Scarlett Johansson has reaffirmed her commitment to the highly-anticipated Scarlett Johansson Tower of Terror movie, providing an update that the Disney project is actively advancing, though it remains a creative challenge. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Johansson described the adaptation of Disney World’s legendary Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride as a complex effort requiring significant development.
Scarlett Johansson and Disney Continue to Develop Challenging Adaptation
The project, announced several years ago, has held the focus of Johansson, known for her recent role in Jurassic World Rebirth, as she and Disney collaborate to transform the Hollywood Studios park’s haunted hotel attraction in Orlando into a full-length feature film. Johansson acknowledged the long road involved in adapting the ride’s narrative, originally themed around Rod Sterling’s iconic anthology series, into a screenplay with enough depth to support a movie.
“It’s a hard nut to crack. Harder than you think, 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!”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
The story behind the Hollywood Tower Hotel, the setting of the ride, follows a group of five who mysteriously enter the Twilight Zone after a dramatic lightning strike during a storm. Johansson noted that the brief nature of the original plot is well-suited to a theme park attraction, but expanding it into a cohesive Hollywood film presents unique hurdles.
Johansson further reflected on the foundation she and Disney have established in their efforts to deepen the simple framework provided by the ride’s initial concept.
“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,”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
“It has also proved to be a hard nut to crack. But, we’ll crack the case of it. It’s taking shape!”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
Disney Remarks and Past Collaboration with Scarlett Johansson
Disney has publicly stated its eagerness to collaborate with Johansson on the Tower of Terror film, even after the two parties resolved their legal disagreement regarding the release strategy for Black Widow in 2021. The studio’s optimism about working together on additional projects, with special reference to the Tower of Terror adaptation, further emphasizes the importance of this movie within Disney’s future plans.
“We look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects, including Disney’s Tower of Terror.”
—Disney (Studio Statement)
Legacy of the Tower of Terror Ride and Its Global Versions
The Tower of Terror, located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, stands as one of the park’s most renowned attractions. Its towering structure and the Twilight Zone-inspired drop sequence have made it iconic, sparking versions across the globe, including Paris at Walt Disney Studios, Tokyo DisneySea in Japan, and Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in California. Notably, each international version has incorporated distinct themes and stories.
In 2017, the Disneyland iteration saw its storyline replaced, as the attraction transformed to fit into the new Avengers Campus, adopting a Guardians of the Galaxy motif and leaving the original Tower of Terror theming behind.
Fans and Celebrities Appeal for Preservation Amid Ride Changes
As speculation emerges about potential changes to the original Florida ride, pop artist and actress Ariana Grande voiced her wishes on the Las Culturistas podcast, encouraging Disney to maintain the attraction’s classic form.
“Please allow the iconic and tremendous Tower of Terror to stand tall, permanently in the name of historical preservation, spooky honor, and good, old-fashioned fun. I hope that you’ll consider this humble plea from a passionate fan,”
—Ariana Grande, Singer and Actress
History of Tower of Terror Adaptations and Its Influence
While Johansson’s project is highly anticipated, it is not the first attempt to bring the Tower of Terror ride to the screen. In 1997, Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst starred in a made-for-TV movie based loosely on the same attraction, though it notably omitted the Twilight Zone elements inherent to the ride’s identity.
What Comes Next for the Scarlett Johansson Tower of Terror Movie?
With Johansson’s active involvement and frequent updates, the Scarlett Johansson Tower of Terror movie is steadily developing, even as she and Disney grapple with translating the ride’s concise narrative into an engaging feature film. The enduring popularity of the Tower of Terror at Disney parks around the world and recent celebrity advocacy highlight the cultural significance of the story’s haunting, mysterious core. As work continues, fans can look forward to more information about the project’s direction and how Johansson, Disney, and key creative partners—like Entertainment Weekly and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—plan to honor the legacy of both the attraction and its Twilight Zone roots.
