Paramount Pictures to Open Theme Park in Spain

Paramount Pictures says it has reached a deal to open a theme park on Spain's Mediterranean coast.

The film company, owned by Viacom, is teaming up with officials in the Murcia region in southeastern Spain for the first Paramount Movie Park in Europe.

In a statement, Paramount Licensing says it has agreed to license its "intellectual property from its vast library of films" and help with the design of the theme park, but is not an investor.

There was no word on what films or characters are going to be featured, but Paramount last year announced plans for a Paramount Movie Park in Korea with attractions based on films such as "Mission: Impossible" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider."

The company says it was drawn to Murcia for a Paramount Movie Park by the enthusiasm of local officials, and Spain's growing number of international visitors.

The project is expected to create as many as 20,000 jobs and to attract nearly three million tourists a year, according to Spanish media reports.

An opening date was not disclosed. Paramount says more details will be announced in the next few months.



Photo, howzey, flickr