Yesterday, Disney’s Robert Iger (president and CEO) and Thomas Staggs (chairman of Walt Disney Parks) announced a new partnership between them and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment. The long-term creative collaboration will result in bringing Pandora, the world of AVATAR, to life at Disney theme parks across the world. The first park to receive the project will be Disney’s Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Building is expected to start in 2013, with a lot of ‘imagineering’ going on between now and then.
Cameron (THE TERMINATOR) and his producing partner Jon Landau will act as creative consultants alongside Disney Imagineers to take guests deep into the world of AVATAR. What with two sequels planned to follow the record-breaking award-winning film, there is a lot for the team to build on in order to entertain and truly amaze their guests.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom was chosen to be the first site to explore the depths of Pandora as it was created to show both nature and animals – either real or imaginary. The park also gives a sense of ‘living with the land’ and peaceful harmony between humans and nature – themes that are at the heart of the AVATAR story.
On the companionship, Robert Iger said, ‘James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible.’
In the words of Rick in CASABLANCA (which, coincidently, is featured in ‘The Great Movie Ride’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
James Cameron’s AVATAR 2 is set for release in December, 2014.
Sources: Coming Soon
Disney Blog
