Universal Expands Theme Parks

[fmofmpls]

Just got off the phone with my good friend Tim Keegan who work's for Universal Studios. During our conversation he made mention of three new theme parks being developed by Universal Studios. These new parks will be built in Dubai (2010), Singapore (2010), and South Korea (2012). This all came as news to me. I hadn't heard of these plans until now. Tim instructed me to do a Google search for further info and that's just what I did. Interesting news.

Came up with assorted info on said projects.

http://tinyurl.com/2snjel

http://tinyurl.com/3as8py  (includes pics of a model King Kong roller coaster)

http://tinyurl.com/2syn9c

[Monster Bob]

Did he say if they were still selling off a huge hunk of the backlot in LA to make room for condominiums? They were as of last year.

[Monster Bob]

Question 2...Why does Universal showcase KING KONG as much as they do? If they are really as uninterested/lax with their monster properties as they seem to be, why push a non-Universal monster movie so hard? 

[fmofmpls]

Did he say if they were still selling off a huge hunk of the backlot in LA to make room for condominiums? They were as of last year.

That is a very good question Bob. I remember hearing that story (maybe even from Tim himself). Upon first hearing the story, I felt it to be totally ludicrous sounding. Then I found out that the story did indeed have some merit. I'll have to be sure to ask him that.

[fmofmpls]

Question 2...Why does Universal showcase KING KONG as much as they do? If they are really as uninterested/lax with their monster properties as they seem to be, why push a non-Universal monster movie so hard? 

Just as perplexing as the first question. That's something I've wondered about for a long time. What's the connection I wonder?

[raycastile]

I think King Kong Lives was a Universal film.  I've never seen it.  Considering it is a "modern" American King Kong film with a healthy budget and name actors, it is kind of strange the film is so forgotten.  I must be a bad, bad movie.

[Gary D Macabre]

Bless you Ray, but I'm sure you've seen King Kong Lives but are just blocking it subconsciously.  As for the Ride it was installed in Hollywood in 1986, which would be the same year as KK lives was released so that would make a lot of sense from a marketing stand point.  Now how much of it is influenced by KK 1976 remains to be seen as it was in development since '82  I understand.

[The Phantom Creep]

I was just reading the book King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon, which is excellent by the way, and the section on the making of Kong '76 goes into all of the rights issues which were very complicated and far too detailed for me to go into here but it has to do with if your Kong is based on the original film or the novel. There were all sorts of problems between De Laurentis, RKO, Universal and others. Just get the book, it's a great read anyways. It's too bad they got rid of the Kong rides at the parks though.

[Gary D Macabre]

I believe Kong is still in the Hollywood park, whether that's just for the tram or not I don't know.