Steven Spielberg to produce “Casper” live-action series for Disney+

Mekishana PierreWed, April 29, 2026 at 6:45 PM UTC

0

Casper (voice: Malachi Pearson) and Christina Ricci in 'Casper'Credit: Universal Pictures / Courtesy EverettKey Points -

Disney+ has nabbed a live-action series based on Casper the Friendly Ghost, Entertainment Weekly can confirm.

Goosebumps' Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston will executive-produce alongside Steven Spielberg, who executive-produced the 1995 Universal movie, and UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

It is believed the update will have a dark edge to it, the way Wednesday tackles the Addams Family lore.

Casper the Friendly Ghost is making a comeback in a live-action series.

Entertainment Weekly can confirm that Disney+ has nabbed a "modern update" on the iconic tale of everyone's favorite ghost from the network's Goosebumps executive producers, Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston. The duo will executive produce alongside Steven Spielberg, who executive-produced the 1995 Universal movie, and UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Letterman and Winston are also writing, with Letterman set to direct.

Details on the live-action series are being kept under wraps as the project is still in early stages of development, but Deadline, which broke the news, reports that it is believed the update will have a dark edge, much like Netflix's Wednesday series.

Christina Ricci in 'Casper'Credit: Universal/Courtesy Everett

The character of Casper was first featured in a string of animated movies by Famous Studios released between 1945 and 1959, before he was acquired as a Harvey Comics character. He's since been the star of a slew of comic books and five animated TV series, and eventually floated into theaters via Brad Silberling's iconic film in May 1995.

The supernatural family flick follows teenager Kat Harvey (Christina Ricci) and her widowed father, Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), a paranormal therapist hired to move in and cleanse a haunted mansion. Malachi Pearson voiced the titular friendly ghost in Casper and reprised the role in some video games and an animated spinoff, The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper (1996–1998). Other notable credits include guest roles on Full House (1989–1990), Kenan & Kel (2000), and Malcolm in the Middle (2000).

Casper's screenwriters, Deanna Oliver and Sherri Stoner, told EW in 1995 that Spielberg wanted the film to be chock-full of pop culture references — from clever cameos to blink-and-you 'll-miss-it visual gags, preceding similarly meta hits like Shrek (2001) and Deadpool (2016) — to help broaden the enjoyment for both child and adult moviegoers. Stoner and Oliver kept Casper's topical gags flying fast, but with purpose — just like in their teleplays for Animaniacs or Tiny Toons. "You have to be specific with your humor," Oliver said at the time. "The more specific you are, the funnier it is."

While critics were divided over the film at the time, Casper became a box office hit and earned its place as a nostalgic favorite for '90s kids.

Advertisement

While no casting details have been shared for the series, it's inevitable that some fans will hope to see Ricci reprise her role as Kat, or even former teen heartthrob Devon Sawa, who briefly appeared at the end of Casper, playing the titular ghost's human form.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.

During a 2022 appearance on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, Ricci admitted she's not proud of her Casper performance.

"If you actually watch Casper, I'm terrible in it,” she said. "People get so upset when I say that. Because I'm like, 'No, it's a wonderful movie.' ... It's a childhood treasure to people, but I am terrible in it."

She continued, "I just don't think I tried very hard, to tell you the truth. Embarrassingly, I have to say, I don't think I tried as hard as maybe I should have."

On the other hand, in a 2021 interview with EW, Sawa said his Casper role "means a lot" to him. He recalled how his audition tape reached Spielberg and how his grandmother went to set with him when he landed the part. "She could not care less about [Spielberg] because she was in this world where there was a roller coaster and a big house built in the stage. It was a magical time."

Fingers crossed this new series gives them a chance to reunite and introduce a whole new generation to the titular ghost.

on Entertainment Weekly

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”