Lionsgate, the creator of film franchises including Twilight and The Hunger Games has announced the opening of a new theme park this summer in China. Named Lionsgate Entertainment World, the destination will include more than 25 virtual reality experiences and rides in an unprecedented vertical format spread across ten floors.
In addition to attractions based on two of the company’s most popular franchises, other adventures will cover other properties such as Escape Plan, Now You See Me, and Divergent. It’s expected to open in July on Hengqin Island located in Zhuhai, China.
The Attractions
Photo: Lionsgate Entertainment World
“We created experiences that are immersive, that tell stories and are organic to the brands,” said Jenefer Brown, senior vice president of Global Live and Location Based Entertainment at Lionsgate. “It’s a mix of all the cutting-edge attractions that you’ll find in entertainment right now.”
Hunger Games fans will be able to visit a version of the story’s Capitol and purchase clothes matching the series’ distinctive aesthetic sense. A 3D experience known as “Mockingjay Flight Rebel Escape” gives riders the chance to experience a high-speed hovercraft chase through the Capitol. There will even be restaurants based offering dishes inspired by the fictional world’s thirteen districts.
“The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride” lets visitors race with Jacob and the Black Pack wolves on what’s called “a daring VR dirt-bike adventure through the moonlit woods.” The Escape Plan attraction is closer to a breakout simulator than to a conventional ride, giving visitors the chance to escape from prison in groups of roughly twenty people. This experience involves physical obstacles, including a crawl-space tunnel and climbing course.
Similarly, attractions based on other films will provide a unique experience tailored to each story.
A Unique Location
The Lionsgate theme park won’t look like a traditional American amusement park like Disneyland or Legoland– or even the Disneyland park in Shanghai. For this model, experiences and rides will be distributed vertically rather than horizontally in a 10-story building with a futuristic design.
Zhuhai, China is relatively close to Macau, which already offers a number of tourist attractions, including popular casinos. Brown stated that the Lionsgate project is meant to bring more people to the area. “We would complement Macau,” she said. “The idea is to have Vegas and Orlando right next to each other and create this super tourist destination.”
Lionsgate is just the first of several companies that intend to build further attractions in a Zhuhai development known as Novotown. This will include offerings from both National Geographic and Spanish soccer team Real Madrid.
