Disney Wins Bid for Casper Live-Action Series

Disney has acquired the rights to develop a live-action television series adaptation of Casper the Friendly Ghost after a competitive five-way bidding war. The project, still in early stages, originates from Universal Studio Group divisions UCP and DreamWorks Animation TV, marking a rare non-Disney intellectual property for the streamer.

Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston are writing the series, with Letterman also directing and both serving as executive producers. They previously executive produced Disney's Goosebumps series. Steven Spielberg, who executive produced the 1995 Universal film Casper, returns in the same role through his Amblin Entertainment. The new series promises a modern update on the classic ghost story, featuring a darker edge akin to Netflix's Wednesday, and will employ CGI effects to depict the translucent ghost, much like the earlier movie.

Casper, created by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo for a 1939 comic strip, debuted in Famous Studios animated shorts in 1945. Known for befriending humans rather than frightening them, the character starred in over 55 theatrical cartoons through 1959 before Harvey Comics expanded his presence in comics starting in 1952. He...