The friendly ghost is getting a modern makeover, and this time it looks a little darker. After a competitive five-way bidding war, Disney+ has landed the rights to turn ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost‘ into a new live-action TV series. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is on board as an executive producer.
‘Wednesday’ Style Tone and Creative Team
According to Deadline, the project is being described as a “modern update on the classic ghost story.” Not much is known about the plot yet, but sources say the show will not rely on pure nostalgia. Instead, it will go for a darker and edgier feel, similar to Netflix’s hit show ‘Wednesday‘. As one report from the outlet notes, “It is believed to have a dark edge to it, the way Wednesday tackles the Addams Family lore.” So expect a mix of supernatural thrills and character-driven drama.
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The creative team has plenty of experience with this kind of material. The series is being written and executive-produced by Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston. They were executive producers on Disney+’s recent ‘Goosebumps‘ adaptation, and Letterman is also set to direct. Spielberg will join them. He previously served as an executive producer on the beloved 1995 ‘Casper‘ movie starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman.
Development Status and Streaming Platform Move
This is something of a homecoming for the character. Casper first appeared in animated shorts from 1945 to 1959 and later became a comic book staple. The series is a co-production between Universal Studio Group (UCP) and DreamWorks Animation TV, which NBCUniversal owns.
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If the show moves forward, it will be a rare piece of non-Disney intellectual property on the streaming platform, joining other ghost characters already in the Disney umbrella. An earlier attempt at a ‘Casper‘ series for Peacock fell through in 2022, but this new version has a premium development deal at Disney+. No casting or release date has been announced yet. The project is still in early development.
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