Disneyland Paris enters Marvel universe with Avengers theme

Helicopters, concept cars and SWAT teams shrouded in smoke heralded the launch of the first Avengers-themed season at Disneyland Paris following the announcement of plans for a $2.5 billion park expansion that will feature Marvel superheroes.

"Gamora" character of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" performs with the guests during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Movie and sports stars, including French Olympians Teddy Riner and Camille Lacourt, attended an official opening Saturday night for the season that brings the Disneyland resorts a step closer to merging its traditional cast of characters with the Marvel universe.

A swat character performs with an helicopter during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, west of Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

It follows similar moves in Hong Kong Disneyland as well as in the Disney California Adventure.

"We are delighted to have the Avengers assemble in Disneyland Paris for the first time ever," Euro Disney President Catherine Powell said. "They're here to delight thrill and surprise you with incredible action and amazing special effects."

A swat character performs from an helicopter during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, west of Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Actors glided down ropes from a hovering helicopter before Spiderman, the Hulk, Ironman, Thor, Captain America and other Marvel characters took the stage for several shows.

"It's really spectacular," said "The Beach" actress Virginie Ledoyen, who watched the action.

Guests take picture of the opening show at Disneyland Paris, west of Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Behind the special effects and celebrity guests were hard-negotiated business plans.

The Paris park's expansion into Marvel terrain was unveiled earlier this year following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Disney Chairman Robert Iger.

Catherine Powell, CEO of Euro Disney delivers her speech during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Disney Group said the makeover of Walt Disney Studios Park, one of the two theme parks that make up Disneyland Paris, will be rolled out in phases beginning in 2020. It includes three new areas based on Marvel superheroes as well as the Frozen and Star Wars franchises.

Spider-Man character performs during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, west of Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

The Hotel New York will be redesigned to resemble the architecture and decor favored by Tony Stark, aka Ironman.

Analysts see the plans as a major area of investment that will aim to drive long-term growth for Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

Super heroes characters perform during the opening show at Disneyland Paris, west of Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

"The massive Marvel collaboration and $2 billion plus investment speaks to Disney's positive view for the future of this all-important European asset as it further drives mindshare among consumers," GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ives said in an interview.

"While Disneyland Paris has seen its shares of speed bumps from an attendance perspective post-recession and Paris attacks, its appears to be on a healthy trajectory," he added.

PARIS (AP) — A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.

The incident came at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and as Paris is on high security alert as it gears up to host the Summer Olympics in three months.

The suspect had been convicted for setting fire to the Iranian Embassy gates last year in what he called a protest against the Iranian government, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. The consulate and embassy are part of the same compound, in the ritzy 16th arrondissement of Paris and near the Seine River.

Iranian authorities did not comment publicly on what happened.

The man was spotted around 11 a.m. outside the consulate, and a witness told police he had a grenade and an explosives vest, according to a Paris police official. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to be publicly named under police policy.

Elite police forces and soldiers surrounded the area and barred traffic during an hours-long security intervention.

Inside the consulate, the man “allegedly made threats of violent acts,” but then left the building alone, the prosecutor's office said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Police then detained him, and found no weapons on him or his vehicle, the police official said. The prosecutor's office said the explosives vest turned out to be fake.

The suspect is in custody, and the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into death threats. It said investigators are trying to determine the motive for the action.

Authorities did not name the suspect but said he was born in Iran in 1963.

He was known to authorities and received an eight-month suspended sentence by the Paris Criminal Court in October for setting car tires on fire at the gate of the Iranian Embassy in Paris in September 2023. He said it was a protest act against the Iranian government, according to the prosecutor's office.

As part of that sentence, the prosecutor’s statement said, the man was also banned from carrying a weapon and had a two-year ban on appearing in the 16th arrondissement. The sentence was pending because of the defendant’s appeal, it added.

Associated Press writers Thomas Adamson in Paris and Barbara Surk in Nice, France, contributed to this report.

Elite police officers from the BRI (Brigade de recherche et d'intervention) or Research and Intervention Brigade, leave after an operation near the Iranian consulate, Friday, April 19, 2024 in Paris. Paris police said they are carrying out an operation at the Iranian consulate after a witness reported seeing a man outside carrying a grenade and an explosives vest. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Elite police officers from the BRI (Brigade de recherche et d'intervention) or Research and Intervention Brigade, leave after an operation near the Iranian consulate, Friday, April 19, 2024 in Paris. Paris police said they are carrying out an operation at the Iranian consulate after a witness reported seeing a man outside carrying a grenade and an explosives vest. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Police officers patrol near the Iranian consulate, Friday, April 19, 2024 a in Paris. Paris police said Friday they are carrying out an operation at the Iranian consulate after a witness reported seeing a man outside carrying a grenade and an explosives vest. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Police officers and rescue worker wait for instructions bar the the Iranian consulate, Friday, April 19, 2024 a in Paris. Paris police said Friday they are carrying out an operation at the Iranian consulate after a witness reported seeing a man outside carrying a grenade and an explosives vest. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)