How Litlle by Little Disneyland Innoventions Become a Marvel Super Heroes Pavilion

Remember this rumor a few years ago saying that Disneyland's Innoventions will be shut down and be replaced by a Marvel attraction? Well, Innoventions is still there and we don't have a ride instead of it but little by little the whole pavilion is indeed becoming a Marvel one. And now, after "Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries" and "Thor: Treasures of Asgard" that DL guests can always experience it's Captain America who will come at Innoventions on March 7 in "Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage"!

Of course, all this is done to promote the new "Captain America, The Winter Soldier", but this you already knew it, didn't you?

Picture: copyright Disney - Marvel

Marvel Wants Johnny Depp to Play Dr Strange in Dr Strange Movie

 

According to Latino Review - a web site with very good sources at Marvel and a great record of scoops in the past - Marvel wants Johnny Depp to play the role of Dr Strange in the live action adaptation movie! According to the website Depp already had a meeting with the guys at Marvel and is very interested in pursuing it. If we think at which Marvel super heroes would fit the most for Johnny Depp, Dr Strange is indeed a good choice and the fact that he is apparently a long time fan of Dr Strange should help to have him playing the role.

The deal is not signed yet and let's not forget that Johnny has to play first in Pirates of Caribbean 5. Also, Latino Review, says the script will have to go through an overhaul, especially since the current script centers on a 30 year old Dr Strange, and a see know Depp is now 50. This shouldn't be big problem and the movie if all works well should be released in 2016.

Picture: copyright Marvel

Marvel Experience Project : First Rendering Released !

Today, Hero Ventures released a first-look rendering of the anticipated design of The Marvel Experience domed complex set to tour the U.S in 2014. The $30M project will include the first-ever traveling motion-based ride, interactive games, 3D animated short films, digital projects , virtual simulators and of course merchandise shops. Looks not bad... Sure, it won't be as good as a Marvel land created by WDI but i'm curious to see more of it when it will open. Here is the full press release:

"Canvassing a two-acre footprint of more than 80,000 square feet, this state-of-the-art, custom built multi-Dome complex will represent the first time a venue of this type, size and scope will be utilized for a mobile tour. From the outside, The Marvel Experience resembles a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. installation or “Mobile Command Center,” with the facility’s apex towering more than six stories high. Inside, a maze of connected Domes will lead guests through an array of interactive games and original animated short films including the first-ever traveling motion-based ride, where guests become immersed in this original adventure only found in The Marvel Experience. This unique, themed entertainment experience is scheduled to visit select US and Canadian markets for weeks at a time in each city and is designed to engage audiences through compelling family entertainment with a production value consistent with the iconic nature of the Marvel Super Heroes.

The touring experience was designed in concert with a team of industry renowned all-stars and award winners including one of the motion picture industry’s most noted concept artists, Aaron Sims, who art directed the illustration. Sims, who will also be offering up his unparalleled vision for the Tour’s character and environment animation is no stranger to the Marvel Universe. He has brought Marvel characters to life through his work on numerous feature films including Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk, Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man, and Fox’s X-Men: First Class. Sims is one of the Industry’s most prolific special effects artists having worked with Steven Spielberg on A.I. and War of the Worlds, Michael Bay’s Transformers and many other visually spectacular films.

“The Marvel Experience and our innovative Dome environment is the future of themed entertainment. Aaron and our entire team have done a masterful job in setting the table for us with their magnificent designs and creativity for this dynamic experience,” said Rick Licht, Hero Ventures’ CEO. Executive Producer Michael Cohl added, “This Marvel experience employs new technology and new concepts that we think will make this one of the most exciting shows ever produced. It will be a truly unique experience.”

