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The Hunger Games in the Theme Parks?

Could this franchise be adapted into a park presence? If so, how and where?

From Mickey Taylan
Posted March 26, 2012 at 9:19 AM
With the amazing success of The Hunger Games, we have quite the franchise on our hands. With two more movies (at least) still to come, how long will it be until Suzanne Collins' stories migrate into theme parks, and more importantly in what form and where?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 26, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Hunger Games success is phenomenal. I saw the movie at a media screening and it was excellent. However, I believe the central theme of kids killing kids would not translate well into a theme park setting. Violence is one thing, but the aspect & setting of that violence in the Hunger Games, could be very disturbing to families. While movies with violence have often become theme park rides & Halloween horrorfests, the kids killing kids is in a different realm.

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted March 26, 2012 at 10:09 AM
I just don't know what ride or attraction could be built around it. It's not like the Mummy or Jurassic Park or Potter...the villains are murderous kids. How do you turn that into an attraction? How do you sell that?

From Javi Badillo
Posted March 26, 2012 at 1:19 PM
I see Disney trying to acquire it.

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 26, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Disney picked up the TV rights for the first two movies for ABC Family cable, which also, ironically, has the Harry Potter TV rights. Their
TV people evidently recognize profit potential. They don't let the fanatics' "if it's not Disney, it's not any good" credo get in the way of making a profit.

From Robert Niles
Posted March 26, 2012 at 4:13 PM
I'd love to see a theme park attraction that fixes the absolute mess ending of the third book.

Spoiler below:

C'mon, J.K. Rowling didn't have Harry Potter sit out the Battle of Hogwarts. Nor did she try Harry for his actions and have him dismissed as mentally unbalanced. Rowling let Harry be the hero the audience wanted. Collins should have done the same for Katniss.

From Robert Niles
Posted March 26, 2012 at 4:21 PM
By the way, I don't see the Tributes as the villains. It's the leaders of Panem who are the villains, aided by many of the clueless citizens of the Capitol. There's an attraction-worthy conflict in there, though there's the timeline issue of when the attraction would be set.

Spoiler again: I think the best opportunity for an attraction is something in the "Mockingjay" narrative on the attack on the Capitol. Which might even give the opportunity to get Katniss more engaged in the battle she should have taken over in the book.

Or, if you really must have the arena, I would go with a narrative of trying to sabotage the arena to save your life and the lives of the other tributes.

From Giovanny Cruz
Posted March 26, 2012 at 4:58 PM
I knew somebody would post a discussion like this I saw the movie and I loved it it was awosome but is not a theme park movie the good parts are to violent but one of my favorites movies

From Jay R.
Posted March 26, 2012 at 4:55 PM
LOL Robert!

Yeah the ending of the 3rd book divides readers, although I've heard a few "pro" debates that made me appreciate the ending more.

That said, I think the film version will most likely correct any issues with the ending.

There's going to be 4 films, so there's going to be plenty of time to please the folks not happy with the ending (plus, I'm not 100% sure that ending would be "accepatable" for a general movie going audience.

But I'm not sure what type of attraction could be developed. Maybe a training academy or something with those big dog things, but I don't think anything involving the humans would work.

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 26, 2012 at 5:07 PM
How about an archery battle against Avatar? LOL

From Skipper Adam
Posted March 26, 2012 at 6:38 PM
We can make a park comprised of franchises that make money but won't do well in parks, like Twilight, Hunger Games, Family Guy...if we put all the bad ideas in one park it might be mismatched enough to work.

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 26, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Skipper: Great idea. A Bizarro world of sorts. Or kind of like Krusty Land on the Simpson's Ride.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 27, 2012 at 3:50 AM
Skipper/Rob:

I know of a certain DC themed-ride in Jackson, NJ that would be a perfect fit for what I'm now calling BIP...Bad Idea Park

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 27, 2012 at 6:10 AM
Maybe Drew Carey could be the host for the park.

From Robert Niles
Posted March 27, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Now we're getting somewhere. And if it's going to be Bad Idea Park I know the perfect available site in Myrtle Beach, SC where we can put it. ;^)

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 27, 2012 at 10:21 AM
^^But then we'd have to remove a few GOOD rides to shoehorn the Bad Idea Rides. Honestly, the day I had at Hard Rock Park in '08 was one of the three best days I've ever had at a park. Led Zeppelin was an awesome ride, one of my fave B&M's. And Life In The Fast Lane was an excellent mine train. I just wish they hadn't changed from the original name, Midnight Rider, even though I'm an Eagles fan. Allman Brothers, not so much.

