Warner Bros. has informed us that Universal Studios Japan, in partnership with Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts has plans to build another Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Japan which will make this a global expansion of the wildly popular themed entertainment experience that started at Universal Orlando Resort nearly two years ago..
A formal announcement will be made tomorrow (Thursday, May 10) by Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO, Universal Studios Japan; Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Michael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts; as well as James and Oliver Phelps, who played the roles of Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, who will be the guests of honor for the announcement. The Governor of Osaka Ichiro Matsui is expected to attend.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is the result of the creative teamwork and efforts by Universal Studios Japan in conjunction with Warner Bros., which produced and distributed the Harry Potter films, and Universal Parks & Resorts, which oversees Universal Studios theme parks, hotels and resorts throughout the world. It will be as magnificent and as impressive as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Just as in Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will faithfully and authentically bring to life the stories created by J.K. Rowling in her books and captured on screen in Warner Bros.’ films.
“I was delighted to experience and enjoy the attention to detail, creativity and superb craft that went into the first Wizarding World in Orlando. I am equally delighted that the same level of expertise and enjoyment will translate to the new park in Japan,” said J.K. Rowling.
“Harry Potter, the most wonderful and amazing story of our time, is coming to Universal Studios Japan. USJ is thrilled to be chosen to make the Harry Potter experience come alive for the people of Japan. USJ is committed to being the world’s best Theme Park and by bringing this brilliant story to Japan and creating a fantastic experience is yet another validation of that commitment,” said Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO of USJ Co., Ltd. “USJ will recreate to the highest level of authenticity, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, created by Universal Studios in Orlando, which has been enjoyed and cherished by millions and millions of Universal Orlando’s guests. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – USJ’s commitment to bring the world’s best to life.”
The themed area itself will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle which will serve as the centerpiece of the land.
“Harry Potter continues to captivate generations of fans around the world and we are delighted to announce this partnership with Universal Studios Japan that will allow us to bring the magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Asia,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter allows fans to step into the magical world created in the books and witnessed in the films. We think this is the perfectly timed next step in bringing the magical world of Harry Potter to life for even more fans.”
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will be similar to the spectacularly themed land at Universal Orlando Resort and will include Hogwarts castle, Hogsmeade and multiple themed attractions. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same high level of talent and resources, including the creative leadership of Stuart Craig, Production Designer for the entire Harry Potter film series.
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an entirely new level of themed entertainment that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in incredible ways. It will forever change tourism, not only in Kansai but throughout Japan. We are thrilled to be bringing one of the most powerful themed entertainment experiences of our time to Universal Studios Japan, marking the global expansion of this incredible phenomenon, and we are confident that guests will want to return again and again to fully experience all that this fantastic environment will have to offer,” said Michael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts.
In June 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened and became an instant, unprecedented hit. Since then, Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts announced that the themed area would be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and also that the Orlando location would be significantly expanded. No specific details on either of these plans have yet been announced.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Japan is expected to be open to the public in late 2014.
Warner Bros. has also sent us photos depicting sights for the theme park in Japan. Click here to see them.
UPDATE: Warner Bros have released a press release regarding the announcement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter coming to Japan in late 2014. James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) were there for the event. We also have three new photos from the event which you can see in our gallery starting here.
HOGWARTS IS COMING TO JAPAN!
Global Expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry PotterSet for Universal Studios Japan – Slated to Open in Late 2014
Osaka, Japan (May 10, 2012) – Universal Studios Japan, in partnership with Warner Bros. andUniversal Parks & Resorts, announced today that they will be bringing The Wizarding World ofHarry Potter to Japan, marking the global expansion of this wildly popular themed entertainment experience that started at Universal Orlando Resort nearly two years ago.The announcement was made by Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO, Universal Studios Japan;Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Michael Silver, President, GlobalBusiness Development, Universal Parks & Resorts; as well as James and Oliver Phelps, whoplayed the roles of Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter film series. Governor of OsakaIchiro Matsui was the guest of honor at the announcement, which also hosted more than ahundred excited fans dressed in Harry Potter attire who screamed with delight when theannouncement was made.The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is the result of the creativeteamwork and efforts by Universal Studios Japan in conjunction with Warner Bros., whichproduced and distributed the Harry Potter films, and Universal Parks & Resorts, which overseesUniversal Studios theme parks, hotels and resorts throughout the world. It will be as magnificentand as impressive as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Just asin Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will faithfully andauthentically bring to life the stories created by J.K. Rowling in her books and captured onscreen in Warner Bros.’ films.The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando brought significant increases in tourism, jobsand economic benefit to the entire central Florida economy. The Wizarding World of HarryPotter at Universal Studios Japan is also expected to make a significant impact on tourism inboth the Osaka/Kansai region and the entire country, creating thousands of new jobs andbringing economic benefits throughout Japan for decades to come.”I was delighted to experience and enjoy the attention to detail, creativity and superb craft thatwent into the first Wizarding World in Orlando. I am equally delighted that the same level ofexpertise and enjoyment will translate to the new park in Japan,” said J.K. Rowling.
“Harry Potter, the most wonderful and amazing story of our time, is coming to UniversalStudios Japan. USJ is thrilled to be chosen to make the Harry Potter experience come alive forthe people of Japan. USJ is committed to being the world’s best Theme Park and by bringingthis brilliant story to Japan and creating a fantastic experience is yet another validation of thatcommitment,” said Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO of USJ Co., Ltd. “USJ will recreate tothe highest level of authenticity, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, created by UniversalStudios in Orlando, which has been enjoyed and cherished by millions and millions of UniversalOrlando’s guests. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – USJ’s commitment to bring theworld’s best to life.”The themed area itself will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings thestories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including amajestic Hogwarts castle which will serve as the centerpiece of the land.“Harry Potter continues to captivate generations of fans around the world and we are delightedto announce this partnership with Universal Studios Japan that will allow us to bring the magicof The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Asia,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros.Consumer Products. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter allows fans to step into the magicalworld created in the books and witnessed in the films. We think this is the perfectly timed nextstep in bringing the magical world of Harry Potter to life for even more fans.”The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan will be similar to thespectacularly themed land at Universal Orlando Resort and will include Hogwarts castle,Hogsmeade and multiple themed attractions. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at UniversalStudios Japan will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same high levelof talent and resources, including the creative leadership of Stuart Craig, Production Designer forthe entire Harry Potter film series.“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an entirely new level of themed entertainment thatbrings the stories of Harry Potter to life in incredible ways. It will forever change tourism, notonly in Kansai but throughout Japan. We are thrilled to be bringing one of the most powerfulthemed entertainment experiences of our time to Universal Studios Japan, marking the globalexpansion of this incredible phenomenon, and we are confident that guests will want to returnagain and again to fully experience all that this fantastic environment will have to offer,” saidMichael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts.In June 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened andbecame an instant, unprecedented hit. Since then, Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resortsannounced that the themed area would be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and also thatthe Orlando location would be significantly expanded. No specific details on either of theseplans have yet been announced.
Thanks to Warner Bros. for letting us know!
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Warner Bros. has informed us that Universal Studios Japan, in partnership with Warner Bros. and Universal Parks & Resorts has plans to build another Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Japan which will make this a global expansion of the wildly popular themed entertainment experience that started at Universal Orlando Resort nearly two years ago.. [...]
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