Iger: No plans to bring ‘Captain EO’ back to Disneyland
Disneyland has “no definite plans to bring back” the Michael Jackson 3-D movie “Captain EO,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said today during an impromptu news conference at D23 Expo in Anaheim.
“There aren’t plans to bring back ‘Captain EO’ at this time,” Iger said. “We are looking at it. It’s the kind of thing that, if we did it, would get a fair amount of attention and we’d want to make sure we do it right.”
Iger and other Disney brass watched a screening of the 1980s-era sci-fi fantasy film this week and determined that the old music video needed to be further evaluated before it could be brought back into the Anaheim theme park.
Back in 1986, everybody wanted a piece of the hottest pop star in the world. So it was with much fanfare that Disneyland introduced “Captain EO,” starring Jackson.
It was an association the family-friendly amusement park would eventually come to regret as the bizarre pop star became increasingly embroiled in controversy.
The 17-minute “Captain EO” cost an estimated $30 million and featured a star-studded list of credits, including executive producer George Lucas, director Francis Ford Coppola and Anjelica Huston as the evil Supreme Leader.
The 3-D movie — featuring lasers, smoke and stars that extended into the audience — told the story of Captain EO’s mission to deliver a musical gift to a wicked alien queen on a dystopian planet. EO’s rag-tag crew included his sidekick Fuzzbucket, security officer Major Domo and blundering shipmate Hooter.
“EO” used music — specifically the original song “We Are Here to Change the World” — to defeat the queen and her whip-wielding henchmen.
“Captain EO” opened in Disneyland’s Magic Eye Theater in 1986 and ran for more than a decade, quietly closing in 1997.
Identical versions of the film eventually opened at Epcot in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. All closed by 1998.
Michael Jackson died in June.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter and Facebook.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
Image: Disney
30 Comments on “Iger: No plans to bring ‘Captain EO’ back to Disneyland”
Leave a Comment
If you are under 13 years of age you may read this blog, but you may not participate. Here's the full legal spiel.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this blog until the author has approved them.
All fields are required
Advertisement
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG
Click the logo below to subscribe to news from this blog:
Or add this feed to your favorite RSS reader:
more
Or add this feed to your favorite RSS reader:
more
Advertisement
September 10th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
What needs further evaluation? It was good enough for Disney to run for 10 years back then, why would it not be good enough to run again now? This just sounds like the Disney company is waffling and avoiding anything tangible, similar to their closing of VMK and all the lack of information surrounding that.
Let’s look at other Disney classics that haven’t really gone through substantial changes: Snow White’s Scary Adventure, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party. These seem to keep people coming back for more. Pirates of the Caribbean hasn’t changed massively, nor has it’s a small world until recently. Parades have gone away and come back as well. Many other attractions have stayed largely the same as well.
It seems a lot of people would appreciate having Capain Eo come back, myself included in that group. I do undertand that Disney can’t give in to all guest demands or requests, but if Disney is willing to take out a feature(Honey, I Shrunk the Audience) for a few days to put in an older feature(Captain Eo) for a day to satisfy a high ranging corporate officer, then restore the theater to the featured show(Honey, I Shrunk the Audience), clearly Disney can bring it back for a longer run. I wonder what the cost is to do this effort?
If Captain Eo doesn’t return, it won’t alter my view of Disney or Disneyland, but I will admit to being a bit disappointed. I’d like for my family to see Captain Eo.
I’m wondering if they could fit the theater to play both films, at listed schedules or days. I don’t know what it would take to accomodate two different films that both use identical technologies. Since I haven’t yet seen “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”, I have to wonder what theming is in the theater itself. Maybe make the theater a bit more generic like a typical theater? After all, the Hyperion Theater, which currently features the Aladdin music, could just as easily handle a much greater variety of shows should Disney wish it to.
Then again, what do I know. I’ve only worked in entertainment for 27 years. Give the people what they want and they’ll beat a path to your door.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
EO was far better than Honey I Shrunk…
Honey was old when saw it at WDW in 1994.
Bring back EO - even part time (I’m sure those imagineers can figure out how to re-theme the auditorium between shows) - or make a new movie.
Honey isn’t filling the seats.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Captain EO would be better off to remain a former Disneyland attraction. It’s dated, old and no longer relevant as a theme park attraction. It was removed because of a lack of interest and his recent death doesn’t make it a more relevant attraction for Disneyland today.
Also, Disney shouldn’t need to be reminded of Michael Jackson’s tarnished image. Yes, he was found not guilty, but there was some funny business going on that is still relevant when you’re talking bringing the King of Pop back into a children’s theme park. It’s a poor choice to even consider.
The fans who’d like to see it return are purely interested for nostalgia sake. However, within weeks of its return I predict the interest will die and what will be left with is a dated, old and no longer relevant attraction that few will find interesting.