Sorry to go off topic, but hey, it's what I'm good at :)

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 27, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Can we move existing rides to the Bad Idea Theme Park? If so, Stitch is a prime candidate. And maybe the broken down Yeti could be the park's centerpiece attraction, located at the central hub.

From Robert Niles
Posted March 27, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Would I like to trade Stitch to the Bad Idea Park in exchange for the Led Zep coaster?

Yes, yes I would.

From Robert Niles
Posted March 27, 2012 at 10:59 AM
And where shall we sell the Handwiches?

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 27, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Will Duffy the bear be the park's mascot?

From Colton McLaughlin
Posted March 27, 2012 at 12:17 PM
I'm the only person I know who liked the ending of the third book. Come to think of it, the third was the only one I actually liked. The second may have been one of the worst books I've ever read. The first was okay, once the games started.

What if a Hunger Games arena was built? It could be a huge outdoor area (well, one square mile), and everyone (24) is lifted in like in the books. In front of you is the cornucopia, along with weapons and backpacks. You could be wearing some form of full-body suit that is made to record your progress and it is receptive to the hits of the weapons provided. Some kind of attached apparatus could tell you if you are dehydrating or wounded or something along those lines. Once the "games" begins, everyone scrambles for stuff or runs off, and then what ensues is a highly glorified mix of LARPing and laser tag. If you "die", you are escorted out of the arena through an extensive underground system of tunnels. Once twenty-three are eliminated, one is crowned victor. For added fun, there could be hidden cameras everywhere and you could buy a copy of your "games" at the end. The game could probably last for a few hours, maybe a day if you pay enough money.

So that's my idea. Far fetched? Yes. Impossible? No. Expensive? Probably. I think it'd still be kinda fun.

From Dominick D
Posted March 27, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Duffy would be great as the parks mascot! In fact, let's put on his special Halloween costume!

From Jay R.
Posted March 27, 2012 at 1:52 PM
I'm guessing people don't like Duffy the bear???

They kept pushing it at DCA, but I don't know who he is.

And Colten, I was fine with the end of the third book, but can certainly see why many weren't. I just can't see that "ending" working for audiences who will just watch the films

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 27, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Dom: Did you try Revenge of the Mummy yet?

From Mickey Taylan
Posted March 27, 2012 at 2:40 PM
I personally liked the end of the third book.
Spoiler Alert
It truly outlines the fact that human nature will never change, no matter who's in charge in the society they have created of hatred and revenge. In fact, the epilogue seemed too happy to me honestly seemed too happy and she just put it in there to make people happy. Mrs. Collins is making a statement by saying "never let our society fall to this level or become like this," by showing us that they have fallen into a never-ending cycle of despair and misfortune.

On the attraction front, I think it would be great to have a park with each themed section devoted to a district and one to the Capitol. Each district's attractions would relate to that district's speciality (District 12 could have a mine themed attraction for example)

From Tim W
Posted March 27, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Colton, I think your idea might be the best approach to creating some type of atraction based on these books. A hunger games themed version of laser tag sounds like an A+!

From Tony Duda
Posted March 27, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Mike, did you go on the Nights In White Satin dark ride? I heard it was the best dark ride ever made. Now, it is only a mythical attraction never to be resurrected at another park due to licencing problems.

Bad Idea Park attraction... the real Avatar attraction sort of like Buzz Lightyear or Men In Black. I see ride vehicles of big military machines marching through the forest shooting and killing and blowing up all native liveforms each of which have a point value based on difficulty of killing it. The goal is to strip mine all deposits of Unobtanium. The winning score will be a combination of tons of ore extracted and point totals of lifeforms killed.

From Colton McLaughlin
Posted March 27, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Thanks, Tim! I couldn't think of any other way a popular Hunger Games attraction could be made. The fact that people could be taken out within minutes of the start though could be a problem. Imagine spending fifty+ dollars and being escorted out after trying to get a sword and someone just knifes you in the back and only three minutes have passed since the game started. And the games could go on for hours! I guess they could build multiple arenas and as soon as you're taken out, you're put in line to fight in another arena.

Okay, I may have over thought this...

