star trek theme park china

Massive Paramount-Branded Theme Park to Be Built in China’s Kunming 

By Rebecca Davis

Rebecca Davis

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Chinese authorities announced this week that a major $8 billion (RMB51 billion) Paramount theme park resort and arts complex will be built on the shores of Dianchi Lake in southwestern Yunnan province’s capital city Kunming.

The Paramount resort itself will span an area of 643 acres out of the broader Paramount-branded development project’s total 1,899 acres. That will make it Hollywood’s third largest theme resort in China, following Shanghai Disneyland, which clocks in at 963 acres, and the 990-acre Universal Beijing Resort.

The full Kunming complex will be more than five times larger and ten times more expensive than an initial vision of the park put forth last year in an official environmental assessment report. That document described the development as a $782 million (RMB5 billion) project spanning around 120 acres.

The size ballooned because the Paramount park is now a part of a larger mixed-used development project that will feature 383 additional acres of institutions seeking to bolster cultural ties between China and Southeast Asia, according to a newly released governmental five-year plan published on the official website of the Kunming Dianchi National Tourism Management Committee.

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Those entities will include a branch of China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts, a Southeast Asian Art Research Center, and a cluster of eleven international art museums presenting works from the ten ASEAN countries and China itself, in addition to residential buildings and other public facilities.

The government intends for the development to become a “first-class and internationally renowned tourism and vacation destination” and a “model zone for the transformation and upgrading of tourism industry,” according to the plan.

It is listed as backed by three Chinese enterprises, without mention of foreign partners. They are Xindu Company, Kunming-based construction materials firm Guanjiang Group, and China’s State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), the country’s largest state-owned investment holding company.

Construction is expected to span a period of about 42 months, aiming for a June 2024 completion.

Less Risky Approach?

Unlike Disney and Universal, Paramount came into the theme park business in the early 1990s by buying an existing chain of five theme parks from King’s Entertainment, which it then rebranded as its own. Those were then sold off in 2006.

Paramount’s interest in theme parks has since been rekindled. The Kunming resort is the studio’s third currently in the works, following a project in Incheon, South Korea reportedly hoping to open next year and a 2023 London park.

Paramount’s strategy today continues to differ significantly from that of Disney and Universal, which are much more involved in the development of their new parks to ensure they have a consistent look and feel.

Paramount, by contrast, is more oriented towards what John Gerner, MD of theme park consultancy Leisure Business Advisors, says they deem a “less risky approach.” The studio tends not to put too much of its own money into a project, instead licensing the Paramount name and IPs to a local partner footing most if not all of the bill.

“Paramount’s not necessarily looking at China, and it’s unlikely that if Paramount could pick any location in China to build this park that it would have picked this location,” Gerner said, drawing on three decades of experience working with Chinese parks. “I think what Paramount really wants is just to get one of their branded theme parks all the way to opening day and beyond, and show that one can be developed using this business model where it’s mainly a licensing situation,” creating a flagship project that could be used as a showcase to build more going forward.

The momentum in Kunming comes from the local government’s drive to raise the city’s profile.

“Local governments use the idea of a branded theme park as a way of galvanizing and branding these [mixed-use] projects, adding a name to give it more glamor and credibility to raise the finance,” he assessed.

The new park itself will consist of six themed areas. Paramount Boulevard will feature theme hotels, retail and dining options and a water-themed show, according to the Yunnan Daily newspaper. Adventure City and Wonderland will boast thrill rides, including ones branded with the “Mission Impossible” and “Italian Job” IPs. There will be a “Peanuts” area featuring entertainment options related to Charles Schultz’s iconic cartoon, a dinosaur region with thrill rides and design features inspired by James Gurney’s “Dinotopia,” and a Final Frontier “Star Trek”-themed section.

Location-wise, Paramount could certainly do worse than sunny Kunming. The high-altitude capital has long been a year-round destination for local tourism thanks to its continuous mild weather, ethnic and biodiversity, and growing importance as a transportation hub connecting China to Southeast Asia, bordered as the province is by Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.

