Warner Bros. Discovery is consolidating its Global Themed Entertainment licensing group — whose purview includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s theme parks — and its Studio Tours & Retail group under one umbrella.
The new division, dubbed Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, brings together the company’s worldwide studio tours, retail destinations, touring exhibitions and all location-based experiences based on its franchises including Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones and Friends. The group “will be charged with strategically expanding the company’s fan-facing experiences and pursuing new businesses,” like those with Universal Destinations & Experiences and Warner Bros. Studio Tours in Hollywood, London and Tokyo, the company said.
Simon Robinson, COO of WBD Studios, will add oversight of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences to his responsibilities. He will report to WBD chief revenue and strategy officer Bruce Campbell for Experiences and will continue reporting into WBD CFO Gunnar Wiendenfels for his studio and content operations and financial roles. Reporting up to Robinson are Peter van Roden, EVP, Global Themed Entertainment, and Sarah Roots, EVP, Worldwide Studio Tours & Retail.
A WBD rep said there are no layoffs or executive departures with the reorg. “This is very much about growth in the experiences space,” the spokesperson said.
“WBD has an incredible mix of location-based experiences for fans around the world, from theme parks and tours to exhibits, retail and more,” Campbell said in a statement. “Bringing these two teams together under one roof gives us an opportunity to leverage and coordinate the talent and resources across all of our experiential businesses to better delight our consumers through offering even more truly authentic and engaging in-person experiences and events in every market.”
WBD Global Experiences is home to the locations of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks globally, Warner Bros. Studio Tour locations in London, Hollywood, and Tokyo, the Harry Potter New York flagship store, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The Friends Experience, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour and other experiences.
In 2025, NBCUniversal’s Universal Resort Orlando plans to open a new attraction, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic,” featuring rides, shops and other experiences spanning 1920s Paris and ’90s-era London.
(Pictured above: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando)
Source Agencies
