The LA Times reports from the D23 Expo fan convention that del Toro, who is in New Zealand doing pre-production on The Hobbit, delivered a recorded presentation in which he said he hopes to create animated films in the chilling but family-friendly spirit of one of his favorite Disney theme park attractions, the Haunted Mansion. The filmmaker waxed on about the “immersive” journey to another world that he experienced when four decades ago he stepped into the mansion.
The first project is called Trollhunters. The filmmaker also said there will be a shared trait among all the Double Dare projects, which will include books, merchandise, and films, but he kept that secret to himself for now. “I love to take audiences into fantastic new worlds and provide them with some anxious moments in the process,” Del Toro said. “It is part of the Disney canon to create thrilling, unforgettable moments and villains in all their classic films. It is my privilege for Double Dare You to continue in this tradition.”
No other details are known yet such as how many films they might make or when production on Trollhunters might begin, but no doubt we’ll be hearing more soon.