The announcement, however, of a multi-billion dollar Hollywood park complex feels rather anachronistic amidst the current low point in U.S.-China relations and resultant changes in local views on foreign companies and culture, Gerner notes.

“China under its current leadership has really decisively moved inward to emphasize its own ability to develop all kinds of projects — and have obviously made an exception for Disney and Universal because of the glamor of those brands and what those companies represent. But the trend has been for China to promote itself,” he said. “If the government is going to put a substantial amount of its own money into this, you’d at some point expect them to decide that it’s really better to promote its own Chinese brands and IPs.”

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Star Trek will soon be able to beam up at a new Paramount-themed theme park in China

By chad porto | nov 12, 2021.

Star Trek fans in China will soon be able to go to a Star Trek experience.

Star Trek fans in China are in for a treat as a new Paramount-themed amusement park is being built in Kunming, China. The new project according, to Variety, is going to be built by Dianchi Lake in southwestern Yunnan province’s capital city Kunming. It’s going to cost a whopping $8 billion and will span 643 acres.

This will make the new Paramount park the third-largest in China, behind Shanghai Disneyland (963 acres) and Universal Beijing Resort (990 acres).

The thing that separates this and other theme parks in the country is that the Paramount park will have a Star Trek-themed “entertainment option”.  The area is apparently going to be called The Final Frontier and will join parts of the park that will have thrill rides via Adventure City and Wonderland. Films such as Mission Impossible and The Italian Job will have rides in this part of the park.

The iconic film strip turned media franchise, Peanuts will also have its own entertainment location.

Paramount needs to open up new Star Trek locations state-side

While it’s great for international fans to get new Star Trek-themed attractions, fans stateside have no such option. If a Star Trek fan wants to go somewhere Trek-themed, they’re most likely going to be going to a fan-made and fan-ran attraction. There are currently no Paramount -backed Star Trek attractions.

Sure, there are some that have the support of the IP holders, but none that have the financial backing. There have been Trek-themed locations before, namely the Las Vegas attraction that was once booming but eventually fell off and was eventually shut down.

It’ll be interesting to see if this leads to a bigger expansion state-side for Paramount and ViacomCBS. It isn’t or wasn’t, uncommon to see major properties pop up in independently owned outlets before. Peanuts used to have an established home in Ohio’s Cedar Point, and Marvel (pre-Disney) had rides at Universal Studios.

It’s very possible that Trek could be leased out to more established and popular theme parks, or ViacomCBS could launch their own Paramount-themed park in the US.

Opinion: Ranking the 5 original captains of Star Trek. dark. Next

$8bn Paramount theme park resort in China is under construction

Words:  Bea Mitchell

| 2 min read

The Paramount park will feature six branded areas, including a Star Trek -themed zone called ‘Final Frontier’ .

Chinese authorities have announced that an $8bn Paramount-branded theme park resort is being constructed in southwestern Yunnan province’s capital city Kunming.

Variety reports that the Paramount theme park will cover 643 acres. The mixed-use project will span a total of 1,899 acres and will contain an arts complex.

The arts complex will include a branch of China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts and a Southeast Asian Art Research Center, as well as 11 art museums and other public facilities.

Star Trek and Peanuts zones

According to the plan, the development will be a “first-class and internationally renowned tourism and vacation destination” and a “model zone for the transformation and upgrading of tourism industry”.

Construction is expected to take approximately 42 months, with a completion set for June 2024. The theme park will feature six themed areas, including a Star Trek area called ‘Final Frontier’.

The Adventure City and Wonderland zones will be home to thrill rides, including attractions inspired by Mission Impossible and The Italian Job . Based on James Gurney’s Dinotopia , the dinosaur area will also boast thrill rides.

In addition, the Paramount park will house a Peanuts -themed area with entertainment offerings. The theme park will be the third largest in China, behind Universal Beijing and Shanghai Disneyland.

Paramount theme park plans

Paramount Pictures is also creating the biggest theme park in Southeast Asia . Located in the Jembrana regency of Bali, it is expected to soft launch in 2025 and will attract up to 5 million annual visitors.

In addition, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is developing a Paramount theme park at the Inspire Korea integrated resort (IR), which  could be delayed beyond 2025 .

