SUBMITTED BY TheFilmProphet

August 2, 2005 — According to 2theadvocate.com Threshold Entertainment, the company behind the Mortal Kombat films is planning to shoot "Mortal Kombat III" in Louisiana and are also interested in building out 100,000-150,000 square feet of production space in what will double as a tourist attraction.

The producers of the various "Mortal Kombat" video games and films would like to build a $150 million studio and amusement park on the banks of the Mississippi River, which will reportedly be the first of its kind anywhere.

"I believe there's an extraordinary opportunity to build a state-of-the-art production studio-slash-Hollywood theme park and training facility right in the middle of town," CEO Larry Kasanoff said.

"There would be actual movies being made there, and an observation platform to watch."

Although the project's future depends heavily on the amount of cooperation and support Kasanoff receives from the various governing bodies such as the Port of New Orleans, city of New Orleans, and even the state, said Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu.

" 'Mortal Kombat' has made $5 billion. He wants to bring a $150 million studio theme park," Landrieu said.

<cite>"In politics, I'm always skeptical about people bearing gifts, but Kasanoff is real.</cite>

<cite>"He is the head of an entertainment company that is very fluid and very wealthy."</cite>

Threshold, which claims to have licenses to $100 billion in intellectual property, also builds digital theme parks around the country.

Kasanoff is eyeing several sites, including the cleared land next to the Morial Convention Center, but says the company will need some kind of support from the city or state.

"Broadly speaking, we need the state or city to help be a partner," he said.

<cite>"We're talking millions and millions of dollars of investment in addition to the billions of tourist dollars -- this is a big project, the first of its kind in the world."</cite>

<cite>"When you walk into a Threshold studio, you see people sitting in front of computers making sound effects," Landrieu said.</cite>

<cite>"The whole point is attracting pre- and post-production. With technology, you can do that here, you can do it in Austin or you can do it in Timbuktu."</cite>