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Bob Iger, James Cameron open 'World of Avatar' at Disney's Animal Kingdom

By Karen Butler
Bob Iger arrives on the red carpet at the "Beauty and the Beast" New York screening on March 13. Iger attended a dedication ceremony of "Pandora: The World of Avatar" at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando Wednesday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 2 | Bob Iger arrives on the red carpet at the "Beauty and the Beast" New York screening on March 13. Iger attended a dedication ceremony of "Pandora: The World of Avatar" at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando Wednesday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

May 24 (UPI) -- Filmmaker James Cameron and Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger were at Disney's Animal Kingdom on Wednesday for the dedication of "Pandora: The World of Avatar."

The theme park's latest addition -- which will officially open to the public Saturday -- will feature rides, shows and restaurants inspired by Cameron's 2009, sci-fi movie Avatar.

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"Avatar introduced us to a stunning, new world -- breathtakingly beautiful and exotic and, today, some years after its release, it is still captivating us as we eagerly await its next chapter. No pressure, Jim," Iger teased Cameron about his much anticipated, long-delayed plans for several Avatar sequels. "Working with Jim and his team, notably Jon Landau, was a dream come true for all of us as we pushed the limits of creativity and innovation to bring the digital world of Pandora to the real world of Disney's Animal Kingdom. And, now, everyone, including me, who has ever dreamed of this extraordinary world, can explore its astonishing landscape and ecosystem, see the Na'vi, soar on the back of a banshee and become part of the Avatar adventure. Pandora is just as great in person as it is on the screen."

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Cameron then took the stage and said the people who helped bring Pandora to life in Orlando "have exceeded my wildest dreams."

Noting how the fictional Na'vi have a spiritual connection with their world, Cameron said Animal Kingdom, "which is based on a deep respect for nature" is "the perfect place to connect Pandora to our world."

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