Covering an area of 404,600 square metres, the Paramount theme park will offer 40 rides and attractions based on Paramount Pictures films such as Mission Impossible  and  Star Trek .

Images: Paramount Pictures

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Paramount-branded theme park to open in China, includes Star Trek area

Completion of the unnamed Kunming Paramount park is targeted for June 2024.

A massive new theme park is coming to China, with rides and attractions based on various Paramount movies and properties. Earlier this week, Chinese authorities announced plans to build an $8 billion theme park resort in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province. 

The theme park will be the third largest in China, trailing only Universal Beijing and Shanghai Disneyland in terms of size. Also included in the park resort are several international art museums, designed to make the park an international tourist attraction. The total size of the theme park is estimated to be 643 acres.

Variety reports that the park will consist of six themed "areas," many of which are focused on specific Paramount IPs. Paramount Boulevard will have theme hotels and retail and dining options. There will be two thrill ride areas called Adventure City and Wonderland, which will include Mission Impossible and Italian Job rides. Additionally, there will be an area featuring characters from Charles Schultz's Peanuts, an area inspired by James Gurney's Dinotopia, and a "Final Frontier" area themed after Star Trek. No other specifics about the park was provided. 

Completion of the unnamed Kunming Paramount park is targeted for June 2024. 

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Paramount Theme Park In China Featuring Star Trek-Themed Area Moving Forward – TrekMovie.com

The proposed Paramount Park Kunming will include a “Final Frontier” area themed around Star Trek with a number of different attractions.Google Alert – "Star Trek" Read More

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Paramount-Branded Theme Park to Open in China, Includes Star Trek Area

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A massive new theme park is coming to China, with rides and attractions based on various Paramount movies and properties. Earlier this week, Chinese authorities announced plans to build an $8 billion theme park resort in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan pr…

A massive new theme park is coming to China, with rides and attractions based on various Paramount movies and properties. The theme park will be the third largest in China, trailing only Universal Beijing and Shanghai Disneyland in terms of size. The total size of the theme park is estimated to be 643 acres. There will be an area featuring characters from Charles Schultz's Peanuts, an area inspired by James Gurney's Dinotopia, and a "Final Frontier" area themed after Star Trek. Paramount has a complicated history with theme parks. Paramount sold off their theme park portfolio in 2006 to Cedar Fair. In recent years, Paramount has partnered with outside groups to license several planned theme parks.

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The Newest Universal Theme Park Is Set to Open in China Next Year

Universal Beijing Resort just revealed exciting details about the upcoming theme park.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Universal Beijing Resort finally revealed details about its upcoming theme park resort, unveiling the lands, rides, attractions, and experiences in store for future guests. Set to open next year, the Universal Beijing Resort will include the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, Universal CityWalk Beijing, and two hotels — the Universal Studios Grand Hotel and NUO Resort Hotel. It will be the third Universal theme park resort in Asia, following Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore.

In a statement shared with Travel + Leisure, Tom Mehrmann, the president and general manager of Universal Beijing Resort, said, "We and our local partners, including Beijing Tourism Group, are creating one of the most magnificent theme park destinations ever built — right here in Beijing."

Avid theme park fans know that an all-new Universal theme park means we'll get to see new interpretations of favorite lands plus exciting, unique additions that are exclusive to this resort. According to a statement shared with T+L, this resort will have a collection of experiences that include popular Universal attractions and Chinese cultural heritage. Universal Studios Beijing will include seven themed lands — Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers Metrobase, Minion Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood, and Waterworld — all packed with a thrilling roster of attractions and experiences.

Transformers Metrobase will be the world's first Transformers -themed land, complete with rides like Decepticoaster — the park's most exhilarating roller coaster — and Transformers: Battle for the AllSpark. Over in Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness — Universal's first land themed to this film franchise — guests will find a flume ride called Kung Fu Panda Journey of the Dragon Warrior. Meanwhile, in Minion Land, guests can interact with the little yellow characters at the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction. A fan-favorite land at other Universal theme parks, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will also open at Universal Studios Beijing with the immersive Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and plenty of Butterbeer . And in Jurassic World Isla Nublar, guests can see dinosaurs for themselves on the Jurassic World Adventure ride.