“The Domes are central to the singular story line that pulses through The Marvel Experience and are enhanced by state-of-the-art design applications and graphic elements,” said Doug Schaer, COO of Hero Ventures. “The interior will feature an exaggerated comic-style utilizing projected high-tech imagery, amazing fabricated set pieces and virtual simulations to advance the story. Our guests will be interacting directly with multiple Marvel Super Heroes, as well as members of S.H.I.E.L.D., as they take their place in the Marvel Universe”. “We are excited to collaborate with Hero Ventures to bring our millions of Marvel fans an exciting new way to interact with and experience their favorite characters, in a never-before- seen environment,” said Marvel’s Sean Haran, Vice President of Business Development. “Hero Ventures brings a refreshing and magical approach to showcase our characters in a way that is sure to be a thrilling and unforgettable experience in a uniquely iconic venue.”"

Picture and text: copyright Hero Ventures - Marvel.com 

Marvel / Pixar Super-Heroes !

Here is a short but cool post for the week-end. In these times of Marvel / Avengers mania a talented fan had fun to transform three iconic Marvel super-heroes...in Pixar characters!

So, above you'll have a Captain America / Mr Incredible...and below a Wolverine / Sully...



...And here is a Hulk / Carl Fredricksen!



One more for the road - and for action figures fans - with this Iron Man / Buzz Lightyear action figure!



Pictures: copyright Worth 1000.com

Marvel Super-Heroes Attractions Coming to Disneyland Paris ?

Something interesting happened during a dinner between DLP fans and DLPI Imagineers. This dinner happened as a contest was organized recently and the big prize was a dinner with two DLP Imagineers. Although no real infos were released about new attractions, the lucky fans had the pleasure to hear some inside stories about the making of DLP parks.

BUT, during this dinner, one of the imagineers asked the fans "By the way, i have a question and i will be interested to have the feeling of fans about this: what do you think of the arrival of the Marvel super-heroes at Disney?". It's important to note that the imagineer did not say "What do you think about Marvel super-heroes attractions coming in the parks?" as the question was more about the arrival of the Marvel "catalog" at Disney, after WDC bought Marvel.

However, why the imagineers would ask such a question to DLP fans if they had no plans at all to develop attractions inspired by Marvel super-heroes? It doesn't mean that a Marvel ride will open soon at DLP, but it probably means that they are thinking about it and if you want my feeling, i think that, yes, they are probably working on Marvel rides concepts for DLP.

Why? Well, first because it's not the first time that we hear about this. Some months ago, DLP CEO Philippe Gas said in a Telegraph interview that DLP's third park "could be a Marvel super-heroes theme park". Recently Philippe Gas also said that DLP is thinking to open this third park in 2020 - so in eight years from now. And, considering that WDI Imagineers always need time to prepare a new project, it would be logical that they begin to design this future park right now...

Now, they could also include a Marvel land at DLP Walt Disney Studios. After all it is supposed to be a park about movies and considering all the movies released with Marvel super-heroes a Marvel land could find perfectly its place at the WDS, and it surely will be successful if the rides are good. Because, to answer the Imagineer question, that's all the problem: if WDI design Marvel attractions as good, for instance, as Universal has done with the Spiderman ride then fans will love them. My only concern, personally, is that they don't put a Marvel attraction inside DLP Magic Kingdom. If they put them at the WDS or in a third park, it's okay for me.

We may have to wait a bit to know the answer but in the meantime, let me know in the comments what is your feeling about Marvel rides coming to DLP?

Picture: copyright Marvel - Disney


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Marvel Super Heroes 4D Attraction

Here is the part two of my London report and this one is about a great Marvel Super-Heroes attraction! We are all wondering about where and when WDI will begin to build Marvel super heroes attraction in Disney theme park but this Marvel attraction which opened last summer inside London's Madame Tussaud's museum and is a real good one! Even better it's a 4D attraction with in-theatre effects!



What they did is that they've transformed the old Planetarium located at the end of the visit of the wax museum in a 4D theatre with lot of effects. Before guests enter the theatre they access the "Hall of Heroes" with interactive displays where you can see what you'd look like if you turned into The Hulk and hang out on the ceiling with Spider-Man. They are welcome by a huge Incredible Hulk...



