While Johnny Depp made magic for Disney in last summer's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Eddie Murphy did not do the same for the studio last Thanksgiving with The Haunted Mansion.
But what both movies did have in common – along with another flick from Disney, The Country Bears – is that they were based on rides from Southern California's Disneyland. And now, another one is on the way: an action-adventure film to be based on The Jungle Cruise, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"It's completely inspired by and relates to the ride and will contain elements of the ride in the story," said David Hoberman, who will produce the feature. No stars or start date has been announced yet.
The attraction, which is also to be found at Florida's Walt Disney World, puts riders aboard a tramp steamer as it travels the Rivers of the World through hippo-, elephant- and rhino-infested waters. En route, there also is an African veldt, with a trapped safari, and the treacherous Schweitzer Falls, named for philanthropist Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965).
Meanwhile, in other Disneyland news, the park's 50th anniversary is June 15, 2005, and there will be a yearlong celebration in all the Disney parks around the world, in Florida, Paris and Tokyo. A Hong Kong Disneyland is slated for a late 2005 or early 2006 opening.
As for the original Disneyland, it will be getting a new parade, a new fireworks show and an exhibit highlighting the evolution of the park.
"The dawn of the theme park industry rose from one man's dream and he walked Anaheim orange groves more than 50 years ago, and today, the sun never sets on Disney's global theme park landscape," Disney's embattled chief executive, Michael Eisner, said last week.
As but one small part of the festivities, Tomorrowland's Space Mountain, which has been closed for refurbishment, will reopen with new special effects.
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