The World's First Jumanji Ride Is On The Way
It's hard to believe, but the world's first Jumanji ride is on the way, as Merlin Entertainments turns the popular movie series into a theme park attraction.
18th Mar 2022 11:19
Images via TriStar | Sony
The World's First Jumanji Ride Is On The Way
It's hard to believe, but the world's first Jumanji ride is on the way, as Merlin Entertainments turns the popular movie series into a theme park attraction.
18th Mar 2022 11:19
Images via TriStar | Sony
"In the jungle, you must wait, until the dice read five or eight." If you know those immortal words, you'll know the legacy of Joe Johnston's OG Jumanji and Jake Kasdan's ongoing trilogy of reboots - sorry, we don't count Zathura: A Space Adventure. Now, the franchise is set to be honoured in theme park form.
While the first Jumanji was based on a board game, the reboots have seen Jumanji embrace the medium of video games. Theme parks around the globe are welcoming our love of gaming, and as Nintendo continues to roll out its Mario-themed expansions to Universal Studios, we're getting an unexpected Jumanji ride in an unexpected place.
What Is The Jumanji Ride?
Merlin Entertainments has teamed up with Sony and has grand plans for a Jumanji ride. Better yet, it's coming this year. For those who don't know, Merlin Entertainments is known for the likes of UK attractions including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Madame Tussaud’s, and Legoland.
The Jumanji ride opens next month at Italy's Gardaland Resort, with plans for a second ride already planned for a new location in 2023. The Gardaland ride is described as a "dark ride for adventure lovers of all ages" and will open alongside a series of Jumanji-themed hotel rooms at the resort. Well, we're sold already.
As a multimillion-pound ride, Jumanji – The Adventure has bagged Oscar-winning special effects wizards from London-based Framestore, which is known for grabbing awards for Bladerunner 2049 and Gravity. It's a joint venture with US subsea engineering firm Oceaneering - boasting work on Universal Studios' Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Transformers rides. Basically, it sounds like a wet and wild adventure.
Will We Get More Jumanji Rides?
The location of the second ride is currently being kept a mystery, but dare we hope for one in the UK? Somewhere like Alton Towers seems primed for a Jumanji ride, and with the resort already boasting themed rooms, a Jumanji makeover could pull in the visitors. Then again, the USA is the largest market for the Jumanji franchise, followed by China in second, and the UK in third. Unfortunately, China isn't covered by the latest agreement.
Merlin's Chief Development Officer, Mark Fisher, said: "Our Merlin team are already hard at work developing brilliant creative concepts. We can’t wait to deliver thrilling rides and experiences for guests and film fans alike! The game is certainly on!" Merlin has previously worked with Sony to create a Ghostbusters ride at Heide Park in Germany, so we're excited to see what's on the way. Don't worry, no monkeys were harmed in the making of these rides.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
