Movie and TV manufacturers being remodeled into location-based leisure (LBE) will not be a brand new idea within the points of interest trade. Common and Disney have complete theme parks based mostly on their mental property (IP), as does Warner Bros. Sights impressed by Stars Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and The Simpsons could be discovered far and extensive.
Then there’s Japan’s upcoming Ghibli Park, a bunch of Paramount-branded theme parks in Asia, and Columbia Photos’ Aquaverse in Thailand. We’re right here to debate essentially the most thrilling movie and TV-themed LBE tasks from the likes of Lionsgate, Netflix and Sony. Learn on to find the extra distinctive film and television-themed experiences and points of interest launching throughout the globe.
Noticed immersive expertise
Canadian-American leisure firm Lionsgate is lending its manufacturers to a bunch of recent LBE experiences. Its horror franchises are notably widespread.
There’s an official Noticed immersive expertise opening close to the Tower of London in time for Halloween. The narrative-driven theatrical attraction brings to life the Jigsaw killer.
Noticed: The Expertise is a partnership between Lionsgate, experiential manufacturing firm the Path Leisure Group and manufacturing firm Twisted Photos. Oren Koules and Mark Burg are Noticed producers and the founders of Twisted Photos. They stated followers “could be part of the story and uncover what Jigsaw’s twisted video games have in retailer for them”.
LBE that includes horror manufacturers
Jenefer Brown is Lionsgate’s EVP and head of world LBE. She stated the corporate is “at all times working to supply followers thrilling and genuine methods to interact with their favorite IP”. She additionally stated the attraction is a “good match, giving followers a job on the centre of the story and mixing theatrical parts with Jigsaw’s iconic traps to create the last word Noticed escape”.
The Noticed franchise’s international field workplace handed $1 billion final yr. Thorpe Park can also be residence to a Noticed-themed curler coaster, and Las Vegas includes a Noticed escape room expertise.
It escape room
Warner Bros. licences its Harry Potter model to myriad LBE points of interest worldwide. Now, additionally it is behind an It-themed escape room expertise. Pennywise can be dropped at life later this yr in Las Vegas, because of a collaboration between Warner Bros. Themed Leisure and Egan Escape Productions.
‘Escape IT’ options two multi-room adventures throughout greater than 30,000 sq. ft. It’s based mostly on the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, and its blockbuster sequel, It Chapter Two. Followers of the franchise will discover themselves in Derry. Interactive rooms take inspiration from the long-lasting areas in Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s unique novel. These embrace the Losers’ Clubhouse, the haunted Neibolt Home, and the city’s sewers.
“It’s one in all our most iconic horror movie franchises and we can not look ahead to followers to have the ability to come face-to-face with the notorious Pennywise and the city of Derry in a means they’ve by no means skilled earlier than,” stated Peter van Roden, senior VP of Warner Bros. Themed Leisure.
Pennywise-branded LBE
“We’re thrilled to work with Egan Escape Productions as they’re consultants within the area – bringing complexity and a focus to each element to assist deliver our immersive horror experiences to the subsequent stage.”
The expertise will function “greater than 20 interactive rooms, state-of-the-art particular results, lighting, animatronics, and reside actors”, in keeping with a press launch. There can even be an It-themed retail retailer, with photograph alternatives and unique merchandise.
Jason Egan is the proprietor of Egan Escape Productions. He says:
“Having the chance to work with some of the iconic and terrifying characters of all time has been an outstanding enterprise. It’s an honor to have Warner Bros. Themed Leisure belief us with their model and to deliver this beloved franchise to life right here within the wonderful metropolis.”
Escape Blair Witch
Lionsgate additionally collaborated with Egan Escape Productions on an LBE escape expertise in Las Vegas based mostly on the Blair Witch model. It’s positioned on the Fright Dome, the identical venue that homes the Noticed escape room expertise.