...the Fantastic Four Invisible woman - Jessica Alba ...



...and Iron Man standing in a kind of Stark Industries decor. By the way, this reminds me the rumor of an Iron Man attraction envisioned for Disneyland's Tomorrowland with the Innoventions building transformed in a Stark Industries decor. I don't know if this rumor is right or not, but hopefully we'll know more in the future.



Let's come back to this Marvel 4D attraction. When guests enter inside the old Planetarium theatre - and once they took the 3D glasses - they sit in the brand new theatre chairs equipped with sensory special effects which include water, smoke and tremors that bring all the action right to your seat. The theatre floor is not moving like it does in Honey i schrunk the audience but all along the movie guests experience many effects like the Honey i schrunk the audience "mouse effect" (hitting your legs) or also like the effect in It's Tough to be a bug (hitting your back) or like the one with the dog at the end of Honey (when water is spray in your face), etc...

And what about the movie itself, you ask? Well, this ten minutes movie is really fun. It's not a live action movie but 3D CGI animation which is pretty good and, considering that the attraction budget was certainly not a "WDI budget", i think they did a pretty good job. It's non stop action all along the ten minutes with a lot of "pop up in your face" 3D effect. Obviously someone at Tussaud's asked the production to don't be afraid to put as much as possible 3D effects and they were right as the audience was constantly laughing and surprised by the effects and enjoyed the movie very much. And so did I.

The story itself is pretty simple: Spidey, Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk try to save London which is under attack by Doctor Doom. What a casting! Doom has created huge robots and after a fight with the first of them near Buckingham Palace the threat is getting closer to Madame Tussaud's museum ( that is to say where guests are watching the movie ) up to the point when Dr Doom released big mechanical flying bugs that will invade the theatre. Not a bad plot, actually. I must add that the music score is very good too. Actually, and considering that the action doesn't stop all along the ten minutes, the whole movie is really enjoyable. For sure it would have been better if it has been filmed in live action instead of 3D animation but that shouldn't stop you to see this new London attraction during your next visit.

As i supposed you'd like to see some images from the movie itself, i found on youtube these videos.

The first one is a short video showing you the making-of of the pre-show area and a bit of the movie...




The second one is the official trailer of the attraction...




And now a big spoiler warning! If you intend to do the attraction anytime soon it's probably better to don't watch the next two videos! The first one will show you the first and a half minute of the movie, the very beginning...




...and this last one will show you the WHOLE movie, starting approximately where the above video ended. No need to say that it is in-theatre filming, so the quality is not perfect. That said it's in 3D and eventually if you have 3D glasses at home and watch the video full screen you may experience some of the 3D effects, but of course not the in-theatre effects. The kind of 3D glasses you need is the one they give you for "Honey" or "Captain EO".




Pictures: copyright Disney and more - Madame Tussaud's

Video: copyright Madame Tussaud's

Is WDI Developing Attractions Inspired by Marvel Super-Heroes ?

The next D23 Magazine Summer issue will be released soon and some of the articles should be really interesting. In one of them called "What a MARVELous world!" Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, is interviewed and "has big hopes for Marvel now that they're part of the Walt Disney family, including having Marvel's stable of iconic characters become fixtures at Disney theme parks around the world".

The guys at IGN had an exclusive advance look at the interview Feige did for the upcoming D23 issue in which Feige says: "It's the biggest dream of all. We get to tap into this spectacular team that is better than anyone else on the planet at bringing fantasy to life, not only on the big screen but in the real world," said Feige.



Feige continued: "The notion of walking into a theme park and going into Asgard or the X-Mansion—Disney does this better than anyone. That is why I've gone to Disney parks multiple times every year for my whole life. It's that next step in fully immersive storytelling, whether it's a dark ride, a stunt show, or a thrill ride. The options are endless when it comes to how Imagineers can turn our characters, our adventures, and our films into amazing experiences."



