News: Kings Dominion announces Italian Job Stunt Coaster for 2006

Posted at 2:57 PM EDT (1857 GMT)

Oct. 12th, 2005 -- DOSWELL, Va., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Next spring, Paramount's Kings Dominion will debut its 13th exciting coaster complete with the thrills of a Hollywood blockbuster. With the addition of THE ITALIAN JOB(TM) STUNT COASTER, guests of all ages will ride a unique, fast-track coaster experience that brings to life one of the most thrilling movie chase sequences ever filmed in Hollywood. Based on the high-action finale of Paramount Pictures' The Italian Job (2003) starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland, this exciting new coaster will take families on a high-speed stunt car adventure through movie sets and scenes inspired by the film's climatic chase sequence.

From the moment they board their very own MINI Cooper S, park guests will immediately be surrounded by the sights, sounds and scenes of a Hollywood action movie. Asked to help "film" the final chase scene from the famous movie, THE ITALIAN JOB(TM), riders quickly become stunt car drivers as their cars races out onto the track. Each MINI Cooper S is tricked out with audio special effects that add to the multi-sensory sensation of the experience, and as the custom stunt car MINIs peel out, everyone is transported into the stunt chase sequence. Drivers twist through a parking garage, dodge near- collisions, race down stairs, chase through tunnels and narrowly escape massive explosions triggered by gunfire from a menacing helicopter. Tires skid out one last time as the stunt cars crash through a billboard and splash down into an L.A. aqueduct concluding the chase sequence and their screen test trial as a stunt driver.

"THE ITALIAN JOB STUNT COASTER is the perfect complement to Paramount's Kings Dominion," said Richard Zimmerman, executive vice president and general manager, Paramount's Kings Dominion. "Just like any great movie, this new coaster has surprise and suspense at every turn. The interactive experience totally immerses families into the thrills of the movie and they will want to ride it together again and again."

THE ITALIAN JOB: STUNT COASTER is scheduled to open at Paramount's Kings Dominion in 2006.

Paramount's Kings Dominion Information
Paramount's Kings Dominion is a 400-acre theme park that's home to more than 200 rides, shows and attractions. The park brings the best of Hollywood entertainment to the Mid-Atlantic with one of the largest coaster collections on the East Coast; two children's areas -- Nickelodeon Central and Kidzville; and WaterWorks, a 19-acre water park playground that's included with admission. For more information, guests can call Paramount's Kings Dominion at (804) 876-5000 or visit the park's web site at KingsDominion.com. Paramount's Kings Dominion is located 20 miles north of Richmond, Va. and 75 miles south of Washington, D.C. off Interstate 95 at Exit 98.