When Fantasmic returns to Disneyland Park in 2017, guests will find a number of upgrades to the show on the technical side. A brand new HD projection system, lighting upgrades, and a completely new sound system (which wasn’t replaced in the 2009 overhaul) are expected in the change-over. In addition, the show will be sporting a few new segments, including one for Pirates of the Caribbean, which would replace the Peter Pan segment which has been in the show since it debuted in 1992. Using projection mapping technology, the plan will be to turn the Sailing Ship Columbia into the Black Pearl. The ship will host a large fight between Jack Sparrow’s crew and that of Captain Barbossa. Of course, The Columbia will be re-rigged for all new stunt work featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and his pirate friends. The truly amazing part (if true) is that the projection mapping technology will follow the ship around the river, also projecting onto the performers on the boat. This effect would allow performers to change in appearance, jumping between a skeleton and human form just like the characters in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. RUMOR: Pirates of the Caribbean Replacing Peter Pan in "FANTASMIC 2.0" Show at Disneyland in 2017 - WDW News Today
I'm not opposed to changing Fantasmic!; it's always been a random collection of films that doesn't make a ton of sense. But if they're going to do it, they need to be sure that every change they make will be an improvement, especially for things like the Columbia where it will be all too easy to make a direct comparison to what was there before. The Peter Pan segment has always been a highlight of the show, so it's a bold move to consider replacing it with a franchise that seems to be beyond it's "sell by" date Additionally, I'm a little concerned about the implications of adding large-scale projection mapping. While it would certainly be neat to see, would it require darker overall lighting during the scene? And less dramatic choreography/stunts? There's potential merit to the idea, but I'm not sold yet I also really hope that all the changes are able to maintain the great pacing and energy of the original show. Disney has tried to replicate F! numerous times in a variety of venues, but none has ever really captured what the original got right: the pacing. Yes, it's a random assemblage of scenes, but it works in that amorphous "Disney magic" sort of way. I'm just not sure I trust the current crop of folks in WDI/entertainment to come up with that these days
