Watch out Mickey, a new star is coming to Orlando. Variety reports that Warner Bros. is working with Universal’s new theme park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, to bring the world of Harry Potter beyond the screen. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, complete with recreations of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, is running up a $200 million price tag to complete and is set to open spring of 2010.
While the films have earned $4.5 billion at the box office, and DVDs have sold another $2.7 billion, its licensing program around the films also has generated several billion dollars for the studio since the first film bowed in 2001. And it’s a cash cow the company clearly doesn’t want to give up.
But that’s not all, Warner Bros. is also taking Harry on the road with Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a traveling art show featuring props, pictures, and sets from the various movies. The exhibition will start in Chicago and move on from there.
The purpose of the theme park and traveling showcase isn’t just to keep Harry Potter alive in various forms, but also help Warner Bros. move a lot of merchandise — toys, clothing and collectibles — which will keep its consumer products division busy.
But wait, there’s more. With Potter movies coming out every other year or so, the video game industry is trying to keep up with demand, and to stay aboard the Potter gravy-train. Electronic Arts has created the Potter games to date and collects most of the profits. But soon the popular LEGO game series will release it’s version of the Potter adventures. For those who didn’t know, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE opens next Wednesday.