Jumanji rides coming to theme parks as Sony strikes global deal with Merlin
The $2bn Hollywood film franchise Jumanji is coming to the real world in a global deal to open themed attractions, rides, hotel rooms and retail outlets across Europe and North America.
The deal struck between Sony Pictures Entertainment and UK-headquartered Merlin Entertainments will involve the development of Jumanji-themed “lands” at theme parks to bring to life the films that have starred Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Karen Gillan.
Merlin, Europe’s largest theme park operator and the second biggest globally, runs more than 135 attractions in 24 countries including Alton Towers, Legoland, Peppa Pig World, Sea Life, the London Eye, Cadbury World and The Bear Grylls Adventure.
The first experience based on the franchise, the multimillion-pound Jumanji – The Adventure, will open next month at Merlin’s Gardaland resort in Italy. Described as a “dark ride for adventure lovers of all ages”, its opening coincides with the launch of Jumanji-themed hotel bedrooms at the resort.
The companies have had help putting together the ride from the London-based Framestore, the special effects wizards with Oscar wins for Gravity and Blade Runner 2049, and the US subsea engineering firm Oceaneering, which has worked on the Jaws, Jurassic Park and Transformers rides at Universal Studios.
Merlin and Sony are developing a second ride at another as yet unnamed theme park that is due to open next year.
The US and UK are the world’s largest and third largest markets in terms of the popularity of the film franchise by some distance – the second, China, is not covered by the theme park agreement – and so they are expected to be high on the two companies’ launch agenda.
The first Jumanji film, spawned from Chris Van
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