DISNEY’S THRILLER: Long away from the public...

DISNEY’S THRILLER: Long away from the public eye, Michael Jackson is now completing his work on “Captain Eo,” the 15-minute, 3-D extravaganza due to be unveiled as a new Disneyland and Disney World attraction in mid-March. Besides acting in the project, Jackson also participated in some special-effects shooting and he’s also written, produced and recorded new songs for it.

So what can we expect from a multimedia experience combining Jackson, George Lucas, director Francis Coppola and actress Anjelica Huston? “It’s got a story, a plot, music, dancing, action, adventure and a special effect every 30 seconds,” says a spokeswoman--adding, perhaps unnecessarily, that when it debuts it’ll be with “a lot of hoopla.” The hoopla may include TV specials and round-the-clock hours in both amusement parks--but it’ll reportedly focus on Disney, not Jackson.

As for more typical Jackson fare, a spokeswoman for the singer says that Jackson is in the studio and expects to have an album of new material--probably not including the “Captain Eo” songs--in the stores by March or April.