Merlin has today provided a press release confirming that they have entered an exclusivity agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop and operate attractions, rides, lands, retail outlets and themed hotel rooms based on the studio’s box office hit Jumanji film franchise across Merlin’s Resort Theme Parks and Waterparks in Europe (including the UK) and North America.
Click here for the full statement
The first Jumanji experience to be launched as part of the agreement will be the world’s first Jumanji ride, which will open in April this year at Merlin’s Gardaland Resort in Italy, with a second activation already in development at a different theme park for a 2023 launch.
This isn’t too much of a surprise, as there has been much anticipation that this was going to be the case at Chessington with their new rollercoaster being speculated as being based on Jumanji and the above hint for the 2023 hint seems to pretty much confirm this to be the case.
It will also be interesting to see if/when Merlin will implement a Jumanji theme at any of their other attractions.
Founder of ThemeParkRM. Spending most of his time at Thorpe Park and loves The Runaway Mine Train at Alton Towers (choo choo!)