Harry Potter “Wizarding World” attraction to open in JapanMay 10, 2012 - 16:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Harry Potter is taking his act to Japan as Warner Bros. and Universal team to bring the “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” to the Universal Studios in Osaka, The Wrap reported. “Universal Studios Japan is thrilled to be chosen to make the Harry Potter experience come alive for the people of Japan,” Glenn Gumpel, president and CEO of Universal Studios Japan said in a statement. “USJ will recreate to the highest level of authenticity, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.’” The theme park attraction has boosted attendance and revenue at Universal Studios Orlando, where it debuted in June of 2010. Since then, Warner Bros. turned the movie franchise’s set just outside London into a tourist destination, and Universal announced plans to bring a “Wizarding World” to its Los Angeles theme park. Universal Studios Japan should begin construction on its version of the attraction in the next few weeks with a target launch date of late 2014, according to the Los Angeles Times. Japan's “Wizarding World” will include a reconstruction of Hogwarts, the school of “witchcraft and wizardry,” as well as Hogsmeade, rides and themed food. The Potter franchise has finished its theatrical run for Warner Bros., which is seizing on the opportunity to turn its global popularity into revenue for its theme parks and consumer products divisions. Theme parks have become a financial building block for many studios, and just yesterday Disney reported that it generated more profit from its parks than its film studio. The Potter franchise has been hugely popular in Japan, grossing $893 million at the box office and reaching more than 78 million people. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |