26th.

ParaNorman Returns In 3D

LAIKA is bringing ParaNorman back to theaters just in time for Halloween. I love the wild story of a little boy who can see and talk to ghosts, and is suddenly tasked with protecting his town from a witch's ghost.

Newly remastered in 3D, the film will also include an all new short called ParaNorman: The Thrifting.

In case you haven't seen this wonderfully weird animated film, here's the synopsis from LAIKA:

In ParaNorman, when the quiet town of Blithe Hollow is overrun by zombies, only 11-year-old Norman Babcock—who can see and speak with ghosts—can stop the chaos. With a centuries-old witch’s curse, mysterious ghosts, wily witches, and clueless grown-ups, Norman’s paranormal powers are about to be tested like never before.

Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Ferland, Bernard Hill, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Tempestt Bledsoe, Alex Borstein, and John Goodman star in the 2012 movie.

ParaNorman returns to US theaters from October 25-28 and international theaters from October 23-28.

Halloween Quote

"She'd always loved Halloween.

A magic night.

A night when anything could happen.

Monsters could be real.

Magic could whisper in the air."

– Cynthia Eden

Halloween LEGO Heads

These LEGO Halloween heads are such a fun way to store LEGOs. And they double as decor, so you leave them out all of spooky season. I found mine at Marshall's and TJ Maxx, so they were actually quite affordable.

R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead

Tubi

A new Halloween movie for kids is coming to Tubi next week. Inspired by the R. L. Stine series The Haunting Hour, Pumpkinhead is a spooky story about a teenager who must break a curse to save his brother.

Here's the official synopsis from Tubi:

A teenager, Sam, thought moving to Redhaven was the worst part—until his brother Finn vanishes and no one, not even their mom, remembers he existed. With Halloween ticking down, Sam, his friend Becka, and Rusty, the town’s most eccentric outcast, must stop a harvest curse before Finn is lost forever.

Pumpkinhead arrives on Tubi next Friday, October 17th.

Rest In Peace - Muppets Haunted Mansion

Jim Henson Company

I've enjoyed watching the Muppets Haunted Mansion every Halloween since it debuted in 2021. It's so funny and clever, with some quite memorable songs. This song by the Caretaker takes place in the cemetery of the Haunted Mansion.

Muppets Haunted Mansion is available on DisneyPlus.

Get Your Wicked: For Good Tickets Now

All images: Universal

With six weeks to go until the epic conclusion of Wicked, tickets are now on sale. Wicked: For Good is the second part of the untold story of the powerful friendship between Glinda (the Good Witch of the South), and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). It looks amazing!

There are eight new posters for the film and they are stunning.

The RealD 3D poster features the main cast in a silhouette of Elphaba.

The 4DX poster is just Elphaba in full Wwitch mode.

The ScreenX poster shows Glinda as the good witch in the bubble.

The Dolby poster has Elphaba and Glinda facing off rather unhappily.

IMAX has two poster. The first features Elphaba and the Grimmerie.

The second shows Glinda as the popular princess she wished to become.

The final poster is for an early screening on Amazon Prime on November 17th. It shows Glinda and Elphaba united against whatever may come.

Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21st.

Worlds Will Collide

All images: Disney

The Programs have left the Grid and are coming to destroy our world. The latest movie in the TRON universe is coming to theaters this Friday.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

"Tron: Ares" follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. The film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, and Cameron Monaghan, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges.

TRON: Ares arrives in theaters this Friday, October 10th.

October Quote

Disney

"October was always the least dependable of months…

full of ghosts and shadows."

- Joy Fielding

Haunted Mansion Art

I love looking at the Halloween windows on Main Street, USA. Every year, there's a different, fun theme. In 2019, each window featured artwork of various characters in oval frames. This Haunted Mansion art of the Hatbox Ghost and Sally Slater, the Tightrope Walker, was my favorite. 

Oh Shiz!

Universal

"And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend…" In the latest trailer from Wicked: For Good, Glinda and Elphaba tease each other as only friends can.

Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21st.

New Frankenstein Trailer and Poster

All images: Netflix

The latest trailer for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein gives us our first real glimpse of the Creature. And this time, he's the narrator. It is his story after all.

