Disney’s most iconic films are coming to Secret Cinema in 2020

Immersive cinematic experience company Secret Cinema has announced a multi-title agreement with Disney, with its first event opening this year in London. Working with The Walt Disney Studios in-house tech innovation department StudioLab – a relatively new hub inside Disney looking to further develop tech for films and events, such as VR and Mixed Reality – the events will take on the studio’s “most iconic films”.

The announcement comes in tandem with the news that Secret Cinema will branch out beyond the UK for the first time, with events soon landing in Los Angeles and New York. Since 2007, the events company has brought classic movies to unused spaces in London, from the town of Hill Valley taking over a vacant plot of the Olympic Park, to the inside of the Death Star recreated in an old newspaper printing facility (which has since become events venue Printworks). Each time, the film’s scenery is built in uncannily realistic detail and populated with actors playing its characters. Attendees become extras in the film and can “live the movie”, whether participating in side storylines or simply exploring the set, before watching the film at the end.

“To be given the opportunity to bring some of Disney’s legendary franchises to life is a storyteller’s dream,” says Secret Cinema’s Katie Davidson, “and our slate of productions over the course of this relationship will see Secret Cinema create truly magical events on both sides of the Atlantic. It has been incredibly exciting structuring this game-changing deal with The Walt Disney Studios’ StudioLab team, and we’re excited that the collaboration is going to deliver next-level experiences for both our audiences.”

One of the first StudioLab projects was a collaboration with Pixar on Coco VR, the studio’s first ever virtual reality experience, which was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Original Interactive Program.

With the much-talked-about live action remake of The Little Mermaid starting production this year, and impressive technology bringing it to life in Disney World’s Ariel’s Undersea Adventure ride, this looks like the favourite at the moment for the Secret Cinema treatment; although Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book are also in the running.