theme park Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Looks like that rumor we told you about in April has magically become true; Warner Bros. has teamed with Universal to create a monster theme park based on the world of Harry Potter. Opening in 2009, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be stationed at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida and is currently being described as "a theme park within a theme park." Sweet! Now all those depressed children (and their equally depressed parents) will have a place to visit once their beloved hero retires for good. Apart from all the shops ("Buy some Potter underwear -- they're only $40 a pair! It's a steal!), the park will include three attractions; "the village of Hogsmeade, the mysterious Forbidden Forest, and even Hogwarts castle itself."

Oh wait, we're not done there -- the press release also states that the park will include "restaurants that will enable guests to sample fare from the wizarding world's best known establishments." Hey, I didn't know Harry was a sucker for double bacon Potter burgers! In order to maintain the look and feel of the films, they've brought on production designer Stuart Craig to lead the creative design for the area. He says, "Our primary goal is to make sure this experience is an authentic extension of Harry Potter's world as it is portrayed in the books and films." Sounds good to me. Check out a few more park designs after the jump, and you Potter fanatics should weigh in and tell us what you'd like to see included in this new theme park.

Move over Orlando, Dubai is looking to become the world's next major theme park hub. United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. have announced a joint partnership that will bring a new mind-blowing theme park to Dubai; one that can (and most likely will) utilize Marvel's entire library of superheroes, including Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Silver Surfer and Iron Man. According to a press release, the project will open in 2011 and is sure to become a must-see for you thrill fanatics and Marvel fanboys.

A number of Marvel characters (including Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk) are already featured at Orlando's Islands of Adventure -- however, to my knowledge, there are currently no parks that specifically cater to the Marvel universe. Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Group, notes that with this new partnership they aim to create "the ultimate entertainment destination for families and children of the region and the world, a destination where they can live their childhood fantasies and create new memories for the entire family to cherish and remember." The creative team (working off a direct investment of $1 billion) will be based in Hollywood, Orlando and Dubai during the development process, with the ultimate goal being to create "a new standard for theme parks around the world." The only problem? You have to go all the way to Dubai. Drats.

The whole thing sounds pretty interesting, and I wonder whether they will incorporate scenes from the films into each ride (a la Disney with their Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Orlando). Is this a place you'd be interested in visiting? What sort of rides would you like to see show up?

[via Hollywood Wiretap]

I've been writing for Cinematical for nearly a year now, give or take. And I think I can say, without some degree of certainty, that this may be simultaneously the coolest and weirdest bit of news I've shared with you yet. According to Screamscape, Chinese news sources have been running with reports of a major new theme park which hopes to grace China's lands. Since we all know you can't have a theme park without a theme (and, boy, does this park ever have a theme), supposedly they're thinking about going with actor Bruce Lee. Yes, an entire theme park dedicated to one of China's most recognizable sons.* And what, I hear you ask, would be featured in such a park? Well, from what's being reported, we have two features outlined:

• The Bruce Lee roller-coaster, complete with "Bruce Lee's signature screams and grunts."
• This is the kicker, right here: Bruce Lee robots patrolling the park, radio controlled from within a giant Bruce Lee tower somewhere in the middle of said park.
  

That's right friends, Bruce-bots at the Bruce Lee theme park. Yes, it sounds both amazing and mildly terrifying, but Screamscape warns not to get your hopes up, as they expect nothing to come of these crazy Chinese rumors.

*Yes, he was born in San Francisco, but he was a major force in bringing Chinese nationalism into western movies.