MUMBAI: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of Avatar to life at Disney Parks.

Through an exclusive agreement, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, Fox and Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of Avatar first hand. Disney plans to build the first Avatar themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the Avatar stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.
 
“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible. With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney,” said The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger.
 
“Avatar created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new Avatar films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore. I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our Avatar universe to life.  Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of Avatar with an unprecedented sense of reality,” said Cameron.
 
The agreement gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the Avatar franchise and provides for additional Avatar themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. Cameron, Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the Avatar themed lands.
 
“This exciting new venture combines the world of Avatar with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron. While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the Avatar motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created,” said Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman.
 
“Avatar is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney. We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of Avatar in person,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Thomas O. Staggs.