Here's the official synopsis from Netflix: 

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, "Frankenstein" stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza, Felix Kammerer as William Frankenstein, Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein, and Christoph Waltz as Henrich Harlander.

Frankenstein arrives in select theaters on October 17th and on Netflix on November 7th.

Greetings Program

Disney

The Grid has entered our world. In just 9 days, TRON: Ares will arrive in theaters. With a soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails and the unexpected return of Kevin Flynn, this latest installment in the TRON universe looks fantastic. 

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

"Tron: Ares" follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. The film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, and Cameron Monaghan, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges.

TRON: Ares arrives in theaters on October 10th.

Zootopia Will Be Changed Furrrever

All images: Disney

The final trailer for Zootopia 2 has arrived and it looks so good. I loved the message of the first one, and it appears that the second will be another story about accepting others.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia 2,” detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) find themselves on the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.

Zootopia 2 arrives in theaters on November 26th.

One Last Adventure

All images: Netflix

The final season of Stranger Things begins in just 2 months. It has taken nine years to tell the stories of a group of kids from Hawkins, Indiana, and the ending looks fairly epic. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of season 5.

Here's the official synopsis from Netflix: 

The fall of 1987. Hawkins, Indiana, is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: to find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s (Noah Schnapp) disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.

Stranger Things Season 5 will be released in 3 parts on Netflix.

Volume 1 arrives on November 26th.

Volume 2 arrives on December 25th.

The Finale arrives on December 31st.

Frankenstein Quote

Universal

"Beware; for I am fearless,

and therefore powerful."

- The Monster,

Frankenstein; or,

The Modern Prometheus

Din Djarin and Grogu

I was so excited to see the Disney Dreams That Soar drone show in Disney Springs last year. It was amazing watching the drones form familiar characters over Lake Buena Vista. My favorite was the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) and Grogu.

Sullys Never Quit

All images: 20th Century Studios

Once again, the Sully family are in the middle of the battle for Pandora. A new trailer and poster for Avatar: Fire and Ash has arrived and it shows that the Na'vi are once again fighting for their lives, but this time, their greatest foe may not be the offworlders, but other Na'vi. 

Here's the official synopsis from 20th Century Studios:

With “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family. The film also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass and Kate Winslet.

Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theaters on December 19th.

The Zombie Apocalypse Has Begun

All images: Marvel

Marvel Zombies has arrived on DisneyPlus and with it, the zombie apocalypse has begun. This spin-off of What If...? is Marvel's first TV-MA animated series.

Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world. 

"Marvel Zombies" features the voices of Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, Iman Vellani, and Dominique Thorne, among others.

All four episodes of Marvel Zombies are available now on DisneyPlus.

Wicked: For Good Final Trailer

All images: Universal

The final trailer for Wicked: For Good has arrived and it looks incredible. There are two stunning new posters, as well. In the movie, Elphaba and Glinda's story continues, with many more struggles along the way. 

Here's the official synopsis from Universal: 

The final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. 

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).  

Glinda (Ariana Grande), meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.  

As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) in a spectacular Ozian wedding, she is haunted by her separation from Elphaba. She attempts to broker a conciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but those efforts will fail, driving Elphaba and Glinda only further apart. The aftershocks will transform Boq (Ethan Slater) and Fiyero forever, and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives. 

As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good. 

"Wicked: For Good" also stars Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James as Glinda’s fawning assistants, Pfannee and ShenShen and Sharon D. Clarke as the voice of Elphaba’s childhood nanny, Dulcibear.

Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21st.

This Is The Way

All images: Lucasfilm

The first trailer and poster for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu have arrived and they look fantastic! I love the dynamic these two characters have together, so I can't wait to see where they end up on their next grand adventure. And it looks like Zeb from Star Wars: Rebels is back, too.

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm: 

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu (as himself). 

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Happy Hobbit Day!

New Line Cinema

September 22nd is the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. As such, it is celebrated each year as Hobbit Day. That must mean today would be a good day for a party. After all, as Thorin said to Bilbo near the end of The Hobbit, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."