“Captain EO,” the 3D film starring the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, is returning to Disneyland for a limited time starting in February, Disney announced today.
It’s the first time Disney has confirmed rumors of the film’s return – rumors that have been flying since shortly after Jackson died in June.
The 17-minute film will return to its original home at the theater inside Tomorrowland, replacing “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience,” which currently occupies the theater and is expected to close in the next few weeks, Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.
Disney officials call it a “limited engagement.” Brown said how limited has yet to be decided.
“This is an entertainment experience that our guests are excited about and we’re happy to be bringing it back,” Brown said.
The film was a mainstay at the park from 1986 to 1997, finally closing after its popularity faded. Jackson also was facing molestation charges, starting in 1993, which prompted some people to question the appropriateness of the film playing inside the family friendly theme park.
When asked about the criminal allegations and whether that was considered in deciding whether to bring it back, Brown would only say: “”The decision was made based on our guests’ feedback and there was much guest nostalgia and demand for Captain EO.”
(Jackson won’t be the only celeb to make it back to Disneyland. Just today, an updated, robotic Mr. Lincoln again started performing. )
A powerhouse team from the entertainment industry created “Captain EO,” including “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, who served as executive producer. It was directed by “ Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola, with music from film composer James Horner and from Jackson.
Press reports said the film cost an estimated $17 million to $30 million to make.
Movie critics panned the film as cheesy entertainment at the time, but it delighted many Jackson fans and park-goers with its story of a spaceship captain leading a crew of aliens, robots and a sidekick named “Fuzzball” on a mission to deliver a gift to the Witch Queen (played by Angelica Huston.)
The crew of Captain EO, played by Jackson, is captured and sentenced to torture. But EO sees the beauty inside the Witch Queen and attempts to bring it out with a song, called “We Are Here to Change the World.”
Disney president Bob Iger said at the D23 Convention in September that there were no immediate plans to bring back the film, but that Disney officials were reviewing it.
Speculation about the return of the film, rampant since Jackson’s death, continued on many Disney-related blogs.
The October release of “This Is It,” a documentary following the lead up to what was supposed to be Jackson’s comeback tour, fed more rumors of the return of “Captain EO.”
“This Is It,” grossed more than $23 million in its opening weekend, making the top weekend draw during a busy Halloween movie season. The film, widely praised by movie critics and Jackson fans for its intimate portrayal, has grossed more than $252 million, making it the highest-grossing documentary or concert movie of all time.
