Universal theme park with Harry Potter land to be built in India?
Not even two months after the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park opened in Orlando, today there are rumors concerning a park to be opened in India featuring rides from Universal properties such as Harry Potter. From The Wall Street Journal:
Reliance, a media-to-energy conglomerate backed by billionaire Anil Ambani, would be full owner of the park but would pay Universal royalties and fees for using brands and content linked to popular Hollywood movies such as “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Spider-Man” and the “Harry Potter” franchise, this person said.
The park would look much like Universal’s other major theme parks in Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Japan, with a variety of roller coasters and rides, shops with movie-related merchandise and nearby hotels. The complex is expected to stretch over 400 acres, which would make it one of the biggest such sites in the world, the person familiar with the matter said.
Reliance’s Big Entertainment subsidiary and Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal, still are discussing terms, but could reach a deal this year. One person familiar with the matter warned, however, that talks are at an early stage, and could yet break down.