Parque Warner Madrid approached RWS Global to create a brand-new lake show for their 2025 summer season. Centered around Batman’s infamous rival, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, better known as the Penguin, Justice League: The Rise of the Penguin is an immersive, 360-degree theatrical production that redefines what a nighttime theme park spectacle can be.
The show is set apart from others by its unique storyline. The Penguin is running for mayor of Gotham, but, in his true villainous fashion, he plans to hypnotize the entire city to vote for him—audience included.
The interactive experience plays out in real time as guests and characters fall under his control. Soon, Batman shows up to save the day, joined by Wonder Woman in an attempt to intervene on the Penguin. However, trouble picks up when the Penguin successfully hypnotises Batman himself and sets him against Wonder Woman in a visually stunning, emotionally charged battle.
The plot builds with the arrival of Aquaman, who is immune to the hypnosis, as it only works on land creatures. Saving the day, Aquaman restores the Justice League and defeats the Penguin. This dramatic sequence of events creates a shared emotional journey for the audience that feels more like a live-action film than a theme park show.
This high-powered experience unfolds on and above the park’s central lake, combining iconic DC characters, jaw-dropping stunts, over 300 synchronised drones, high-impact pyrotechnics, fireworks, flyboards, jet skis, a projection-mapped water curtain and two iconic character vehicles: the legendary Bat Boat (modelled after the Bat Mobile) and the Penguin’s oversized rubber duck. Every element is narratively driven and purposefully placed, creating a world where light, water and fire all serve the story.
One of the show’s most innovative solutions lies in how it embraces the 360-degree lake venue. With up to 3,000 attendees at a time, the team knew that not every guest would be able to see every moment of the performance directly. To combat this issue, they utilised the lake’s projection-mapped water curtain as a storytelling tool. The water curtain displays real-time visuals, signage and character identifiers to help orient viewers and keep the narrative clear, no matter where they’re watching from. This audience accessibility breakthrough deepens engagement for all.
Musically, the production is powered by a driving rock’n’roll soundtrack designed to amplify the show’s energy. The score ranges from classic rock to contemporary hits, crafted to resonate across generations. Lighting design reinforces this energy with dozens of moving fixtures, choreographed to pulse with the music, at times even overwhelming the senses to immerse the viewer in the intensity of the moment.
This production is not just a technical feat—it’s an innovation. It’s immersive, cinematic, multi-dimensional and emotionally resonant. It invites audiences of all ages into the world of the Justice League, not just as spectators but as participants in the story.
Every creative decision in Justice League: The Rise of the Penguin is integrated with care and purpose. From its unexpected plot twists to its clever use of technology to enhance clarity, every aspect is designed to surprise, delight and engage on a deeper level. The result is a seamless fusion of narrative and technical spectacle that pushes the boundaries of what audiences expect from a theme park lake show.
Justice League: The Rise of the Penguin is a world-class entertainment experience that blends comic book folklore with theatrical ingenuity. It sets a new global standard for live superhero entertainment.
Partners
- Parque Warner Madrid: Park and Show owner
- Parque Warner shows and entertainment team: production, operations and creative review
- Stuntman: Production Company (flyboards/stunts/lighting/production)
- Dronisos: Drone design and creative
- Piro FX: All Pyrotechnics
- WBLA: IP owner
- RWS Global: Show Provider
