Theme park where magic of Hogwarts comes to life
Source: Agencies |
March 27, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
"HARRY Potter" creator J.K. Rowling helped flesh out four new characters who will appear exclusively at Universal Orlando's theme park version of her mythical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, park designers said on Thursday.
Universal said its new Wizarding World of Harry Potter park in Florida will open on June 18 and gave new details of the rides based on Rowling's fantasy novels about the boy wizard.
The seven wildly popular books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and spawned a movie franchise that has earned billions of dollars.
In the books and movies, the founders of the Hogwarts houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin are referenced but are long deceased. At the park, the characters will come to life.
"We have those appearing as actual talking portraits. They speak to you in the Harry Potter in the Forbidden Journey (ride)," Alan Gilmore, art director on the Harry Potter films and for the park, told Reuters.
"They are unique to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter so that is a really big point for the fans. They actually get to meet these people and understand who they are."
Rowling was consulted throughout the development of the 8-hectare park and signed off on the details, the designers said. Universal declined to discuss how much Rowling was paid, the costs of construction or forecasts.
The Orlando Sentinel newspaper said the park was a US$200 million investment for Universal Orlando, which is owned by the Blackstone Group and General Electric unit NBC Universal.
The company has begun selling Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation packages. Four-night packages, which include an on-site hotel room, park tickets and various amenities, start at US$645 per adult or US$1,548 for a family of four.
In interviews and news releases on Thursday, Universal said the park fused filmed scenes, live action and advanced robotic technology to envelope guests in a fictional world.
"It's going to feel like nothing you've ever felt before," said Thierry Coup, senior vice president of Universal Creative and creative director for the park.
Universal said its new Wizarding World of Harry Potter park in Florida will open on June 18 and gave new details of the rides based on Rowling's fantasy novels about the boy wizard.
The seven wildly popular books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and spawned a movie franchise that has earned billions of dollars.
In the books and movies, the founders of the Hogwarts houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin are referenced but are long deceased. At the park, the characters will come to life.
"We have those appearing as actual talking portraits. They speak to you in the Harry Potter in the Forbidden Journey (ride)," Alan Gilmore, art director on the Harry Potter films and for the park, told Reuters.
"They are unique to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter so that is a really big point for the fans. They actually get to meet these people and understand who they are."
Rowling was consulted throughout the development of the 8-hectare park and signed off on the details, the designers said. Universal declined to discuss how much Rowling was paid, the costs of construction or forecasts.
The Orlando Sentinel newspaper said the park was a US$200 million investment for Universal Orlando, which is owned by the Blackstone Group and General Electric unit NBC Universal.
The company has begun selling Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation packages. Four-night packages, which include an on-site hotel room, park tickets and various amenities, start at US$645 per adult or US$1,548 for a family of four.
In interviews and news releases on Thursday, Universal said the park fused filmed scenes, live action and advanced robotic technology to envelope guests in a fictional world.
"It's going to feel like nothing you've ever felt before," said Thierry Coup, senior vice president of Universal Creative and creative director for the park.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
