A massive 6 billion euro theme park project in Cergy-Pontoise, France, is facing significant hurdles before it can even break ground. While the development was recently touted by French President Emmanuel Macron as a landmark initiative comparable to Disneyland Paris, reports from the French newspaper Le Monde suggest that the project lacks the essential approval from the rights holders of the Dragon Ball franchise.
According to the report, multiple sources familiar with the proposal have confirmed that the project has yet to secure the necessary licensing agreements. The intellectual property for the series is strictly managed by a consortium consisting of Bird Studio—the production house founded by the late Akira Toriyama—along with publisher Shueisha and Toei Animation, which oversees the anime rights.
While the French government has positioned the park as a major economic driver expected to generate 22,000 jobs, the discrepancy between the official announcement and the status of the IP rights remains a critical point of uncertainty. The project was initially characterized in media reports as being centered on the iconic manga and anime series, but without a formal agreement from the Japanese stakeholders, the thematic direction of the park remains in question.
Why it matters: The scale of the proposed investment suggests a long-term infrastructure play, yet the absence of a confirmed partnership with the IP owners highlights the complexity of international licensing for major entertainment properties. It remains to be seen whether the project will pivot to a different theme or if negotiations with the rights holders are still ongoing behind the scenes.