Of course, there will be a number of shows that give guests a look behind the scenes into the movie-making magic. Lights, Camera, Action!, featuring Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou, will feature special effects, while the Waterworld stunt show will demonstrate how impressive movie stunts are really pulled off.

Related : Universal Orlando's Newest Roller Coaster Will Have Its Steepest Drop Yet

Beyond the exciting rides and attractions, the park combines Eastern and Western cultures to create a theme park experience unique to Beijing. John Gentile, senior director and executive producer of Universal Parks and Resorts, said in a statement shared with T+L , "This is a story of designers of different cultures thinking and working together to collaborate, impact, and co-create. Based on the co-creation and our persistence in detail, we have brought something spectacular to life and put our guests in the story. I'm sure you will share in the amazement as you experience the park that has benefitted from the creative input of so many people and so much remarkable effort."

Elizabeth Rhodes is an associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @elizabetheverywhere .

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Massive Paramount-branded theme park to be built in China's Kunming

Friday, 12 Nov 2021

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The theme park will be built on the shores of Dianchi Lake in southwestern Yunnan province's capital city Kunming.- Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com): Chinese authorities announced this week that a major US$8 billion (RMB51 billion) Paramount theme park resort and arts complex will be built on the shores of Dianchi Lake in southwestern Yunnan province's capital city Kunming.

The Paramount resort itself will span an area of 643 acres out of the broader Paramount-branded development project's total 1,899 acres. That will make it Hollywood's third largest theme resort in China, following Shanghai Disneyland, which clocks in at 963 acres, and the 990-acre Universal Beijing Resort.

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Tags / Keywords: China , Paramount , theme , park , Kunming

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The Hit New Film Pushing Chinese Sci-Fi Into Unexplored Territory

In Kong Dashan’s hit new movie “Journey to the West,” the aliens aren’t hiding in the corn fields of the U.S. Midwest. They’re lurking in the villages of northern China. 

The film has become a sensation on the festival circuit in recent months by offering audiences something rarely seen before: a science fiction tale with a distinctly local flavor. 

Tang Zhijun, a middle-aged magazine editor from Beijing, travels to a remote village to investigate the mass sighting of an unidentified flying object. There, he meets a local poet who says the answer to the mystery lies at a distant mountain.  

As the tension mounts, the pair embark on a road trip that turns into a journey of self-discovery. It’s a quirky, often comic narrative that echoes the original “Journey to the West,” the classic Chinese novel about the monk Tang Sanzang’s quest to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures from India.

Last October, the film scooped an unprecedented four awards — including best film — at the Pingyao International Film Festival, China’s leading platform for independent cinema. It has since played overseas at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Osaka Asian Film Festival to more acclaim. 

With a Chinese theatrical release pending, film industry insiders say the buzz building around the feature is palpable. Kong, the film’s 32-year-old director, says the movie’s low-budget, down-to-earth style has proved to be an asset.

“We have given people science fiction within a story that might feel familiar to aspects of their own lives,” says Kong. “That is something new.” 

Leading figures in China’s science fiction scene have hailed “Journey to the West” as a step forward for the industry — and a sign it’s finally ready to step out of the shadow of star author Liu Cixin.

Chinese sci-fi has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, propelled by the breakout success of Liu’s “The Three-Body Problem.” The novel, which transcends time and space as it charts humanity’s war against an alien civilization, became a global sensation after winning the prestigious Hugo Award in 2015.

The Chinese government, once wary of sci-fi movies, began to actively embrace the genre as a soft power tool over the following years. This has opened the door for a string of big-budget science fiction productions, many of them drawing inspiration from Liu’s work.

In 2019, “The Wandering Earth” — an adaptation of a Liu novella about a group of astronauts trying to save the planet from destruction — became a box office smash, generating 4.4 billion yuan (then $638 million) in ticket sales and winning a slew of local awards.

