The former Fox World Malaysia theme park is now good to go... but it definitely won't be "Fox" World anymore.
The new outdoor theme park at Resort World Genting was thrown into doubt last year, when now-Disney-owned Fox pulled its licensing for the theme park, prompting developer Genting Malaysia to sue Fox and Disney, which then led to a countersuit from Fox against Genting.
Now, everyone has settled, according to a filing with the Malaysian stock exchange. The deal allows Genting to use certain, unnamed Fox properties in the park, though the park will no longer use "Fox" in its name. Attractions now will be themed to both Fox and non-Fox IP.
The park was slated to open this year, before the legal battles stalled development. Analysts have estimated that the park is 95 percent complete and might be able to open in the first half of next year, now that all of the attractions planned with Fox IP do not have to be rethemed.
One of those attractions is the Duel Power Coaster that Dynamic Attractions showed off at IAAPA last fall. That first-of-its-kind thrill ride was tipped to be themed to FX network's Sons of Anarchy, though it is not known if the motorcycle coaster is one that will retain its Fox-owned theming or not.
When first announced in 2013, the Fox World park was to include attractions based on Alien vs. Predator, Ice Age, Night at the Museum, Planet of the Apes, and Rio, among other Fox properties. Genting's lawsuit revealed that attraction names included:
Genting alleged that Disney ordered Fox to cancel the deal, claiming that Disney did not want to be associated with a resort that includes a casino. Fox claimed that Genting missed its deadlines for the project, and Disney responded that the claims against it were "utterly without merit." Genting's sister property Resorts World Sentosa is home to the Universal Studios Singapore theme park as well as one of the top-10 highest-grossing casinos in the world.
We now will await official word on a new name for this park, as well as an opening date.
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Well, as its still movie themed, it will probably be something generic not unlike "Movie Park" or "Hollywoodland" or "Cinemagic"
I discussed this so many times over and over again (first since 2007 on Linkedin-Blooloop and on Linkedin-Iaapa, later on Iaapa EAS seminars...) : IP is not just the declared holy grail for theme parks, it's also the ultimate legal hellhole.
Parks that operate out of the realm of IP rights' battles, are much more enjoyable for everyone. (Visitors, executives, shareholders...)
Especially small (regional public aimed) theme parks could be advised never to get involved with that "poisonous gem". >> Develop your own experiences, storylines, characters etc etc, IN-park, unique and free from the swarm of attorneys...
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Now that this mess is settled and there's a fresh license for Genting Group to use these Fox intellectual properties for Resorts World Genting Highlands, how about we post suggestions for what to rename the theme park that must not be named 29th Century Fox World?