Christina Ricci’s 'Casper' Is Climbing Disney+ Just as a New Version Starts Taking Shape
Casper is back on Disney+’s U.S. chart, while Disney develops a new live-action CGI take with Steven Spielberg attached.
Christina Ricci is already back in the pop culture conversation through Wednesday, with Yellowjackets set to return this November, and now one of her 1990s crowd-pleasers is resurfacing too. Casper has moved up Disney+’s U.S. movie chart for Halloween season, while Disney is also developing a new version of the character.
A seasonal comeback for a 1995 favorite
Casper is currently streaming on Disney+, and it has become one of the platform’s most watched movies in the U.S. The 1995 supernatural family comedy reached No. 6 on the service’s movie chart, sitting between Toy Story 5 and the original Moana. It has also remained on the movie rankings since the start of October.
That renewed attention arrives after the film’s milestone anniversary brought it back to theaters. The movie, directed by Brad Silberling, was the feature debut for Casper the Friendly Ghost on the big screen.
When it first opened, Casper drew a mixed response from critics and audiences, but still brought in $290 million at the box office. Over time, it has become a recurring Halloween watch for viewers of different ages, helped by its visual effects and its cast.
Ricci plays Kat Harvey, a teenage girl who befriends Casper, voiced by Malachi Pearson, after she and her father move into Whipstaff Manor and have to deal with the ghosts living there. Bill Pullman plays her father, and the cast also includes Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Brad Garrett, Joe Nipote, Devon Sawa and Joe Alaskey.
What changes next for Casper fans
The character’s return on Disney+ is landing alongside a separate update for the franchise. In April, a live-action CGI hybrid reimagining of Casper the Friendly Ghost was reported to have been set up for development at Disney+.
Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston are attached to lead that project, and Steven Spielberg is involved as an executive producer. Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment also produced the 1995 film.
The new version is still in the early stages, but the plan is to give Casper a darker edge. That would mark a shift for the property, while still connecting to an aspect of the 1995 movie, which was noted for presenting Casper as a deceased child.
For now, the immediate change is simple for viewers. The original Casper is available on Disney+ now, and it is already finding a fresh audience there as Halloween viewing picks up.