Other Chinese sci-fi films to attract big audiences that year included the wacky comedy “Crazy Alien” — also based on a story by Liu — and the special effects-heavy alien invasion movie “Shanghai Fortress.” 

Though the pandemic has caused major disruptions to film production in China, a big-budget sequel to “The Wandering Earth” is set for release in 2023. Streaming giants Tencent and Netflix, meanwhile, are currently putting the finishing touches on a TV adaptation of “The Three-Body Problem.” 

Liu continues to loom large over China’s sci-fi scene. His style of fiction — speculative, epic in scale, and informed by hard science — has influenced an entire generation of Chinese writers. 

“Currently, I see a lot of physics, astronomy, and space — natural science stuff,” says Chen Qiufan, a leading sci-fi author and honorary president of the Chinese Science Fiction Writers’ Association. “It’s pretty much like America back in the ’50s. Like (Isaac) Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, those ‘golden-age’ authors.” 

But there are signs this is starting to change. Some creators are starting to experiment with a folksier style of sci-fi — one that draws more heavily on China’s cultural heritage and current affairs. For Chen, it’s part of a movement to explore “what are the Chinese characteristics of sci-fi.” 

“Maybe in the future, there’ll be something different,” he says. “I might also do some exploration myself to connect with some ancient Chinese philosophy and mythology … so the work is using a different kind of language.” 

Filmmaker Kong appears to be ahead of the game. “Journey to the West” turns on the travails of its relatable main character and his search for answers: not only about what might lie in the great beyond, but also about how his own life has panned out. 

It’s a work that comes steeped in the traditional themes found in science fiction, such as the search for redemption and humanity’s fascination with the possibility of extra-terrestrial life. Kong says his inspiration came from the hours he spent poring over sci-fi magazines as a child growing up in 1990s Shandong, a province in eastern China. 

“My generation all grew up reading science fiction magazines, books about unknown mysteries,” says Kong. “If we think carefully about what aliens represent, it’s actually another kind of system, totally different from human beings’ existence.” 

As opposed to Liu Cixin, whose work is often compared to the “golden age” sci-fi authors of the 1940s and ’50s, Kong’s work shows faint echoes of more recent classics. The central character — played by veteran actor Yang Haoyu — is fixated with outer space while his real life on terra firma falls apart, much like the protagonist in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 masterpiece “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” As in that film, too, there’s a journey of discovery that’s as personal as it is otherworldly.  

But there are also sly nods to arguably the greatest road trip of all — the one taken by Tang Sanzang and his three disciples in the original “Journey to the West.” In Kong's feature, however, the characters’ quest for fulfillment is rooted in a firmly contemporary setting. 

“In both that book and my film, you have characters looking for the ultimate answers in life,” says Kong. “I think this comes from the influence of ‘Journey to the West’ subconsciously. It’s a road trip, but inside it’s also his own mental journey. I think it’s necessary to have this kind of journey in science fiction.” 

The hope is that more Chinese filmmakers find opportunities to experiment with science fiction over the next few years. Chen, the author, says the outlook for Chinese sci-fi has never looked better, especially given the government’s embrace of the genre. 

“There have been themes of science fiction in China for about 100 years, but they’ve not been continuously developed because of wars or due to political reasons,” says Chen. “But (now) seems to be a golden age because it’s top-down. We have got a lot of support from the government and, also, the market is ready.” 

Chinese authorities are pouring resources into science -fiction-related projects. Next year, the southwestern city of Chengdu will host the influential World Science Fiction Convention. Officials have greenlit a massive $8 billion Paramount Park theme park in Kunming, another city in southwest China, which will include a zone themed around the “Star Trek” franchise.

In 2019, the government also helped launch the Chinese Science Fiction Academy at Chengdu’s Sichuan University, a facility whose stated mission is to develop “a sci-fi theoretical system with Chinese characteristics.” Last year, researchers estimated that China’s sci-fi industry was worth a massive 36.3 billion yuan in the first half of 2021.

The scene is also benefitting from the growing demand for sci-fi movies among young Chinese, Chen says. Unlike previous generations, who often didn’t have easy access to science fiction, Chinese millennials like Kong grew up immersed in sci-fi culture. 

