The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be the biggest movie franchise of all time, but did you know that Disney created its own interconnected “cinematic universe” decades before? In the 1960s, Disney released a series of films that are all connected through locations and characters, creating what we’ll call the Absent-Minded Professor Cinematic Universe (AMPCU).
It all started with the 1961 movie The Absent-Minded Professor, which introduced the character of a college professor who invents a flying rubber object called Flubber. This film was followed by a rare Disney sequel, Son of Flubber, in 1963. Six years later, Disney released The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, starring Kurt Russell as a college student at the same school as the professor in The Absent-Minded Professor.
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes spawned two sequels, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t and The Strongest Man in the World, adding to the growing universe of interconnected Disney films. Additionally, the popular film The Love Bug introduced the character of Herbie the sentient Volkswagen in 1968.
Herbie Rides Again, a sequel to The Love Bug, featured a villain character played by Keenan Wynn, who also appeared in the Absent-Minded Professor films. This connection solidified the link between the Herbie and AMPCU franchises. The Herbie franchise continued with several more films, including 2005’s Herbie: Fully Loaded and a made-for-TV movie starring Bruce Campbell.
While these films were not initially intended to be connected, the repeated use of certain actors and locations created a unique cinematic universe within the Disney catalog. With the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not hard to imagine a modern remake of these films intentionally incorporating crossover elements.
If you’re interested in exploring the AMPCU for yourself, many of these films are available for streaming on Disney+. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a journey through the interconnected world of the Absent-Minded Professor Cinematic Universe.
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