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?
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Oooooh i saw this when I 13 and it was new to Disneyland. I must say good comback.
God, I remember watching this when I was a kid!
i saw it at disneyland years and years ago. my parents won a trip to the california in about 93 so i was 9 years old.
i remember being really scared by the queen and really impressed by the 3D aspect. I had to take my 3D glasses off when the queen was on though cause she was too scary.
i saw it a few times as a kid. we’d travel to disneyland every year (from alaska)… i was bummed when they took it out, but i was fortunate enough to see it at disneyland paris in ’97! i think they’ve since replaces it, but it was on my MUST DO list while i was there. i had to see it a couple times :) angelica houston’s character still scared me when she reaches out into the audience.
I absolutely loved this when I was little and will never forget it! I loved the song at the end, “It’s Just Another Part of Me”- it was awesome!
i saw this two times in disneyland in paris. if i remember correctly that was in ’92 and ’98 ;)
back then i thought it was brilliant. i guess i wouldn’t say the same about it now, but it still should be fun! i would love to see it again :)
I’ve been an annual pass holder for years. I’ve seen Captain EO enough times to re-enact it beginning to end. I’d love to see it back in the park.
Oh man, I saw this when I was really young (6 or 7) and it was terrifying. I couldn’t keep the glasses on.
Was there the night it opened, somewhere in a box is my “Captian E-O” shirt. I have to admit I got really excited when I read this post. I’ve been craving a Captian E-O fix for quite some time now (even before MJ died). Good or bad this is such a HUGE part of my childhood. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it!
I saw it a few times back in the day at Disney World and I (like jenny) had to take my glasses off when the queen came on. I was petrified. I would LOVE to see it again.
Also, a HUGE part of my childhood. We saw this at epcot, about 1988. My brother and I both had the shirts!
I would love to see this again in all of its 3D glory!
Us passholders have been asking for this for years!! Don’t know why they ever took it out, nobody bothers with “Honey I Shrunk the Audience”.