Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF.B)

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Lionsgate ‘deep into conversations’ with theme parks for ‘Hunger Games’ attractions



On a conference call last week, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer updated investors on their plans for The Hunger Games theme park attractions.


News of Lionsgate’s interest in creating Hunger Games theme park attractions first surfaced in November and again in May. While we haven’t learned which theme parks the studio is speaking with, Feltheimer says they are talking about the possibility with parks on four continents.

“During the quarter, we also continued to extend The Hunger Games franchise into new lines of business,” he told investors. “In addition to the mobile game partnership and The Hunger Games traveling museum we announced on the last call, we’re deep into conversations with prospective partners on 4 continents to explore theme park attractions and other location-based entertainment opportunities.”

Related: Eight horrible ideas for Hunger Games theme park attractions

With two more films to go until The Hunger Games’ popularity starts to wane, there’s plenty of time for Lionsgate to assemble plans for theme park attractions. The problem, however, is that the story doesn’t clearly set it self up as a world that the general public would like to visit.

One potential attraction is something themed around the Capitol. But the bad guys live and spread horrible messages in the Capitol, so would the public want to go there? Based on how fans reacted to the Capitol Gallery set up at San Diego Comic-Con to promote Mockingjay, Part 1, the answer is yes.

Perhaps the Capitol Gallery was a way for Lionsgate to test the waters. Now they know that an experience themed around the Capitol would be well received by fans. Then again, the Gallery was a free experience and offered free food, drinks, and the first look at the Mockingjay trailer. Those are three things you will not receive for free at a theme park.

You can imagine why the studio is taking up this task. Lionsgate is looking at how successful The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been for Warner Bros. and Universal.

EDITED BY DONYA ABRAMO