“So many in the younger generation are so passionate about sci-fi as a genre, no matter if it’s literature, movies, or video games,” says Chen. “I think that’s been a fundamental change, because in the ’80s, or even in the ’50s and ’60s, maybe people weren’t ready yet for science fiction.” 

Editor: Dominic Morgan.

(Header image: A still from the film “Journey to the West.” From Douban)

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First Star Trek Day Fans Convention host in China

Paramount hosted the first Star Trek Day on Saturday in China, a first-of-its-kind gathering of Trek fans, scientists, sci-fi writers and directors. The event was also live-streamed globally through the official Star Trek Douyin and Youku channels.

The event was initiated by Paramount and jointly organized with Geek Movie, major Star Trek fan communities in China and Youku, with great support from China Science Writers Association.

More than 100 fans and sci-fi enthusiasts from all over China gathered on this special day to revisit the beloved brand, immersing themselves in the wonders of science fiction culture. They exchanged ideas, shared their passion and love, and reminisced about the magnificent journey and touching stories of this franchise.

Also attending the event were prominent figures in the science and technology arena.

Gou Lijun, researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory and professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Cheng Wei, director of the China Exploration Association and president of the Deep Space Branch of the China Exploration Association both delivered keynote speeches, sharing the significant impact of Star Trek on technology and life.

Paramount's science fiction series Star Trek made its debut in the 1960s and is today one of the most popular sci-fi franchises worldwide. Star Trek creates a vast future world, showcasing the courage and wisdom of humanity's exploration of the unknown. The essence of this series lies in its deep scientific and humanistic core, demonstrating the power of science while exploring important themes such as human nature, friendship, teamwork and social responsibility. At the box office, the franchise has also seen success with the latest three films raking in 860 million yuan in China.

" Star Trek is becoming increasingly popular in China and we are excited at the opportunities that this brings for our business as well as for our partners and licensees – from content, to merchandise, to live events. We are thrilled to see the fandom of Star Trek come to life through this event, which provided fans with a deeper connection to the show and their favourite characters," said Jonathan Greenberg, Executive Vice President, Regional Sales – North Asia, International TV Licensing at Paramount Global Content Distribution.

A Star Trek fan from Shanghai said: "I hope to devote myself to scientific research in the future, just like Spock, to gain knowledge and wisdom." Many fans also commented that "the spirit of exploration promoted by Star Trek has always encouraged my progress" and " Star Trek has promoted and even guided real-world scientific progress in many ways".

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China On Screen: Paramount ‘Trek’ Promo Campaign Reaches for the Stars

• BY Jonathan Papish
• Sep 2, 2016
• Paramount, Alibaba and Huahua Media enlist TV hosts as ambassadors for Star Trek Beyond
• Beyond should be able to gross $105 M, more than twice the total of its franchise predecessor
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Star Trek Beyond (星际迷航3：超越星辰), the third installment since 2009 in Paramount’s rebooted galactic franchise, beams into Chinese cinemas on Friday behind a strong localized marketing campaign.

In North America, ‘ Beyond ‘ has failed to match the box office receipts of its predecessor, 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness ($228.8 million vs $151.4 million), and the new film’s worldwide box office revenue sits at a paltry $244.2 million compared to the $467.4 million grossed by ‘Darkness.’

A fourth chapter is already confirmed in the works, but one has to wonder if even a robust performance in China, bolstered by the support of local Chinese heavyweights Alibaba and Huahua Media, will help ease investors’ worries that the franchise is beginning to fade? Below, CFI takes a look at Star Trek Beyond’s box office potential.

Star Trek Beyond (星际迷航3：超越星辰)

CFI Score – 7/10

China Distribution: China Film Group Corporation (中国电影集团公司) U.S. Distribution: Paramount Pictures

Following investments in Paramount sequels Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows , Alibaba Pictures, the production arm of Jack Ma’s e-commerce giant, has teamed-up again with the Hollywood studio on an undisclosed investment in this latest Star Trek .

