NEWS: Avatar Exhibition & Cirque du Soleil Show announced!

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/avatar-touring-exhibition-hit-road-791036

 

An exhibition based on the 2009 blockbuster movie Avatar will travel the world beginning in the fall of 2016, about a year before the first of three planned sequels is expected to reach movie theaters.

 

Global Experience Specialists is partnering with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products to create what is being billed as a state-of-the-art, interactive touring exhibition. According to an announcement, it will be “inspired by the amazing creatures and environments of the world of Pandora first introduced in the record-breaking film.”

 

Avatar director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau’s Lightstorm Entertainment is consulting on the touring exhibition.

 

The announcement did not indicate which cities around the world will get the Avatar touring exhibition, nor did it say whether there will be multiple exhibits at the same time or if it will tour from place to place.

 

“Bringing the world of Pandora to life and comparing it to the wonders of our own planet, the Avatar exhibition will bring together immersive new storytelling and science in a tangible, engaging forum," said Jeffrey Godsick, president of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products.

 

“As we expand the Avatar story world, we look for compelling ways to connect with our current — and future — fans,” said Kathy Franklin, president of franchise development for Lightstorm Entertainment. “This exhibition is an ideal way to share new and exciting insights into life on Pandora that we hope will inspire guests during their visit and beyond.”

 

The exhibition will include what the organizers promise will be “immersive, interactive displays” that put the alien world of Pandora "in the context of science here on Earth."

 

“The 10,000-square-foot experience,” according to the announcement, “will allow for a dynamic 45-minute guest engagement offering a wide range of exciting explorations and captivating environments highlighting bioluminescence, connectivity among Pandora’s living things, as well as its incredible and diverse flora and fauna. A unique look at the complexity of indigenous peoples and cultures through the lens of the Na’vi, Pandora’s native inhabitants, will be a key component of the exhibition.”

 

The first Avatar grossed nearly $2.8 billion worldwide. Cameron is working on three sequels in New Zealand, with the first expected to hit theaters in 2017, the second in 2018 and the final one in 2019.

 

 

In addition to the traveling exhibition, a new Cirque du Soleil Avatar-themed concept has been announced. These two productions are not related, but it shows that Avatar continues to be brand that companies are working to use in new ways (remember, Avatar will also be the subject of a new land being built at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort).

 

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk

 

Inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR, TORUK – The First Flight, a live experience by Cirque du Soleil, envisions a world beyond imagination thousands of years before the events depicted in the film.

 

The live arena tour begins November 2015.

 

Edited May 2, 2015 by jedimaster1227

[KBrylczyk]

Let me clarify that Toruk (the Cirque show) and the exhibition are two totally different beasts. Cirque is not involved with the exhibition.

 

That being said, what I've seen for Toruk is pretty cool so far. Unfortunately I can't say anything more as it's all super secret, but it'll definitely be something you want to see.

 

Source - I work for Cirque. Employees have been receiving almost weekly emails updating us on the project.

[bert425]

the Cirque show is a touring show? (not a set show in a permanent Theater?).

[jedimaster1227]

^^Sorry about that. I didn't mean for the post to come across like they were related projects--just that there's a common link in the theme and the use of the same IP. I have updated the original post to reflect this difference.

 

^Toruk - The First Flight is a touring Cirque du Soleil arena show, not a permanent installation (at least not yet).

[chadster]

I just got my pre-sale invite yesterday, already bought tix for Cirque!

[Nrthwnd]

I hope they tour here. With Le Chapiteau... in tow.

I never see any Cirque shows outside of that brilliant,

yellow and blue striped, bright tent.

 

The only exceptions I do ever make, are all the Vegas shows, and

the "single location events", like La Nuba at WDW or like ZED was, at TDLR.

[Mrlittle]

II just figure Toruk was another show. I didn't know it dealt with Avatar. Looks cool.

[Nrthwnd]

With the luck our annual fair (PNE) has had with traveling exhibits in past years

(the last being the touring Game of Thrones last August), it would be

interesting to see, if this AVATAR Exhibit shows up at The Fair, as well.

Maybe not this summer, maybe next year. Who knows?

 

It's fun not knowing everything!

[Jew]

I can't be the only one who read Toruk and immediately thought of the N64 video game, right?

[KBrylczyk]

I hope they tour here. With Le Chapiteau... in tow.

I never see any Cirque shows outside of that brilliant,

yellow and blue striped, bright tent.

 

The only exceptions I do ever make, are all the Vegas shows, and

the "single location events", like La Nuba at WDW or like ZED was, at TDLR.

 

Fun fact! After Zed closed thanks to the earthquake a bunch of the artists were scattered around the company to different shows. We got the Trapeze guys at Mystere (the show I work on). Same act, same music. The net doesn't come out of the roof, though, haha.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Now there's a Bucket List Cirque show I really have wanted to see.

 

The original - Mystere. It was the first Cirque show in Vegas, yes?

 

EDIT to add: I'm just assuming that there will be some added PR for

Avatar in DAK, when this separate exhibit is on tour, as well, hmmm?

Edited May 3, 2015 by Nrthwnd

[KBrylczyk]

Yep. We're officially one of the top 5 longest running shows in history. 10,000+ shows, 21+ years.

[Nrthwnd]

^Great! And I just realized, I wanted to ask you about...

 

I heard there's this special Cirque "deal," involving being able

to see several Cirque shows in one week or so, at a really good price,

and it happens during the first week or so of December...

 

Is this still happening every year? I definitely would love to do it, with

so many Cirque shows to choose from.

[Jew]

They did a "Cirque Week" in 2013 to celebrate 20 years in Las Vegas. That was the last one.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Oh shoot. Well, thanks for letting me know, Joey.

[Fire2box]

I can't be the only one who read Toruk and immediately thought of the N64 video game, right?

 

not at all, and I never really played any of those games.

[Saldek]

The original - Mystere. It was the first Cirque show in Vegas, yes?

 

Mystère was the first show in Vegas to have its own permanent theatre built, however the first show to take up residence there was Nouvelle Expérience which opened in November 1992 and was there for a full year and staged in a tent on the grounds of The Mirage Hotel. Mystère opened a year after Nouvelle closed.