Disney CEO Iger denies 'Captain EO' return

Speaking at the D23 conference last week, Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger dispelled rumors that the 3-D film "Captain EO" would be making a return engagement at Disneyland. "There aren't plans to bring back 'Captain EO' at this time. We are looking at it. It's the kind of thing that, if we did it, would get a fair amount of attention and we'd want to make sure we do it right," Iger said. The film, which premiered in September of 1986 in both Disneyland and Epcot, was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Coppola, Star Wars creator George Lucas, and Rusty Lemonade, and starred Angelica Huston and the late Michael Jackson.

Rumors began swirling of a possible return for the aging film soon after Jackson's death earlier this year; according to MiceAge, Iger's dismissal may not be the final word on the project. Equipment was apparently brought into Disneyland for two test screenings — one for Disney executives and one for Jackson's family — after both Walt Disney Imagineering and Team Disney Anaheim had given the film's return the go-ahead. Due to possible PR backlash stemming from Jackson's legal troubles, Iger is said to have decided against an immediate return, but may very well revisit the idea once a thorough public relations strategy is worked out for the announcement, with a possible tie-in to local charities of Disneyland's 2010 volunteering marketing campaign.