In the wake of the smashing box office success of Michael Jackson’s final rehearsal/concert film This Is It, there are new reports that MJ’s 1986 classic sci-fi 3D film Captain EO will return from exile to be shown again at the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, CA starting next year. Now, none of this has been officially confirmed by the folks at Disney but it makes total sense that they would want to revive the mini-movie/music video in the wake of MJ’s untimely death earlier this year:
“Captain EO” is coming back. The word from Hollywood is that Disneyland is planning to revive Michael Jackson’s 3D film beginning in January. Heavily influenced by “Star Wars,” the 1986 short film was produced by George Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Back in those days, Michael had the money from “Thriller” to make anything happen. Among the cast: Michael, Anjelica Huston, Dick Shawn — the latter died less than a year after “Captain EO” was released. It’s the 3D version coming back to Disneyland, but you can watch a less complex version on YouTube. “Captain EO” was pulled from Disneyland years ago. But with Jackson’s “This Is It” up to about $220 million worldwide, interest in him is rekindled. It’s another tragic irony for Jackson. And, believe it or not, the “This Is It” companion CD looks like it sold well over 125,000 copies last week — even though it’s just greatest hits. “Captain EO” contains a video of Jackson dancing and singing a song called “We Are Here to Change the World.” No word yet on whether Huston or any of the other “Captain EO” cast members will get paid for this revival. According to sources, Disney has the right to use the film whenever it wants to. I’m told they’re even thinking of having a premiere — with a red carpet — if they can get Jackson family members to attend. Hey, La Toya — you should call them right away!
Again, until we get official confirmation from Disney, I think it’s a bit premature to be celebratin’ this good news just yet … but it is encouraging that this rumor is making the rounds. I never got to see Captain EO (which I always regarded as the bastard child of The Muppet Show and Star Wars) when it was showing at Disney in the late 80’s so I would be VERY interested in seeing it on the big screen with my own eyes. I wonder if it’s possible for updated new scenes to be added to the original film. That being said, the entire Captain EO mini-movie can be viewed online right now. After the jump, watch it in full for yourselves …
Altho we can’t watch it in 3D online, it is nice that we can be reminded how fun and strange Captain EO is in the first place. Have any of y’all been fortunate enough to see Captain EO when it was showing at Disney all those years ago? Would any of y’all be interested in seeing it if it were to return?