The Alibaba-Paramount partnership thus far, however, has resulted in underperformance at the box office. ‘ Rogue Nation ‘ grossed $135.6 million last year in China, where many analysts expected larger returns for the Tom Cruise vehicle. In Alibaba’s 2015 annual report, the company reported the film contributed just $10.6 million in revenue and $1.1 million in profit to its bottom line.

This summer’s Ninja Turtles sequel also had a woeful box office performance, grossing just $58.9 million despite a prime summer release date, well below the $62.1 million grossed in China in November 2014 by the original ‘Turtles’ film.

Huahua Media (华桦传媒), a fast growing marketing company with global film ambitions of its own, also joins Star Trek Beyond as an investor.

Huahua previously honed its marketing chops on Transformers: Age of Extinction and Cloud Atlas , two films whose Chinese box office exceeded their North American numbers.

For Star Trek Beyond , Huahua collaborated with China’s top-rated variety show Happy Camp . The Hunan TV production aired an episode partly devoted to the film with exclusive cast interviews and segments previously recorded at Paramount.

Happy Camp ’s host Xie Na—a.k.a. ‘Na Na’—and husband/pop-star Jason Zhang acted as cultural ambassadors for Star Trek Beyond, appearing at Comic-Con and promoting the film to their combined 120 million+ Weibo followers. Zhang recorded ‘ Star Trek ’s Chinese theme song, a funky pop-synth anthem entitled Lost in the Stars .

All of the local marketing gives Star Trek Beyond significant box office clout beyond most Hollywood releases in China and the film should be able to hit RMB 700 million ($105 million), doubling the total box office of Star Trek Into Darkness .

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• ​Fans and sci-fi enthusiasts celebrate China's 1st 'Star Trek Day'

More than 100 fans and sci-fi enthusiasts from all over China gathered in Beijing on Sept. 9 for "Star Trek Day" to celebrate the beloved brand. There, they immersed themselves in the wonders of science fiction culture alongside scientists, sci-fi writers, and filmmakers.

Fans, scientists, sci-fi writers, and filmmakers gather for a group photo following the inaugural Star Trek Day Fans Convention in Beijing on Sept. 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Paramount]

"Star Trek Day in China" was initiated by Paramount and co-organized by Geek Movie, leading Star Trek fan communities in China, and streaming site Youku. The event received significant support from the China Science Writers Association and was livestreamed globally via the official Star Trek Douyin and Youku channels.

"'Star Trek' represents a generation's memories, and its spirit of exploration and optimism inspires us to delve into the unknown and pursue new worlds," said Wang Jinkang, an eminent Chinese sci-fi writer, in a greeting video played at the event. As he spoke, he made the iconic "live long and prosper" hand gesture known as the Vulcan salute.

At the event, fans admired premium Star Trek collectibles, including a figurine of Emperor Philippa Georgiou portrayed by Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh. Enthusiasts also shared their passion for the show and reflected on the franchise's legacy, with highlights including the "Star Trek" theme being played on Chinese instruments and the unveiling of a Star Trek poster in the style of a traditional Chinese painting. Additionally, Youku announced the acquisition of the initial seasons of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and "Star Trek: Picard."

From left to right, senior film critic Wang Shuang, "The Wandering Earth" concept designer Zhang Bo, director and screenwriter Zhang Xiaobei, and sci-fi writer Jiang Bo join a discussion panel during the "Star Trek Day" event in Beijing on Sept. 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Paramount]

Prominent figures from the realms of science, technology, and science fiction also attended the event. Among them, Gou Lijun, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory and a professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Cheng Wei, the director of the China Exploration Association and president of its Deep Space Branch, both delivered keynote speeches, sharing the significant impact of "Star Trek" on technology and life. Subsequent to their speeches, a panel titled "Finding China's Hardcore Space Science Fiction" took place, featuring notable personalities like Zhang Bo, the concept designer and storyboard director for "The Wandering Earth," Zhang Xiaobei, a distinguished director, screenwriter, and film critic, as well as Jiang Bo, the author of the novel which inspired the acclaimed sci-fi film "The Soul."