Please, drop this non-sense, and leave Captain EO in the archive. Disney needs to keep looking ahead, not backwards for new attractions to place in the park.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:36 am
“Bizarre pop star?” Can we just report news without bias? Guess not.
Bad move by Disney if they don’t bring EO back, but since they(among others)deserted MJ during a low period in his life, it doesn’t bother me that they won’t be making anymore money off him.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Hopefully EO stays retired. Honey I Shrunk is pretty boring, but I’d rather see something new that’s not tainted.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Bummer! I was hoping they would bring it back without hesitation. i think it would be awesome for a new generation to check out MJ when he was in his prime, and for others the revisit the pop sensation. I was proabably about 5 when i saw Captain EO. TomorrowLand has always been my favorite Disneyland attraction because of Captain EO. I would love to go back and experience it again!
September 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
That’s a pity. I thought it would be good to bring it back. Any chance that it may now be released on dvd??
p.s. also…please release Ghosts by Michael Jackson and Stephen King on dvd. It was excellent.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Captain EO is so irrelevant, outdated and lame. Disney executives are absolutely right not to bring back this Graceland-esque attraction. Disney represents wholesome family entertainment, something that MJ once stood in the 80’s - but certainly not today. Instead, as I suggested before, his handlers should have entombed him Lenin-Style in a glass sarcophagus at a Tomb/Museum built near Hollywood and Highland. This theme-shrine would satisfy the masses plus provide much-needed jobs and revenue for LA hard hit by the recession.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Honey I Shrunk the Kids show at Disneyland is not drawing the crowds. The only reason most people go into that theater is for the air conditioning and for a little bit of rest. Even if Disney does not bring back Capt. EO, they should work on something new. Something that is themed after a recent movie.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Captain EO was extremely loud and visually confusing. It added nothing to the Disneyland experience, and was tied to no Disney studio production.
I was glad to see it go, frankly. It was quite dated by even the early 90s.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Disney is afraid of appearing to cash in on Michael Jackson’s death. It makes complete sense for them to take a measured approach to re-releasing this classic. Trust me, they’re going to do it… just working on the proper timing to squeeze the maximum PR and $ from this asset.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I’m sure Disney is all for making money. If they brought Captain EO back, there would be a nice chunk of change coming in. I would be more than happy to contribute to that by seeing it over and over again, just like when I was a kid.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I agree with Chris.This was a classic and new/old MJ fans should be able to see Captain EO.
I know that my favorite rides are still there and when I go to Disney land I know where they are. They still some what look the same as I remember my first time in Disneyland back in the 80’s. I remember one time I came back and found out that Captain EO had been replaced with (Honey I shrunk the Audience)Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it and was also hoping for a Captain EO 2 to show in the future. I am sad that this did not happen.
RIP MJ :(
September 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I hope they release it on DVD.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I believe Disney should consider adding Captain EO to its attractions. This would greatly add to attendance in a sluggish economy especially during off-peak seasons.
The great entertainer that Michael Jackson was and the lives he touched and those he gave to would be great at Disney. Also, I am an annual passport holder.
I am Kennedy Collins,
55th County Central Committee, REPUBLICAN
September 11th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Bring back Captain EO. I’d say given recent events it’s not nearly as outdated at “Honey, I Shrunk…” I had a Disneyland pass and I’ve seen “Honey…” once, that was enough.
I would renew my pass today, if they brought Captain EO back.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I had definate plans to visit Disneyland next summer to see Captain EO, guess I’ll amke those plans not so definate for now. (Dave in Florida)
September 11th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I think that when the Michael Jackson museum opens at Graceland, Disney should sell Captain EO to them. I would go there to see it. Captain EO is a classic. Honey I Shrunk The Audience is MUCHO-LAMEO. I think they can do sooooo much more with that space.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I wish they would bring it back even for a short time. My kids want it back so bad we only go see honey i shrunk the audience for ac and r and r. But captain eo everyone was involved it was fun we need some good old fun.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Thinking they had the biggest Jekyll/Hyde story of the century, the American press, without observation of facts or motive, purposefully went after Michael Jackson in 1993, exerting tangible ‘intent-to-harm’ in the process. First the tabloids, then online sites such as Smoking Gun speculated endlessly, this would then be picked up by the mainstream press and TV networks. Together with Tom Sneddon - who unoffically ‘fed’ selected journalists with information and ‘off-record’ quotes - these two formidable pressures systematically eroded Michael’s mental, physical and emotional health and profoundly damaged his once stratospheric career. Now routinely spoken about in the news as a drug addict, Michael may well have had existing limiting tendencies, but he was most certainly ‘helped’ along his way to chronic dependency. I refer readers to read Brian Oxman’s
Supernova article in the Huffington Post and Thomas Mesereau’s public statements. Both articulate and intelligent men of known integrity, they knew Michael personally and were privy to the details of the tumultous circumstances of his life. Both have gone on record to verify that both sets of molestation allegations against Michael were completely false. This tragedy is all the more incredible because it is well known within the media and judicial circles that Michael was innocent. It is a story that demonstrates the ability of a lie to sustain itself if enough people are willing to not only believe it, but also maintain it. It also shows how even seemingly limitless wealth and talent - far from immuring one from attack, can actually make someone more vunerable not less. To watch Michael’s embattled journey, witness the seeming irrelevance
(to the media) of his resounding vindication in 2005; it is truly shocking that there is so little outcry about what this man endured for a quarter of a century. There is action people can take now that, I believe, will make a difference to the nature of Michael’s legacy. Please contact either/or all of these: Thomas Mesereau, Aphrodite Jones, Geraldo, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Mary A Fischer and Spike Lee by email or letter; stating in an articulate way your support for either Resolution 600 and/or your wider desire to be a part of the growing worldwide movement for Michael’s name to be decisively vindicated. These advocates need to know their continuing efforts are supported by public opinion and they need your help. A simple google of any of their names will direct you to either their office locations or bring up their email addresses.
