Yeah, this fits in more ways than you Screened pups probably realize. Any of you ever been to the T2:3D show at Universal Studios? It was unusual for Cameron to actually direct that thing and, if you read any interviews he did at the time, it's patently obvious that the man got involved because he already had a total love-on for the format. He was calling 3D the future of movies, the means to make the theater experience an anti-piracy premium again--and he was saying that in ’96. Clearly, that was the soil Avatar’s seeds were first planted in.
Thus, this news from Deadline about an Avatar theme park attraction being added to Disney's Animal Kingdom fits like a marine’s soul in a blue cat giant’s body. The press release has a lot of talk about how the preservationist themes of the flicks (stressing the plural. Don’t forget about those back-to-back sequels) align with the parks’ ethos, but it doesn't get into too many details about the specific attractions just yet. Part of the plan sounds like it’ll involve you being able to walk around an area made out like some scenery from Pandora, and that makes sense. I figure a motion ride where you fly along with those dragons wouldn’t be too out of order, either.
All I want is Unobtanium-styled rock candy at the concessions stands...here's the full press release:
Long-term agreement will bring AVATAR themed lands to Disney parks, with the first at Walt Disney World in Orlando
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.
“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we'll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we'll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore”
“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”
“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we'll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we'll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. “I'm chomping at the bit to start work with Disney's legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”
The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.
“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”
“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”
In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.
This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.
No.
im kinda confused about things like this. for example, SHREK is at Universal Studios, but Dreamworks is independent and in a contract with Paramount. I think Harry Potter is there to, even though that is Warner Bros. And now AVATAR, the only non-X-Men/Chipmunks brand they have that can be called successful, is going to be at Disney World??
@VioletEyedDragon: When Dreamworks entered into a deal with Paramount (which is over now) it was for its live-action stuff. Shrek was distributed by Universal, so that's why you see it there.
@VioletEyedDragon: Disney and Universal have a platform to show off the worlds of the movies that studios like Dreamworks or Warner Bros. are not equipped to do. It also lets them generates the studios a bunch of money off or renting them the properties to the theme parks that otherwise they would never be able to make. Warner Bros. also licences out the use of their cartoon characters to the 6 flags theme parks. It is a common practice in the theme park industry.
@VioletEyedDragon: @Kaden_Dragon: The really odd case now there is the Marvel sector of the Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, since Disney acquired Marvel last year and has begun to incorporate Marvel superheroes into the Disney theme parks. I know the rights for the Marvel Islands of Adventure mini-park were licensed a long time ago, but it's still a bit weird to think about.
@ahgunsillyo: Universal can hold on to the rights of any preexisting characters that have been on display in the park (Hulk, Spiderman, Storm, ect). But if they take any of them down they can't put them back up and Universal has to pay Disney money to keep using the characters. Works out well for Disney.
I predict that small children will be terrified of the minimum-wage Disney cast members wearing blue makeup and yellow contact lenses. A massive tree house would be a cool attraction though.
Not a movie fan, but this ride would probably be fun.
Sure why not.
@VioletEyedDragon said:
It's all about business and contracts. It might be more profitable for X-produced movie to be adapted at another Y-producer because of the cost of development, etc.. It's all about rentability. Rivals companies can both work a way to co-work on one's propriety if its mean money for both (and more money for the original owner of the rights)
The T2 ride is fantastic so I'm sure this will be great too.
*Coming to the kiosk of a three-hour-long line near you.* - awesome tag! lol
I thought Zoe Saldana was Jada Pinkett Smith the first time I watched Star Trek. Then I realized that she's too old.
No.
@Fubar: Agreed
I think they could do something ridiculous and fantastic with the ride/area. I believe that could totally hit the edge of what the technology can do. It just doesn't feel quite right.
I'm editing my original post- as I'm pondering over what the non Disney-animation sourced rides and projects originate from and what Walt's intent was. In some ways it really fits. Technology and design built from the ground up to put on a show. A world of its own.
I guess my issue comes down to my personal image of Avatar being a multimillion dollar release of something along the lines of the universal fan fic (in the sense that Star Wars is the universal mythos) made manifest.
Giant Blue People, Space Marines, Body Swapping, Dragons, Unlikely Protagonist/Hero, Did I Mention the Blue People are Mostly Naked. Oh and the main character defects from his crippled body of birth into a scientifically perfected "Tarzan" body with super strength that is cybernetically controlled.
This- to me does not meet the "Disney" level of design.
@Fubar said:
Seconded, adding, NOOOO.
Here's my beef with this. I am a Disney World fanboy, straight up. I'm on the fence about this because Avatar has absolutely nothing to do with Disney. An attraction themed and based on the movie would be great, but at Disney's Hollywood Studios, not DAK. It just makes more sense building a ride in the park that represents film and film making. They are most likely making it at DAK because it has the most space available. I honestly don't know how I feel about this.
@alexdiaz said:
Agree. I'm near Disney World and get there a lot, and Hollywood Studios is usually a nice alternate to the usual Disney trappings: Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc. Avatar would be a perfect fit there. Granted, DAK is still somewhat new and maybe hasn't found its grounding yet, but the only reasons I can see this being there areA) A ham-fisted environmental message
B) Universal got Harry Potter, so counter it with the biggest-profiting film of all time
The funny thing? Avatar is a damn near direct clone of Pocahontas, something that Disney actually OWNS and wouldn't have to license (though obviously it's nowhere near Avatar's popularity). In fact, the Pocahontas-themed stuff at DAK is now gone I believe.
So this is how James Cameron is going to reacquire the Spiderman film license.
This could actually be pretty awesome.
@Eyz said:
yeah i guess. i just think 20th Century Fox is probably wishing it has built an amusement part right about now.
@ahgunsillyo said:
that is weird.