"I still remember how I first became aware of 'Star Trek' through a book in the 1980s," said Zhang Xiaobei. "I had always imagined what a film based on the book would be like. It wasn't until I entered university that I actually saw the films and TV series. I was stunned. It felt like I had been a farmer imagining how an emperor lived his life."

For Jiang Bo, "Star Trek" signifies a vast universe filled with myriad wonderful ideas. "I hope it becomes a permanent part of human spiritual culture and is passed down forever," he noted. 

The "Star Trek" franchise, which began with "The Original Series" in 1966, has grown into a global sci-fi phenomenon. It encompasses 13 TV series, 13 films, novels, comics, games, and an extensive range of collectibles. With its foundation in scientific and humanistic values, the franchise delves into themes such as human nature, friendship, and social responsibility, highlighting the courage and wisdom of humanity's journey into the unknown. The films have collectively grossed $2.26 billion worldwide – the last three alone earned 860 million yuan in China, according to Paramount.

Fans admire collectible figurines during the "Star Trek Day" event held in Beijing on Sept. 9, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Paramount]

"'Star Trek' is becoming increasingly popular in China, and we are excited at the opportunities that this brings for our business as well as for our partners and licensees – from content, to merchandise, to live events," said Jonathan Greenberg, executive vice president of regional sales North Asia and international TV licensing at Paramount Global Content Distribution. "We are thrilled to see the fandom of Star Trek come to life through this event, which provided fans with a deeper connection to the show and their favorite characters."

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• More than 100 fans and sci-fi enthusiasts from all over China gathered in Beijing on Sept. 9 for "Star Trek Day" to celebrate the beloved brand.

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Paramount Ends London Theme Park Licensing Deal – Was To Include Star Trek Attraction

| June 21, 2017 | By: Anthony Pascale 10 comments so far

Today it was announced that Paramount Pictures and the London Resort Company have “jointly agreed to discontinue” their licensing agreement for the proposed Paramount London Resort.

The planned £3.2 billion resort, targeting a 2022 open date, was originally announced in 2014 and was set to include a number of themed attractions based around Paramount properties including Star Trek.

The official release did not detail why the deal collapsed but Kent Online reports “the resort’s developers and Paramount have been unable to agree terms on some of the rights to major films, including the image rights for some of their top stars.”

Paramount London deal is dead

Kent Online also reports that LRCH came to feel “one studio could not provide the breadth of movies needed” for the park which has recently announced deals with Aardman and the BBC. LRCH plans to go ahead with development on a resort and will be submitting a new plan in November.

Alas, it appears that European Trek fans will have to live with just one Star Trek attraction, the newly opened Star Trek: Operation Enterprise roller coaster in Germany , which as of now is the only Trek theme park attraction in the world.

Keep up with all the Star Trek attraction and events news at TrekMovie .

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I thought all Star Trek licensing, be it Prime (CBS) or Kelvin (Paramount) had to go through CBS Consumer Products?

Perhaps event and theme park licensing works differently. I mean, it’s not quite a consumer product.

CBS = TV Shows Paramount = Movies that’s my understanding.

They should really re-open Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. I know it was meant to reopen at a property downtown but never did. I was really impressed with it (I went in 2008) and it was pretty busy when I was there.

Its funny because it was my first trip to Vegas and we did some “3D ride” at the hotel that was promised to be super high tech and it was a joke. So I figured the Trek Experience would be similar.

It was amazing. I was really blown away by the effects and the whole production. It was a lot of fun. We spent quite a bit of time there between the “experiences”, the exhibits, Quarks bar & restaurant and everything else. It was great!

I was underwhelmed by Quark’s bar. Romulan ale served in plastic cups? Tacky!

I went through it twice, which was one time to many. Nothing was changed or updated between visits, which is usually a big tip-off that once attendance falls off the exhibit would be closed…which it was.

Another opportunity lost by the UK thanks to Brexit. Oh well, at least Nigel Farage is happy.

Wasn’t there a plan to build a Star Trek theme park in Jordan at one point? That has probably been put on indefinite hold because of the Syrian civil war going on next door.

LRCH? If someone doesn’t come up with a different acronym, the Charles Adams estate should sue.

Or Ted Cassidy’s.