What’s Happening With Scarlett Johansson’s Tower of Terror Movie?

Disney fans have been waiting for years to hear what’s going on with Tower of Terror. Back in 2021, it made headlines when Scarlett Johansson signed on to star in and produce the film. But since then, things have been pretty quiet. Now, Johansson finally gave a fresh update that sheds light on what’s taking so long.

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Talking with Entertainment Weekly, Johansson didn’t dodge the question. She admitted the movie is still in the works, but she called it a “hard nut to crack.” If you’ve ever ridden the Tower of Terror at a Disney park, you probably get what she means.

The ride has plenty of spooky atmosphere. There’s a cursed elevator. There’s that old Hollywood haunted hotel vibe. It’s inspired by The Twilight Zone. But there isn’t a full-blown plot sitting there ready to be turned into a two-hour movie.

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Johansson said it herself. The lore is there, but it’s “kind of thin.” Part of the ride’s charm is that sense of mystery. You don’t know every secret. Turning that mystery into a full story is trickier than you’d think.

Why Has The Movie Been Delayed So Long?

A big part of the delay goes back to Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney. After Black Widow hit Disney+ and theaters at the same time, she sued the company over how it was released. That slowed down a lot of other talks she had with Disney at the time.

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Then the writers’ strike in 2023 put even more roadblocks in the way. No scripts were moving. No pitches were happening. For a project like this, where the story is still being figured out, that was a big freeze.

Now, though, Johansson says the pieces are finally starting to come together. She called it a “blue sky project,” meaning they’re not locked into a strict plan yet. They’re still exploring ideas, trying to find the version that makes the best use of that haunted hotel vibe.

When Might Tower of Terror Hit Theaters?

Disney hasn’t put a release date on the calendar. The Tower of Terror ride still lives on in Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. But the original California ride got replaced in 2017 by Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! So fans who want the classic Hollywood Tower Hotel experience usually head to Florida or overseas.

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While the movie waits for its final green light, Johansson is staying busy. She’s starring in Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards. That movie lands in US theaters on July 2, 2025. So if you want a Scarlett fix, you don’t have too long to wait.

For now, Tower of Terror fans will just have to buckle in for a bit more suspense. If Johansson has her way, that haunted elevator is still going to open its doors on the big screen one day.