'Captain EO' Returns for Second Mission!

I always knew Michael Jackson would leave a legacy like Elvis. With his concert documentary This Is It in theaters and his music selling more since his death than he did in the few short years preceding his demise, it's a safe bet that MJ won't be going anywhere soon. Now, Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 reports Disney is planning to resurrect Captain EO, the 3-D movie that premiered in 1986 at both Disneyland and Disney's Epcot Center theme parks. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film was developed to capitalize on MJ's superstardom and influence as well as Star Wars and the 3-D technology then just emerging. It could return as early as January 2010.

The attraction was extremely popular. Who didn't see it? I remember it like yesterday: before I even had the chance to ask my mom and dad if we could check it out, they'd already made plans to go to Florida. That's when I knew that as long as Michael Jackson was somehow involved, it's an easy sell for the parents.

Though Disney discontinued the film around the second time that the pop star faced serious legal trouble, the renewed interest in all things "Michael" has also done so for the film, which is now a pop culture relic (and let's not forget, will continue to bring people into the park). In late September, Disney CEO Bob Iger was quick to dismiss plans of its return. "There aren't plans to bring [it back] 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." he told reporters at the D23 Expo.

Looks like the box office tally for This Is It (more than $200 million worldwide as of this writing) may have swayed his opinion. According to Showbiz 411, Disney can use the film any way it sees fit and envisions holding a red carpet premiere with the Jackson family.

Photo courtesy of Jean-Marc Giboux/Liaison/Getty