Celebrating the release of Aquaman, the new addition to the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros Movie World opens Aquaman - The Exhibition, a deep dive into the underwater world of Atlantis.
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The showing is an early Christmas present for fans, which can plunge into a sea of intricately designed props and costumes worn on-screen by stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman, as well as sets used in the new blockbuster.
Despite a built-in audience, superhero movies still need to be sold. Warner Bros has sought to push Aquaman to the surface of a crowded superhero movie marketplace with a visually striking film.
The exhibition plays to the movie's strengths, showcasing its colourful costumes and ingenious gadgets.
"We've worked very closely with the Aquaman filmmakers for a long time to make this possible," says Bikash Randhawa, the theme park's COO.
"It's been a lot of hard work and commitment, but I think we've delivered something spectacular."
Exhibitions like Aquaman are part of a new wave of shrewd movie marketing that seeks to involve the viewer, as well as entertain. The rise of online reaction videos has involved fans in movie trailers as never before but's hard to get more involved than actually standing on set.
"I saw the finished exhibition this morning, and even though I was so involved in its creation, I was still blown away," Randhawa says.
"The craftsmanship is just incredible, there's even more detail than you'll see in the movie."
The team-up between studio and theme park means the Gold Coast will once again act as Aquaman's home. Most of the film was shot on sets built at Village Roadshow Studios at Oxenford, and Momoa and Heard became regulars on the Glitter Strip.
In fact, locals have become somewhat accustomed to Hollywood blockbusters coming to town. Last year it was Thor and the Pirates of the Caribbean, next year it's Godzilla, Kong, and Dora the Explorer.
Tinseltown's down-under seachange is a dream come true for movie buffs, which can often catch a glimpse of the filmmaking process in their own backyard. Randhawa says Aquaman - The Exhibition is a rare opportunity to get an even better look.
"It used to be that these sorts of exhibitions were exclusively found in the US because that's where they were shot," Randhawa says.
"Warner Bros decided Aquaman had to be done on the Gold Coast, and neither could this exhibition have been done anywhere else."
The buzz surrounding Aquaman is already strong, and positive word-of-mouth will help carry the film past its opening weekend. If locals are buzzing about Arthur Curry's (Aquaman's human persona) stay in town, it bodes well for the movie's box office chances.
The timing of Aquaman - The Exhibition's grand opening - two weeks before the movie's Boxing Day release - gives Aussie fans a head start on talking, particularly on social media.
"And I think they will. Fans want to see whatever they can from this movie, and what's better than actually seeing the weapons and vehicles that are in the film?"
In a not-so-distant past, kids could own a piece of their favourite movie with toys and merchandise. Aquaman - The Exhibition takes the relationship between film and fan one step further.
"I'm a huge movie buff, and I've never seen anything like this," Randhawa says.
"It's an experience."
Aquaman - The Exhibition opens at Warner Bros Movie World on Thursday, December 13.
Australian Associated Press
