The Haunted Mansion Fans Hope Jared Leto's Casting Doesn't Curse The Movie
If a movie flops at the box office or is just not embraced by fans, it's completely natural to search for where to place blame. This type of scrutinization is usually amplified when the film revolves around already established comic book characters or even classic theme park rides. Obviously, "The Haunted Mansion" falls under the ride category, and Disney just released a teaser trailer for its upcoming spooky portrayal. The montage of clips acts as a whirlwind of familiar paranormal objects and characters that Disney park fans will find pleasantly familiar. One of these quick flashes consists of The Hatbox Ghost, played by Jared Leto. This casting has caused some fans to shudder, as they believe the talented actor has become a curse for any film he takes part in.
If you are unaware, this is the second go-around for Disney when it comes to converting this classic theme park ride into a film. Eddie Murphy starred in the first attempt in 2003 but was rejected by fans and critics. This new cast is loaded with names like Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, and Owen Wilson, to name a few. In 2022, Disney announced some more details, which included Jared Leto playing the part of The Hatbox Ghost. The character (per HauntedMansionFandom) appeared in the original ride when it opened back in 1969 but then was removed and then re-added in 2015. Now that fans know that Leto is playing this lantern-holding apparition, many have jumped online to express their concerns.
To some, a hint of Jared Leto spells doom
"The Haunted Mansion" reboot is set to hit theaters on July 28, 2023, and a new teaser trailer has just dropped. Although this has brought much excitement to plenty of fans, some seem to be suffering from "Morbius"/"Suicide Squad" PSD as they are openly expressing dismay about the fact that Jared Leto is playing the character. Over on Reddit, u/Getrockeddood expressed hesitation about the upcoming film with, "I'm like legit tired of seeing Leto, it's just an omen that the movie will be Hollywood stank." U/jon8282 clearly agreed with, "Can we stop casting Jared Leto for awhile... he's awful." While over on YouTube, @thomasbreen3136 made a desperate plea with, "Disney for everything you hold dear just stop making Jared Leto movies. I can't even."
It's hard to tell whether or not Leto-haters simply connect him directly to their pure disappointment with his recent critically panned movies or from his actual performances of late. Some fans have chosen to look at his overall career, like u/m4xxt, who defended Leto's skills by bringing up a pretty significant point, "Based on his performance in 'Dallas Buyers Club' alone I'm going to say he is a good and committed actor." U/Sadpanda77 backed that up with"'And Requiem for a Dream,' as well as 'Mr. Nobody.' I cannot doubt his acting—he can be incredible." Time will only tell if Disney's new go at "The Haunted Mansion" will be a success. However, if that doesn't happen, plenty of fans will know who exactly to blame.