Star Wars And Marvel Lands Are Part Of $2.5 Billion Disneyland Expansion

With Disney owning some of the biggest franchises in cinema, it was inevitable that the company would want to incorporate them into its theme park business. Two massive Star Wars parks have been under construction in the US for several years, and it has now been announced that Disneyland Paris will undergo a $2.5 billion expansion to incorporate areas based on Star Wars, Marvel, and the animated hit Frozen.

The plans were revealed by Disney boss Bob Iger, following a meeting in Paris with French president Emmanuel Macron. In a statement, Iger said: "We're very excited about the future of Disneyland Paris and continue to invest in its long-term success. The resort is already the leading tourist destination in Europe, and the transformative expansion we announced today will add even more of our beloved characters and unparalleled storytelling to create new lands, attractions and entertainment that further elevate the guest experience and drive new opportunities for tourism in this dynamic region."

The Star Wars, Marvel, and Frozen areas will be rolled out in stages, starting in 2021. While the company's specific plans are unknown, Disneyland Paris will start to introduce a Marvel element from this summer with characters appearing at the park and a Marvel-themed hotel opening in 2020. In addition, Iger hinted earlier this week that Black Panther could play a part in the company's future theme park plans.

The two Star Wars lands in Florida and California are set to open in 2019. Last summer, a scale model of the park design was revealed at the company's annual D23 convention. According to the company, "both Star Wars-inspired lands will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before Wild Space, where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." Iger previously explained that they would be "largest single-themed land expansions ever," covering 14 acres of land.