Over the weekend, rumors surfaced that Reliance may be building a “Universal Studios India” that may include elements from the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Reliance, India’s largest private sector conglomerate company, would wholly own the park they plan to build in India, while paying royalties and fees to Universal for name brands that include Harry Potter and the Wizarding World park.
Here’s more from the Wall Street Journal article about the potential partnership.
India’s Reliance ADA Group is in talks with Universal Studios to build a $1.5 billion theme park and resort in India, seeking to capitalize on rising demand for entertainment in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, a person familiar with the matter said.
Reliance, a media-to-energy conglomerate backed by billionaire Anil Ambani, would be full owner of the park but would pay Universal royalties and fees for using brands and content linked to popular Hollywood movies such as “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Spider-Man” and the “Harry Potter” franchise, this person said.
The park would look much like Universal’s other major theme parks in Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Japan, with a variety of roller coasters and rides, shops with movie-related merchandise and nearby hotels. The complex is expected to stretch over 400 acres, which would make it one of the biggest such sites in the world, the person familiar with the matter said.
Reliance’s Big Entertainment subsidiary and Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal, still are discussing terms, but could reach a deal this year. One person familiar with the matter warned, however, that talks are at an early stage, and could yet break down.
Any thoughts on whether or not Universal should partner with Reliance to make a Harry Potter park in India?
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