The BBC Joins London's Proposed Paramount Theme Park
London's proposed Paramount theme park project is gaining some momentum, as its developers announced today that they've reached an agreement to bring the BBC on board as an intellectual property partner.
Concept art courtesy London Resort Company Holdings
The deal means that BBC properties such as Doctor Who, Top Gear, and Sherlock could be made available to join Paramount Pictures IP such as Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and The Godfather in the theme park, which is planned for a site on the Thames River east of London, in North Kent, adjacent to the Ebbsfleet International train station.
This is a "development agreement," rather than a final contract, so no specific attractions are yet approved for the project, which has been conducting "public consultation" meetings in the London area as part of its permitting and approval process. A final decision on whether to approve the park is expected from authorities in 2016.
Concept art for a Star Trek-themed attraction at the park. Image courtesy London Resort Company Holdings
The London Paramount Entertainment Resort is now planned for an Easter 2020 opening, and would include 12 major rides in its theme park, as well as an indoor water park, hotels with a combined 5,000 rooms, and a 2,000-seat live-performance theater.
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Replies (11)
The more I hear about this ongoing the project the more exciting it sounds! It's about time London got it's own great IP based park :)
I don't know if it would be unrecognized by a lot of North American visitors, but a Doctor Who ride brings to mind all kinds of crazy potential.
This is shaping up to be one AWESOME sounding park! Loving all the potential IP, imagine a Tardis Ride! I just wish it wasn't so far away
I'm happy for them, but I miss Star Trek in Las Vegas.
Great news!
May also be great for Disneyland Paris, as they will need to invest to compete when this opens.
Sort of bummed that there won't be a Tardis in a Disney park. Was kind of hoping that would happen.
Joseph,
The BBC has a deal with Alton Towers for a children's land based on its CBeebies franchise, so I doubt that anything its negotiating with the Paramount development will be a world-wide, all-IP exclusive. That said, Disney seems much more likely to develop its own IP than to contract these days (Avatar notwithstanding). But if Doctor Who makes it into this park and is successful, that increases the chances of the franchise making into other parks around the world, even if with another partner.
Really hope this does make it to actually opening.
Can you imagine a ride with the weeping angels! Screeeaaaaam!
This looks like it has the potential to take away a lot of the UK visits to Disney Paris. More bad news for that debt ridden park.
@Robert: yeah, didn't really think it would be WW-exclusive, but still felt like another reason my pipe dream won't happen. With Disney having plenty of IP to work, perhaps Universal will pick up in the US? Why not a blue police box in Diagon Alley ;)
Kelly Muggleton, that's the best idea EVER!
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I like that Starfleet Headquarters... Kinda looks like it could be Epcot-ish as in a whole pavilion full of Star Trek attractions. Here's hoping that comes to life.