“Manner again in 2009 once we first labored with the Lionsgate group to deliver the Noticed movies to life at our iconic Halloween attraction, Fright Dome, I might solely have dreamed to be embarking on so many thrilling tasks with a world-class group,” stated Jason Egan, proprietor of Egan Escape Productions. “To have the ability to provide Escape Blair Witch and the Official SAW Escape: Las Vegas all below one roof is really wonderful.”
Thrill-seekers are immersed within the village of Burkittsville, Maryland. Right here, they examine mysterious occasions and disappearances. Guests work collectively to escape varied rooms, even trekking by the Black Hills Forest.
“Followers will have the ability to immerse themselves like by no means earlier than within the Black Hills Forest from the Blair Witch,” stated Lionsgate’s Jenefer Brown. “We’re thrilled to companion with Egan Escape Productions once more, and by launching Escape Blair Witch alongside the Official Noticed Escape, Las Vegas will turn out to be the can’t-miss vacation spot for excellent Lionsgate horror experiences all yr spherical.”
Blair Witch model turns into LBE
“It’s not nearly being an escape room,” Ryan Gallego, director of world reside, interactive and LBE for Lionsgate, instructed blooloop. “And it’s not nearly being a horror attraction such as you may see in a seasonal area. As a substitute, we would like you to really feel like you’re a part of the movie, a part of the sport, a part of the franchise. We’re going to tug out all of the stops to permit you to have enjoyable, but in addition to scare you.”
Lionsgate has produced a number of blockbuster manufacturers. As an example, The Starvation Video games, The Twilight Saga and Rambo, in addition to movies like Now You See Me. These all function on the studio’s largest LBE challenge thus far, Lionsgate Leisure World on Hengqin Island in China.
“We now have a saying right here at Lionsgate that good IP lives ceaselessly,” Brown instructed Blooloop. “The shared expertise and the emotional connection that friends should reside occasions and location-based leisure is really irreplaceable.
Lionsgate coasters
The leisure studio has coasters, too. Motiongate Dubai’s Lionsgate space has expanded with two new coasters impressed by John Wick and Now You See Me. John Wick: Open Contract is the world’s first coaster based mostly on the Keanu Reeves motion thriller movie. Now You See Me: Excessive Curler is the quickest single-car spinning curler coaster on the earth.
“This thrilling growth makes the Lionsgate Zone at Motiongate Dubai the epicentre of immersive blockbuster thrills within the area,” Brown stated. “For the primary time ever, it would provide followers the chance to expertise the poetic motion of John Wick and masterful misdirection of Now You See Me by exhilarating coaster experiences.”
Now You See Me LBE
“The center-pounding thrill of the brand new world’s-first rides are delightfully counterbalanced by wealthy storytelling, deeply immersive inside areas, and vibrant environments,” stated Jerry Sabatini, vice chairman, artistic of world reside and location-based leisure at Lionsgate. “In collaboration with our companions at Motiongate Dubai and FORREC, we developed intelligent methods to weave interconnected storylines in and round a dazzling-built world that’s each grandiose in spectacle and intimate intimately.”
Motiongate Dubai, the most important Hollywood-inspired theme park within the Center East, has 4 zones – Columbia Photos, DreamWorks Animation, Smurfs and Lionsgate. These home rides and points of interest impressed by motion pictures together with Shrek, Madagascar and Ghostbusters.
Chessington’s Jumanji land
Chessington World of Adventures Resort and Sony Photos lately introduced the world’s first Jumanji-branded land. This can open in spring 2023. The £17 million ‘World of Jumanji’ LBE attraction can be “a world-first expertise that deep dives into the adventurous, action-packed tales seen within the field workplace hit Jumanji movies”.
Primarily based on Sony Photos’ $2 billion movie franchise, it is going to be residence to a curler coaster that wraps round an infinite ‘Jaguar Shrine’ construction amid overgrown jungles. The unique Robin Williams film premiered in 1995. It was then adopted by Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Subsequent Degree (2019).
