James and Oliver Phelps, along with Governor of Osaka Ichiro Matsui, Glenn Gumpel, President and CEO, Universal Studios Japan; Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products; and Michael Silver, President, Global Business Development, Universal Parks & Resorts took part in a press conference today in Osaka, Japan to announce the creation of the third Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, set to begin construction in the coming weeks at Universal Studios Japan with a late 2014 open. Photos of the Weasley twins' actors and executives posing with young Harry Potter fans dressed in Gryffindor robes can be seen below.



James Phelps: I know I can't wait - I know you guys can't wait, so I'll just say I'll see you here on opening day in 2014.








President Glenn Gumpel revealed at the press conference that 480,000 new jobs would be created upon the construction and opening of the Wizarding World theme park, which will cost nearly a half-billion US dollars to build (45 billion yen), in Japan over 10 years, according to BusinessWeek. The Wizarding World theme park, like its Orlando predecessor, will feature Hogwarts castle looking over Hogsmeade village, with rides, eateries, and shops.