Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced a “multi-territory exclusivity agreement” to create branded attraction rides, retail outlets, and hotel rooms based on the studio’s popular Jumanji franchise. According to a release, new experiences relating to the franchise will be launched across Merlin’s theme parks and waterparks in Europe, UK, and North America.
The first Jumanji experience to launch as part of this agreement will be the world’s first Jumanji ride, which will open this April at Merlin’s Gardaland resort in Italy, along with themed hotel rooms. The next announced brand activation is currently in development at a different theme park, with a targeted 2023 debut.
“Merlin is the ideal company to bring the world of Jumanji to life,” said Jeffrey Godsick, head of location-based entertainment at Sony Pictures. “Their commitment to strong storytelling, quality of craftsmanship, and fantastic guest experiences ensure that fans of Jumanji will be fully immersed into the worlds of our films and have an unforgettable experience. I am very pleased to expand our relationship with the great team at Merlin.”
Despite the complications and caution around public gatherings brought on by the pandemic, theme parks are increasingly providing fun and compelling reasons to venture back out into the world again. Earlier this month, Universal Studios Hollywood finally announced that Super Nintendo World will open in 2023, after the Japanese version opened in 2021. Equally exciting is the Studio Ghibli Theme Park–first announced back in 2017–which will open in Japan later this year.
To date, the Jumanji film franchise has generated over $2.1 billion at the global box office.