“What could possibly be extra thrilling than bringing the worldwide hit Jumanji movie franchise to life inside the single largest growth Chessington has ever seen,” stated Tim Harrison-Jones, divisional director at Chessington.
Jumanji model’s LBE plans
“After being entertained by the movies for thus a few years, followers now have the prospect to expertise Jumanji in a complete new dimension and we’re thrilled to be occurring this thrilling journey with the artistic group at Chessington as Jumanji additional expands with its very personal themed land,” added Jeffrey Godsick, EVP of world partnerships and model administration and head of LBE at Sony Photos.
Merlin Entertainments introduced its partnership with Sony Photos earlier this yr. The corporate plans so as to add Jumanji-branded rides, lands and lodge rooms to its LBE locations throughout the globe.
Jumanji at Gardaland
The Jumanji model has already been changed into an LBE expertise at Gardaland in Italy. A part of the Merlin household, it’s the world’s first theme park to boast a Jumanji experience. Jumanji – The Journey is a family-friendly darkish experience the place friends encounter pitfalls, surprises and threats within the jungle. Godsick stated friends are “transported far past their creativeness, deep into the jungles of Jumanji”.
Riders discover themselves contained in the Jumanji sport whereas audio and video results simulate an off-road expertise. Animatronics within the attraction embrace the pinnacle and hand of the ‘Stone Big’. There’s additionally an enormous hippo and supersized spider.
“Gardaland continues on the profitable path of licensing agreements with main international manufacturers,” stated Aldo Maria Vigevani, CEO of Gardaland. “Synonymous with journey, fantasy, enjoyable, motion, play and creativeness, Jumanji blends seamlessly with Gardaland’s founding values.”
Tim Burton’s Labyrinth
Tim Burton’s Labyrinth is an immersive expertise that takes friends by the director’s artistic universe. It’s positioned at Espacio Ibercaja Delicias, a performing arts theatre in Madrid, Spain. Every room transports guests to a distinctive Burtonesque surroundings. Company select their very own path, deciding which doorways to open as they go.
“We’re excited to announce a model new immersive exhibition opening in Madrid, Spain this autumn,” says a press release on the web site. “Tim Burton Laberinto takes you thru a labyrinth of rooms stuffed with unique artworks by Tim Burton, specifically created sculptures, animations and extra.”
Burton is thought for movies equivalent to Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992) and Edward Scissorhands (1990). He additionally directed Ed Wooden (1994), Mars Assaults! (1996) Sleepy Hole (1999), Massive Fish (2003) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). The filmmaker’s stop-motion motion pictures embrace the cult basic The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas (1993). This was adopted by 2005’s Corpse Bride and 2012’s Frankenweenie.
Squid Sport attraction
Streaming large Netflix is the supplier of a number of branded LBE experiences. The corporate has authorized an attraction impressed by Squid Sport at a number of Immersive Gamebox venues within the US and UK. Gamers navigate challenges based mostly on the Korean survival drama TV collection. These embrace ‘Crimson Gentle, Inexperienced Gentle’, ‘Marbles’, ‘Dalgona’, ‘Tug of Warfare’, and ‘Glass Bridge’.
“On this 60-minute immersive, digital journey, seize your pals, placed on a visor and put together for Squid Sport,” reads an outline on the Immersive Gamebox web site. “You’ll take part as a contender in Squid Sport and should survive all six challenges from the present. Utilizing our 3D movement monitoring visors and contact screens across the room, you will want to outlive every problem to advance within the sport.”
Will Dean is CEO of Immersive Gamebox. He stated (by way of THR):
“Persons are consistently looking for new and alternative ways to stay invested of their favourite content material. To reimagine Netflix’s hottest present in a wholly new format affords prospects extra methods to remain linked to Squid Sport.”
Netflix at KidZania
Netflix has additionally opened the primary LBE expertise at KidZania in Fukuoka, Japan. That is based mostly on its upcoming animated model Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Journey. The Netflix-sponsored edutainment attraction will permit kids to expertise the profession of a stop-motion animator. It would additionally deliver to life characters from the collection. Youngsters can be immersed on the earth of Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Journey.
Masato Shimoi, Netflix’s director of enterprise growth for Japan, stated guests will “really feel nearer to Netflix and have the distinctive expertise of seeing what it’s prefer to work at a manufacturing studio”.
Youngsters work collectively in groups to create an unique story by placing characters Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma in Nakasugi Land. They produce a brief video utilizing the identical stop-motion approach used within the new collection. Then, their completed movies are proven on a giant display screen within the theatre room.
Stranger Issues LBE
Netflix’s greatest model, Stranger Issues, is inspiring LBE experiences too. After the discharge of season 4, a brand new immersive attraction within the ǝpᴉsdn uʍop opened in London. Beforehand launched in New York and San Francisco, Stranger Issues: The Expertise brings to life iconic areas in Hawkins. It boasts immersive units, particular results, a brand new storyline, photograph alternatives, unique merchandise and F&B.
Company meet the Demogorgon at Hawkins Lab. Right here, they “volunteer as a take a look at topic and participate in an interactive journey stuffed with unusual surprises,” in keeping with the web site. After this, guests head to a Eighties-inspired space referred to as the Combine-Tape, a recreation of the Starcourt Mall. Right here, friends can take a look at the Palace Arcade. They will even get ice cream from Scoops Ahoy or a slice of pizza at Surfer Boy Pizza.
Model LBE within the ǝpᴉsdn uʍop
Greg Lombardo is head of experiences at Netflix. He says:
“We all know our Stranger Issues followers will embrace the prospect to be the heroes of the story, working alongside Eleven, Mike and the remainder of the gang to struggle the evil threatening to devour Hawkins. Followers love dropping themselves on the earth after they watch the present. Now, for the primary time, they’ll have the ability to reside out an episode from the collection in actual life.”
Final yr, Netflix launched its first-ever Stranger Issues retail pop-ups in New York Metropolis and Los Angeles. These got here after Stranger Issues: The Drive Into Expertise in LA. On the themed shops, buyers can play video games on the Palace Arcade and take a look at the Starcourt Mall. They will additionally reply the yellow telephone at Joyce’s home and go to the notorious Russian Lab. Company may even participate within the Snow Ball at Hawkins Center College.
Prime Video’s The Boys
In the meantime, Swamp Motel, a artistic company and manufacturing home, has joined forces with Prime Video’s The Boys. Collectively, they developed an “explosive and gory” immersive expertise referred to as ‘Get the V’ in London. In celebration of the third season of The Boys launching on Prime Video, a brief reside expertise “that may simply actually blow your head off” was obtainable in early June.
Solely 2,000 tickets had been obtainable for ‘Get the V’, which took 45 minutes in complete. Guests helped Butcher and The Boys “infiltrate Vought’s London HQ to smuggle out some Temp V”. Prime Video and Swamp Motel additionally streamed Get the V reside on Prime Video EU Twitch channels.
Sport of Thrones units
One other widespread model to turn out to be an LBE expertise is the Sport of Thrones Studio Tour. This opened earlier this yr in Banbridge, Northern Eire. HBO’s legendary world of Westeros is dropped at life by genuine units, from the Nice Corridor at Winterfell to Dragonstone’s Throne Room.
“Understanding you’re in the exact same spot the place a few of the collection’ most memorable moments had been filmed is an unimaginable feeling and we all know followers of the franchise will really feel the identical after they see the wealthy element within the units, costumes and props up shut and private,” stated Warner Bros. Themed Leisure’s Peter van Roden.
Warner Bros. manufacturers LBE
The studio tour consists of props, costumes and extra behind-the-scenes points of interest. There’s additionally a pre-show expertise and retail space promoting Sport of Thrones merchandise. Plus, guests can take pleasure in a restaurant, terrace and café space.
The Sport of Thrones customer attraction comes after Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. In 2023, Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo is launching on the grounds of Toshimaen amusement park.