I think it’s also worth nothing that during the early 90’s, while Tom Sneddon was spending millions and using valuable Californian police manpower travelling the world actively searching for ‘victims’ of Michael Jackson, a young Jaycee Dugard was abducted in his jurisdiction - her captivity would last 18 years. I do not believe it is an academic question to now ask whether an inquiry as to whether Sneddon’s persistent attempts to prosecute the then, biggest pop star on the planet, clouded his judgement as to deciding the best way of using taxpayer’s resources, and it remains to be seen whether this becomes a matter for informed public debate.
September 12th, 2009 at 11:24 am
The show is actually going to be upgraded. The 3D will be so good that Captain EO will pop off the screen and run off with your kid.
September 12th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
You can watch Captain EO on YouTube as much as you want to. I realize it’s not the same as in 3D and with a big screen and auditorium extra effects, but it might cure your desire to have to pay to see it again. It’s very nostalgic, but I can’t see it as a center attraction at Disneyland…maybe a limited engagement, or shown for a day once-a-month, but not as a permanent fixture.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Here, here, Deborah! We call for Michael’s vindication by MAINSTREAM MEDIA. MJ was acquitted by a jury in 2005. Not good enough. For his children’s sake, mainstream media must become more responsible. We discuss how truth can compel mainstream media to publicly admit it wrongly accused MJ of despicable crimes. Many people still believe MJ was guilty. They were influenced to believe the allegations by a biased MAINSTREAM MEDIA. No links allowed here so search at Yahoo Groups for “vindication better than tributes.”
September 12th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
AHHH NOOOOOOO! I was hoping they would bring EO back so I could take my son to see something that I enjoyed as a child. Maybe they’ll reconsider once they see how pissed off most disney goers are at the news. At least they could do is release the movie on dvd…throw in some 3D glasses…call it a day…lol *fingers crossed*
P.S. Disneyland Officials, please please please rethink about bring back Captain EO
September 13th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Captain EO was lame to start out with and interest in Michael Jackson will fall off quickly so I wish Disney would just come up with something new. They can release Captain EO on DVD for those who want a copy.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I went to Disneyland on Friday, September 18th. Star Tours is going to close next year and go 3D, Space Mountain is going to be “Ghost Galaxy” for Halloween and why can’t Captain EO return. Disney owes it to all the fans of Michael Jackson to bring it back. This was my favorite attraction at Disneyland and now a new generation can enjoy it. BRING BACK CAPTAIN EO DISNEY!!!!
September 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
WRONG! EO was one of MJ’s best.
It was thriller in space. And Lucas made it really special. I’m 35 now…When I saw this as a kid at Epcot, It made me feel like a superhero. I left the theater high on life. The message in the movie is good vs. evil. A positive view that kids could use a bit of today.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
You know, I think they’re waiting for Lucas to finish his “Special Edition” Captain EO. You know extra break-dancing whip warriors. More pointy things in your face, and extra claws on the evil queen.
I’m just waiting for Captain EO 2 starring Chris Tucker as the new Captain EO ;-)
September 29th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I just sat threw another showing of Honey and it is so boring. I’d rather have EO back. Something new would be nice too but I think they could do both OE and the new thing. While they are in between gutting the theater place to get rid of Honey they should show EO for a bit. They are going to have to gut the theater anyways if they take out Honey. So once EO is boring or not pulling numbers close it for maintenance and start to remodel for the new movie setting.
October 24th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
It’s kind of sad that we’re talking about whether we should keep the old 3D movie or go back to an even older one. Perish the thought that Disney actually tries to create something NEW to wow 21st century audiences with!