Now, that's not all. In the same "What a MARVELous World!" article we learn too that Stan Lee also talks about "his excitement to be working with WDI Imagineers: "It's great for Marvel to have access to Disney's brains, because they're pretty smart, and it's great for Disney to have all these characters, with their built-in audience. It's one of the wisest things that either company could have done"...The article's glimpse into future plans for this historic team-up shows why Disney, Marvel and fans alike are looking forward to super hero-sized results."

We knew it had to happen, that some day WDI attractions themed on the Marvel Super-Heroes universe will appear in a Disney theme park. And, after all, when we see what Universal did at Islands of Adventure with the Spiderman ride there is no doubt that WDI could create great rides inspired by Marvel super-heroes.

The only question is not really "when?" these attractions will come as it will probably take some years before we see the first "Marvel" attraction in a Disney park - but more "where?", where these Marvel rides will be installed. Laughing Place is asking "Is Marvel Heading to Disneyland?". Let's hope not as the only place in Disneyland for a Marvel ride would be Tomorowland and i would prefer Tony Baxter's Wall-E attraction project inside the former Carousel of Progress building than an Iron Man ride. California Adventure would be a better choice but where at DCA? They probably would have to create a new "Marvel" mini land...

Or may be these WDI Marvel rides concepts - if WDI Imagineers are really working on that - will be developed for DLP third gate? Remember that DLP CEO Philippe Gas said some months ago in a Telegraph article that "DLP's third park could be a Marvel super-heroes theme park". In this case, considering that DLP third gate won't open before 2020 i'm afraid we will have to wait quite a while to ride these upcoming-or-not WDI Marvel attractions.

May be we will learn more in the next D23 summer issue, available on May 3!

Pictures: copyright Disney-Marvel

Will Shanghaî Disneyland be the first Disney theme park to have WDI Marvel super-heroes attractions ?

According to the always good Screamscape web site their sources told them that "Disney has asked the Imagineers to start studying up the huge collection of Marvel Comics characters and stories" and "that the first Disney park that could get new Marvel based attractions will likely be the new Shanghai park."

Although it's still a rumor, it's an interesting news and here is why it could eventually really happen at Shanghaî Disneyland before any other Disney theme park.

I'm not aware of the contracts signed between Marvel and Universal before the Disney deal with Marvel, but i won't be surprised that an "exclusivity clause" was asked by Universal to Marvel. At least for each country where the attractions are already built, i.e America and Japan where Universal Studios have theme parks, and the Spiderman ride in two of them.

Now, although Universal do have a theme park project near Beijing - which awaits China officials approval just like Disney for Shanghaî Disneyland - they still don't have a park in China. And, bad news for Universal, Disney now owns the Marvel rights, which basically means that Disney is doing what he wants as long as they're not stuck with previous contract clauses signed before they own the rights.

So which Disney theme park could be better than Shanghaî Disneyland to introduce the first WDI Marvel super-heroes attractions? But there may be also another reason: from what i've been told Imagineers intend to pay tribute to Chinese mythologies in Shanghaî Disneyland. Which is a pretty good idea as chinese are generally not aware of European mythologies - that's one of the reason you don't find any Snow White, Pinnochio or even Peter Pan dark rides at Hong Kong Disneyland. Chinese know more Pixar characters as these are coming from recent animated films but for the old Disney classics it's another problem...



On this angle, Marvel super-heroes mythologies thanks to recent movies - and one dollar pirate Dvds that anyone can find in most Chinese cities! - are probably well known by young chinese generations - and we can count on Disney to have check this with a marketing research!

So, for all these reasons, and although the Screamscape news must still be consider as a rumor, i would bet on it - not only for the fun but also because, as i often say, there is always a logic behind corporate decisions and in this case we can catch a glimpse of the logic who could decide WDI Imagineers to create Marvel super-heroes attractions for the awaited Shanghaî Disneyland.


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Pictures: copyright Marvel