Business & Tech
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Coming to Universal City
Universal officials say the attraction is expected to create about 1,000 jobs, and will likely take about three years to build.
Hollywood made it official today, confirming that it will open a Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction at its Universal City theme park.
Details of the project -- including an opening date -- were still unclear, but state and local officials hailed the project as yet another tourist draw in theme park-heavy Southern California.
"You know we have some tough times, but the movie industry keeps hope alive, keeps us together and thinking of the beautiful and the unexpected," Gov. Jerry Brown said at a news conference announcing the Harry Potter project.
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Exactly how large the attraction will be and what rides it will include are unknown, but it is expected to feature a Hogwarts castle and the motion- simulator ride "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," which is a main selling point for the Harry Potter land at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
The flying-broomstick-themed ride prompted a quip from Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who also attended the announcement.
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"As far as the broomsticks are concerned, is there a better way to navigate the 405 during rush hour?" he said.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in Florida in 2010 to overflow crowds. Universal officials said the Hollywood version is expected to create about 1,000 jobs, and it will likely take about three years to build.
