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Katie Rice/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
NBCUniversal is considering whether to bring its theme parks business to the U.K.
A spokesperson for Universal Destinations & Experiences confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that the company has purchased land in Bedford, about 45 minutes outside of London, and a stone’s throw from Luton Airport.
“We recently acquired land in Bedford and are at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site,” the spokesperson says. “It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community.”
The move — if it does come to fruition — would mark a further expansion of Universal’s theme parks business, and comes as the company is in the middle of building two new parks: Epic Universe in Orlando, and Universal Kids in Frisco, Texas.
The company is expected to proceed slowly, and a source cautions that it will be some time before any firm decision is made. The U.K.’s large population and robust tourism sector, combined with its location, are seen as attractive attributes for a park.
Creative theming has not been determined, though Universal, it should be noted, has the theme park rights to the Harry Potter universe, which would certainly fit well in a U.K. theme park.
NBCUniversal’s Destinations & Experiences division has been a high point for the company, with Comcast executives frequently touting its revenues and margins in investor calls, and noting that there is only one competitor in the space (Disney). Disney’s only European park is Disneyland Paris, leaving the door open to a U.K. expansion for Universal.
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