Director Justin Simien talks about the star-studded, "non-diva" cast of Disney's "Haunted Mansion" and his radical vision for the remake. Simien tells Salon that the push for including more New Orleans and more Black culture were part of his initial pitch to Disney. And he shares why Black people belong in sci-fi and fantasy films. "These are the kinds of things that you don't really put out on the poster or talk about in all the press interviews, but these are the reasons why I make this movie," he said. The director also voices his support for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Hollywood strikes.