From Paddington to Park Place, Turning Familiar IP into a Playable Night Out

Monopoly has a reputation for turning friendly game nights into grudge matches, and Saw has a reputation for making people squirm. So what does it look like to build live, immersive experiences from those worlds and still leave guests feeling satisfied, included, and eager to come back?We sit down with David Hutchinson, CEO of The Path Entertainment Group, to unpack how modern fandom changes when the audience gets real agency. We talk through the creative and operational decisions behind location-based entertainment and interactive theater, from Monopoly Life-Sized to The Paddington Bear™ Experience. David explains why “value added” is the north star, how a “game inside the game” keeps familiar IP fresh, and why clarity matters more than mystery when you’re asking people to participate.We also get practical about what outsiders underestimate: the sheer complexity of running a building-scale show, the lack of shared infrastructure across the immersive space, and the need for better language so audiences know what they’re signing up for. If you’ve ever wondered how to honor the iconic moments fans came for while still pushing an IP onto a new canvas, this conversation lays out a clear playbook.Subscribe to Fandom Unpacked, share this episode with someone building live experiences, and leave a rating and review so more creators can find the show.Recorded Monday, June 8th, 2026Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, SituationGuest: David Hutchinson, CEO, The Path Entertainment GroupProducer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consultinghttps://situationinteractive.comhttps://amindatworkconsulting.com