Disney plans "Haunted High School Musical" feature

[crazy4wdw]

Disney plans "Haunted High School Musical" feature
Thu Feb 8, 2007 9:30am ET

LOS ANGELES, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. said it will follow up on the success of its "High School Musical" made-for-TV movie and franchise, by releasing a big screen movie, "Haunted High School Musical" in 2008.

The original "High School Musical," made for $4.2 million, was a Romeo and Juliet-style musical widely derided by critics, but embraced by fans around the world.

It premiered in 2006 and has been viewed by 100 million people, spawned the top-selling album in the U.S. in 2006, and has sold 6.5 million DVD units worldwide as well as a concert tour.

Disney did not reveal the plot of the "Haunted" movie.

Disney on Wednesday said first quarter operating income at its cable networks increased $81 million to $453 million, driven by increases at the international Disney channels and domestic Disney/ABC cable networks.

The increase at the domestic cable networks was driven in part by DVD sales of "High School Musical" and higher affiliate and advertising revenues, the company said.

Disney has said it also plans to release "High School Musical 2" this summer on its cable network, Disney Channel.

"('High School Musical') skyrocketed to heights never before achieved by a TV movie, so it's only fitting that its next incarnation should be as a major motion picture," said Gary Marsh, president, entertainment, Disney Channel Worldwide.

Internationally, "High School Musical" has aired on 26 Disney Channels worldwide and broadcast networks, reaching over 100 countries.

 

[MomofKatie]

Hmmmm... can you say "let's milk it while we can"? I don't get the connection from a cute "Grease" style HS story to "Haunted HSM".

 

[crazy4wdw]

From the Orlando Sentinel:

High School Musical" spinning off to multiplex
Posted on Feb 8, 2007 10:03:45 AM
Can't get enough "High School Musical"? Disney has heard you.

The phenomenon will spawn a theatrical movie, "Haunted High School Musical," next year, the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group announced Thursday.

"When people think 'big screen' for a TV movie, they generally don't think this big -- but no plasma TV could contain our plans for 'High School Musical 3,' thanks to the Walt Disney Studios," Rich Ross, president of Disney Channel Worldwide, said in a statement.

Filming on "High School Musical 2" starts in two weeks. And that film will premiere on Disney Channel this summer. That sequel will reunite the original cast and director Kenny Ortega.

A Disney Channel spokeswoman said discussions are under way for the cast to appear in the big-screen sequel. No script has been written yet, she added.

Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel, noted the popularity of "High School Musical" with kids and families everywhere. "It's only fitting that its next incarnation should be as a major motion picture," he said in a statement. "Now, millions of kids and families can 'get their heads in the game' one more time."

"High School Musical" premiered in January 2006. It has aired on 26 Disney Channels worldwide and played in more than 100 countries. The sound track was the No. 1 album released in the year 2006. The film's DVD has sold 6.5 million copies. A concert tour played 42 cities and featured Central Floridian Drew Seeley filling in for star Zac Efron, who was filming a movie. Disney Theatrical expects a stage version to be produced in 2,000 schools in the first year, according to a Disney Channel release.

So is there any surprise that Disney wants to spread the magic to the multiplex?

And in other Disney news Thursday, Touchstone Television is getting a new name. Touchstone is in the in-hour production company of the Disney-ABC Television Group. Now it will be called the ABC Television Studio. Makes sense.

 

[Mickey1122]

Haunted???
That should be an interesting plot. The sad thing is that none of them could ever match the original because of the novelty of a musical.