Club 33: Disney’s Secretive Dining Club Hits the Big Screen
– Club 33, Disneyland’s exclusive dining club, is set to be featured in a new movie conceived in a fantastical world, written by Darren Lemke and produced by Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment.
– The film will involve a young detective solving a murder at Club 33, which is populated by history’s most iconic figures, with a tone reminiscent of Clue and Night at the Museum.
An exclusive Disney enclave is soon to illuminate cinema screens worldwide in a venture blending secrecy and nostalgia from the entertainment giant’s storied amusement parks. Club 33, the hush-hush dining society tucked away in Disneyland, is slated to inspire a feature film, bringing the allure and mystique of the members-only locale to life in a grand narrative spectacle for audiences of all ages.
The creative force behind this cinematic venture is Darren Lemke, whose screenwriting portfolio includes enchanting family films such as “Goosebumps” with the comedic dynamo Jack Black, and the superhero action-comedy “Shazam!” Lemke is tasked with composing a story set in a realm of wonder and enchantment, based on the legendary club.
At the helm of production are Shawn Levy, known for directing the wise-cracking “Deadpool & Wolverine,” accompanied by Dan Levine and Dan Cohen. The trio will orchestrate the film under the auspices of 21 Laps Entertainment—a celebrated production company responsible for not just captivating series like “Stranger Things,” but also for projects with profound depth, such as the moving “All The Light We Cannot See.”
The envisioned atmosphere for the Club 33 film echoes the whimsical and mysterious ambiance found in hits like “Clue” and “Night at the Museum.” Imaginations are set to soar as we encounter a young, budding detective who stumbles upon an enigmatic invitation to Club 33. Unlike its real-world counterpart, this fictional club is frequented by the most illustrious and influential characters from the annals of history. As idyllic as it appears, the plot thickens when a crime is committed within its walls, beckoning the protagonist to unravel the truth.
What sets this assertion of Club 33 apart in the Disney portfolio is the initiative to mine the rich semantics of its theme park attractions for cinematic gold, a strategy that’s been cultivated since “Pirates of the Caribbean” set the standard for theme-park-ride-to-blockbuster-film adaptations. The endeavor is not without its challenges, as evidenced by the varying degrees of success met by films like “Tomorrowland,” “Jungle Cruise,” and “Haunted Mansion.”
The original Club 33 opened its doors in 1967, nestled close to the Pirates attraction in Disneyland. Initially a private retreat for Walt Disney’s esteemed guests, over the decades, Club 33 became a symbol of exclusivity and sophistication, its reputation blossoming even as it remained discreet within the theme park. Today, the global allure of Club 33 has expanded beyond Anaheim to Disney parks in Florida, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
As 21 Laps Entertainment basks in accolades, such as a PGA nomination for its adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “All the Light We Cannot See,” it also prepares for upcoming releases, including “Never Let Go,” featuring Halle Berry, and awaits the promotional surge for Levy’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Concurrently, Lemke fortifies his stature in family entertainment, with credits on various beloved films and contributions to series like Amazon’s “Wheel of Time.”
This project is a blending of Lemke’s knack for creating enchanting family fare and 21 Laps’ expertise in crafting cinema that resonates with a wide audience. With a track record of such calibre, the anticipation for this dive into a magical Disney world—a world usually veiled from public view—promises to captivate imaginations and enthrall fans looking to unlock the mysteries hidden within Club 33.