Sony Pictures Adds 'Zombieland' and 'Underworld' Franchises to New Studio Theme Park

November 1, 2015, 5:58 PM · Motiongate Dubai, the multi-studio movie-themed park slated to open next year, has announced details about two more of its planned attractions. The two attractions will be located in the Sony Pictures Studio zone at the United Arab Emirates theme park, which is scheduled to open in October.

The first is "Zombieland Blast Off," a 184-foot drop tower ride, based on the 2009 amusement park spoof.

Guests will venture into an abandoned funhouse, fleeing from zombies which roam this area of the park. As they walk through the once bright and happy funhouse, guests are now faced with barricaded doors, scrawled survival tips, and improvised weapons. As the zombies begin to close in, the only way to escape is straight up! Riders are sent screaming into the sky over the Pacific Playland Boardwalk on a thrilling drop tower experience.


And the second is "Underworld," a 4D theater show, based on the Kate Beckinsale franchise.

The battle between vampires and lycans has endured through the ages. Selene has just escaped from captivity when the world has declared war on vampires and the government has ordered a mass cleansing. In a desperate search for her love Michael, and the daughter she never met, Selene fights off monstrous lycans. The audience quickly finds themselves in the middle of a supernatural war in this action-packed theatrical 4D experience.

Earlier, the park announced "Hotel Transylvania," a seven-minute dark ride offering a "monster-filled journey, unfolding a never-seen before story with Dracula, Mavis and his band of frightfully funny friends." Plans for the land also appear to include a Green Hornet-themed roller coaster, a Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs water ride and Ghostbusters show.

In addition to the Sony Pictures Studios zone, Motiongate Dubai is slated to include:

Motiongate Dubai is part of the multi-park Dubai Parks and Resorts development, which also will include Legoland Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai.

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Replies (9)

November 1, 2015 at 7:55 PM · Sounds like a pretty neat park, kind of like Movie Park in Germany and Movie World in Australia. Might have to visit some day (a long ways away).
November 1, 2015 at 11:26 PM · I'd totally go, if it wasn't in Dubai.
November 2, 2015 at 4:28 AM · One has to scrape the very bottom of the barrel to consider those two franchises theme park worthy. Hey, I liked Zombieland and a couple of the Underworld movies just fine, but unless the park is getting Bill Murray and Kate Beckinsale to wander around their park and take photos with fans, I am not seeing the draw. In fact, of all the properties described for this park, only Ghostbusters and Hunger Games sound remotely intriguing. Sony is a big time company - couldn't they just raid their Playstation library of games for some better IPs and drop the "studio" conceit in lieu of something that might actually sell tickets?
November 2, 2015 at 4:46 AM · I'm very interested in the ride for Zombieland. It sounds to me like it's gonna be a dark ride combined with a drop tower, much like Tower of Terror! With all the critical acclaim that ride gets, I've always wondered why no one's tried to copy the same formula (or maybe someone has already, but I haven't heard about it :/). And did you say that zombies will be roaming "this area of the park?" Like a scare-zone at Halloween events but year-round? Interesting...
November 2, 2015 at 12:37 PM · Or how about Bond??? Spectre just crushed it overseas this weekend, and the interest in Bond has never been higher (huge discussion on who the next actor will be to succeed Daniel Craig). Sony owns the rights from MGM, and there are endless possibilities with that franchise.

November 3, 2015 at 5:34 AM · I wish an American version in Las Vegas!
November 3, 2015 at 7:35 AM · Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon all need attractions at US Universal Studios, CA.
November 3, 2015 at 2:48 PM · I'll have to agree with James... Zombieland and Underworld aren't huge draws. Zombieland was all about the characters and how they've reacted to the Zombie Apocalypse in different ways. And Underworld? That hasn't been relevant since maybe 2006. Since then, I'd argue the movies didn't make a dent in people's minds.

I'm assuming the park will be indoors due to the location. So in that case I feel like the sounds from different rides and environmental music will blend at certain areas... not in a good way, but in a cacophony of sound. Heck it happens at Universal Studios Hollywood at the Lower Lot with Jurassic Park and The Mummy. Music overlaps and just sounds horrible.

I don't think I'll even consider going to this park based on what's been presented.

November 4, 2015 at 1:42 PM · No doubt these won't be worldclass attractions, but rather cheap SIX FLAG type attractions.

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