The Walt Disney Co. report they have reached an agreement with Fox Filmed Entertainment and James Cameron' s Lightstorm Entertainment to create 'theme park attractions' based on Cameron's 3D movie "Avatar".
Disney said it plans to build the first " Avatar" theme park in their 'Animal Kingdom' park, located in 'Walt Disney World', Orlando, Florida, at a cost of $400 million.
The agreement between Disney, Fox and Lightstorm, gives Disney exclusive global theme park rights to the "Avatar" franchise, leaving open the possibility of building additional Avatar" theme parks in other locations.
Released in 2009, the $237 million budgeted science fiction feature "Avatar", the first film in history to theatrically gross more than $2 billion, was written and directed by Cameron, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi and Sigourney Weaver.
The "Avatar" film title refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi-human hybrid bodies used by a team of researchers to interact with the natives of Pandora.
"Avatar" won three Academy Awards, for 'Best Cinematography', 'Best Visual Effects' and 'Best Art Direction'.
Disney anticipates continued interest in "Avatar", as Cameron signed with 20th Century Fox to produce two sequels to the film, making "Avatar" only the first of a planned trilogy.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Avatar"...
