Knott's Berry Farms Wants Some of That Disney Money

By Foywonder
July 23rd, 2009

Where is it written that only Disney is allowed to make movies based on their rides and attractions? That must be what James Moll, documentary filmmaker and head of Allentown Prods, must have asked himself before acquiring the rights to make a motion picture based upon Knott's Berry Farm's "Calico Ghost Town".

The plan is to set the film in the turn of the century Wild West in the boomtown gold mining town of Calico after being overrun by ghosts and evil supernatural creatures. Moll tells Variety, "It's the perfect setting for a big, spooky, family adventure with all the elements of a classic Western -- cowboys, showgirls, gunfights, chases through creepy mines -- all with a supernatural twist."

In other words, they're thinking Pirates of the Caribbean but with cowboys in place of pirates, horses in place of boats, dirt in place of water, and a lesser known theme park attraction in place of instant name recognition.

Moll expects to announce additional financing and a writer and director later this summer.

In other news, I am pleased to announced I have bought the film rights to that creepy dancing old man in the tuxedo from the Six Flags commercials to make into a dance-themed horror film I am pitching to potential investors as "Step Up" meets "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" at a theme park.

- The Foywonder