From Sam Edwards
Posted March 27, 2012 at 7:15 PM
I think that a Hunger Games land at Disney World would be a great idea. I have read all three boks and loved them and I have broken down the potential in this. The nation of Panem is an immersive world that should be explored by all theme parks and I am creating a Hunger Games park on my blog.

Those who say: it is so violent Kid killing Kids! These children are forced to do so and if not they are punished in a more cruel manner by the Capitol Government. And if you are trapped in an arena with 23 other kids and you can only get out if you are the last alive I do believe you are going to kill each other. The full moral of the stories is much more than that and that is to stand up for rights and to treat everyone equally. Only Suzzane Collins beautiful writing and Garry's great filming and directing could send this message to others/

From Dominick D
Posted March 27, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Rob, a little off topic, but I haven't been to UO since I rode Spidey in HD (2 and a half weeks ago). If THG were to enter the theme park world, they would have to make Peeta's bread as the sig. food item.

From Sam Edwards
Posted March 27, 2012 at 8:08 PM
hahaha yes!!!!!!!1

From Rob Pastor
Posted March 27, 2012 at 8:19 PM
That's more like Six Flags Park food.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 28, 2012 at 9:04 AM
Tony, I neglected to mention NIWS, although I have noted my feelings about it before. Yes, indeed, likely the best dark ride I've been on. The visuals and trippy images, holograms, etc. threatened to put me to sleep. But in a good way. Sort of like Fantasia, which I have never watched without nodding off. Hypnotic is the word I'd use. It was a long ride, extremely cool (in the temperature sense) and even though I never particularly cared for the song (or the Moody Blues in general)..it was used to incredible effect (as was Whole Lotta Love on Zep.) I'm a classic rock radio guy. Even though it's been four years since I rode those two, the visuals come floating back to me EVERY time I hear the songs on my local station. I liked Life In The Fast Lane a lot, but visually, it wasn't particularly impressive.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 28, 2012 at 9:07 AM
I'm not even sure Dome realizes the great pun he came up with:

Peeta's bread.

Pita bread.

I've never given Dom a +1 before, but I will here. However, he forfeits it if he admits his intent :(

From Dominick D
Posted March 28, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Mike, you spelt my name wrong :P

From Mike Gallagher
Posted March 28, 2012 at 10:21 AM
No, it's correct. It just has a tail.

And YOU spelled "spelled" wrong. So there, whippersnapper!

From Dominick D
Posted March 28, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Too shay. Back on topic now.

From Jack Curley
Posted March 28, 2012 at 11:03 AM
I'm hearing from Bad Idea Park management that they're looking to acquire all the Windseekers from Cedar Fair.

From Beth Jo
Posted March 29, 2012 at 9:33 AM
I think it would be an awesome idea to put The Hunger Games in a theme park. Too violent? Who cares..the people who have a problem with that won't ride it then. Everyone who has read the books and seen the movie will want to ride it regardless. I think it would be cool to do it either like HP the Forbidden Journey or like the Spiderman ride...

From Caroline Davis
Posted March 29, 2012 at 3:05 PM
I think it would make a great next gen ride. You could become a tribute and go into the arena. Mixing technology originally used for gaming and multiple story lines. It could be somewhere between Star Tours 2, Toy Story Mania, but with complete immersion into a dark ride like Forbidden Journey.

From Randall Peek
Posted March 29, 2012 at 11:45 PM
We would, of course, have to include the Rocket Rods in Bad Idea Park. If this is a Disney park, then we would also have to include attractions based on Ol' Yeller, Return to Oz, and the main attraction, the John Carter Adventure.

For the Ol' Yeller attraction, I imagine using the Carousel of Progress rotating building, with each scene continuing the story until the devastating conclusion, where everyone exits the attraction in tears. Heck, the Carousel already has a dog in every scene, so it would be an easy fit!

From James Trexen
Posted March 30, 2012 at 7:27 AM
Or Randall, better yet for the Idea Park, replace the Frontierland Shooters with one to see who hits the poor pooch at the end.

From Tony Duda
Posted March 30, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Ol' Yeller CoP style ride would have to have the special Phoebe exit in the next to last scene.

From Manny Rodriguez
Posted April 1, 2012 at 9:51 PM
Just saw the Movie it could be Turned into a ride of some sort and i agree the Capitol are the villans not the Tributes Really Gory but i think Universal will Make a ride The Horror show was So it is there Field.

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