It’s been years since Scarlett Johansson was first linked to Disney’s live-action adaptation of Tower of Terror, and while fans may have assumed the project had been shelved, the actress has confirmed it’s still very much in development.
Speaking to EW.com, the 40-year-old Hollywood star revealed the project has faced creative challenges—mainly due to the limited backstory tied to the theme park ride it’s based on.
“It’s a hard nut to crack. Harder than you think,” Johansson admitted.
“Because the ride itself, there’s some lore to it, but it’s… I don’t want to say thin, but it is, kind of!”
Despite that, she remains optimistic about its progress.
“That’s part of the mystery of the ride. It’s been a fun project to work on, because it’s a blue sky project.
It has also proved to be a hard nut to crack. But we’ll crack the case of it. It’s taking shape!”
The Challenge of Turning a Ride Into a Film
Based on the beloved Tower of Terror ride at Disney theme parks, the film is intended to capture the eerie, mysterious energy of the attraction, which transports guests into “The Twilight Zone” after a chilling elevator malfunction inside the haunted Hollywood Tower Hotel.
But translating that atmospheric thrill into a full-length film has proven to be more complex than expected.
This isn’t the first attempt at a Tower of Terror film. In 1997, a made-for-TV version starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst aired on ABC. Though it borrowed visuals from the attraction, it notably excluded the Twilight Zone branding.
Still Towering, Just Slowly
While Disney has had success adapting its attractions into hit movies (Pirates of the Caribbean being the gold standard), Johansson’s Tower of Terror is taking a more careful, creative path.
For now, fans of Scarlett Johansson and Disney thrillers will have to wait patiently—but knowing Johansson’s track record, when it does hit screens, it could be well worth the wait.
