What’s your stereotype of New York? Rich guys in expensive suits, lounging around at a three-martini lunch? Lots of shopping?
Or is your vision of the city more dark? Cutthroat masses, trying to survive in a hostile environment? Contract killers, roaming the streets looking for their next target?
Okay, that might not be the real New York City, but it all seems a fairly accurate description of what themed entertainment fans will find in the new Lionsgate Entertainment City that is slated to open in New York’s Times Square 2019, with attractions themed to Mad Men, Hunger Games, and John Wick.
We told you last year that Lionsgate had contracted Parques Reunidos to develop Lionsgate-branded leisure centers around the world. The companies announced today that the first of those will come to Times Square.
“We’re delighted to kick off our partnership with Parques Reunidos in midtown Manhattan, and we look forward to extending our alliance to other major U.S. and European cities as we continue to grow our location-based entertainment business around the world,” Lionsgate Senior Vice President of Global Live and Location Based Entertainment Jenefer Brown said in a statement.
Attractions in Lionsgate Entertainment City will include:
A Hunger Games flying simulator attraction “taking fans on an exciting rescue mission through The Capitol”
Dauntless Challenge Course, a Divergent themed obstacle course
John Wick: Chapter Two an interactive dark ride where “fans go head-to-head with a series of assailants”
A virtual reality gallery, including a Nerve VR motorcycle thrill experience
A 4D Theater
Shopping and dining will include:
A Mad Men-themed dining and lounge experience
Hunger Games-themed Peeta’s Bakery and The Capitol Confectionery
A Lionsgate Studio Store
The $30 million project will occupy 125 feet of wraparound frontage on the corner of East 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, according to a statement from Parques Reunidos. In addition to Lionsgate’s planned indoor entertainment centers, the studio has licensed its properties to Motiongate Dubai for a Lionsgate-themed land slated to open later this year. (That land includes a Hunger Games motion simulator that sounds just like the one announced for the Times Square project.)
The studio also has an indoor theme park under development in Hengqin, Zhuhai, China and an outdoor Lionsgate Movie World park planned for Jeju Island, South Korea.
Source: Theme Park Insider