The Lionsgate media company has been pretty busy this year. Their filmmaking arm Lionsgate Pictures, from which came the “Hunger Games” film series and “La La Land,” premiered their major film adaptation reboot of the “Power Rangers” TV show last March. They are also close to releasing a feature-length adventure for Hasbro’s “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” animated series (with major stars guest-voicing). Over the years they have built up a library of very recognizable and marketable intellectual properties from their movies, and now they’re ready to do something huge with them.
Partnering with developers in South Korea, Lionsgate aims to create a theme park in the country, featuring some of their major film franchises.
Movie world
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation has inked a deal with Korean Jeju Development Co. to develop Lionsgate Movie World, an outdoor theme park with immersive zones styled after the film studio’s most iconic movies. This park will be an integral component of the immense international amusement complex Jeju Shinhwa World, which is under construction in South Korea’s Jeju Island. Lionsgate Movie World will be set in the mold of similar American efforts such as Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures theme parks, only with Lionsgate movie properties as the attractions.
Plans for Lionsgate Movie World have it occupying a total land area of 1.3 million square feet in the heart of Jeju Shinhwa World. It will be laid out as a majority of theme parks are, a cinematic wonderland of streetscapes connecting areas themed after major Lionsgate flicks, with dining establishments, shops, and boutiques, plus entertainment venues with scheduled performances.
Movies being considered for having their own themed zones and attractions include “The Hunger Games” (starring Jennifer Lawrence), “Now You See Me” (with Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo), and even the “Twilight Saga” from Lionsgate subsidiary Summit Entertainment.
Massive complex
Disney, Paramount, and Universal have long hit upon the use of theme park amusements as a way for their film properties to continuously generate revenue at a constant rate even long after they have gone from theaters to home video or streaming.
Jeju Shinhwa World seeks to replicate that success with its 2.5 million square-foot complex including Lionsgate Movie World. Other attractions and amenities include major hotel chains (Four Seasons and Marriot), water park, a K-Pop entertainment center and more.
CEO Jon Feltheimer of Lionsgate released a statement expressing his great excitement at partnering with their Korean associates to realize this great endeavor. South Koreans have been among the biggest fans of “Twilight” and “Now You See Me” films from the studio, with a decent reception for the “Hunger Games” series as well. Lionsgate Movie World is expected to open in 2019.
