Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[quinnmac000]

If anything with how much merchandising Universal is doing for Wicked...if the movie is successful, they are doing OZ.

 

[DrStarlander]

If anything with how much merchandising Universal is doing for Wicked...if the movie is successful, they are doing OZ.

I can see that happening too, if it's successful, like you said. If so, an Emerald City Hotel could be cool. There are so many fans of Wicked that would want to stay there, it may bring in a new audience...fans of the Broadway play, who may not have thought about going to a Universal park. Maybe it would tip the balance for some moms deciding where their family goes on vacation.

 

[fryoj]

Would they have the rights to Oz?

 

[DrStarlander]

Universal is releasing the movie so they must have the rights to the Wicked book/play. The original Oz books are over a hundred years old and are in the public domain. So, while I can't be sure, it would seem like they could build an Oz land based on Wicked (and not the classic 1939 movie).

 

[Collin]

Universal owns the musical rights and now the movies rights to Wicked. Like previously stated the original Oz books are public domain. However Wicked has always danced around the copyright issues with the 1939 film now owned by Warner Bros. Based on what I’ve seen in the behind the scenes content and trailers the goal of the Wicked Movies is to unify Oz canon. That way any fan of Oz will feel their version of Oz is represented. There’s even some subtle hints to Return to Oz in a one of the costumes. The unification will be great for a land because you don’t only get new fans Oz from wicked but also appeal to fans of the Oz content. They’ve even included musical motifs from The Wizard of Oz in the soundtrack.

 

[quinnmac000]

Would they have the rights to Oz?

Oz is public domain but this would not be the first time Universal did Oz. Universal Studios Japan had the land of Oz and a thirty minute Wicked stage show starting in 2006.

 

[Disneyhead]

I think Universal is trying to set up Oz/Wicked to be the Universal Studios Great Britain's Potter. They can't use Potter because of it's proximity to WB Studios Tour. I mean, how else are they gonna sell a bazillion interactive wands? And the new Wicked merch is VERY Potter-esqe.

The only wand that is not interactive is The Wizard's. He has no power. Haha.

 

[Collin]

I think Universal is trying to set up Oz/Wicked to be the Universal Studios Great Britain's Potter. They can't use Potter because of it's proximity to WB Studios Tour. I mean, how else are they gonna sell a bazillion interactive wands? And the new Wicked merch is VERY Potter-esqe.

The only wand that is not interactive is The Wizard's. He has no power. Haha.

Could totally see it as long as we get a land in the states too. It is an American fairytale not sure the UK has as much of an attachment to Oz as America.

 

[GAcoaster]

Would they have the rights to Oz?

Wicked (the musical stage show) is produced by Universal. As long as they don't use anything specifically associated with the 1939 MGM film (owned by Warner Discovery), they can do whatever they want. The musical itself even references the film (and so does the new movie version) in small, clever ways which skirt any copyright issues.

Now, of course, Universal Parks have a long history of working with Warner at this point, and since the 1939 Wizard of Oz is no longer used down the street in the Great Movie Ride (or anywhere in that park now), they could actually license that version of things for the parks as well.

 

[moth]

I REALLLYYY hope Berk gets a FOP like ride. That's the only thing I feel that land is desperately lacking.

SNW should also get a Wario Log Flume. Praying the Creature boat ride also happens.

I don't have any takes for a new land but I hope it uses a sci-fi IP.

 

[Mike S]

I REALLLYYY hope Berk gets a FOP like ride. That's the only thing I feel that land is desperately lacking.

SNW should also get a Wario Log Flume. Praying the Creature boat ride also happens.

I don't have any takes for a new land but I hope it uses a sci-fi IP.

Nintendo is getting Luigi’s Mansion which is a much better choice lol

If Wario was to get a ride something like Toy Story Mania based on WarioWare would make much more sense than a log flume.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

If Wario was to get a ride something like Toy Story Mania based on WarioWare would make much more sense than a log flume.

But Wario logs would be thematically appropriate...

 

[Mike S]

But Wario logs would be thematically appropriate...

Oh god I just got it

 

[moth]

Nintendo is getting Luigi’s Mansion which is a much better choice lol

If Wario was to get a ride something like Toy Story Mania based on WarioWare would make much more sense than a log flume.

Oh I know about the Mansion rumors and I think they're awesome. My ideal Wario-ride is more based off Wario Land where Wario is trying to get treasure which plays into the log flume but I do love the Toy Story Mania-type ride now that you say it like that....

Any toilet humor was purely a coincidence.

 

[GA-MBIT]

Nintendo is getting Luigi’s Mansion which is a much better choice lol

If Wario was to get a ride something like Toy Story Mania based on WarioWare would make much more sense than a log flume.

Oh wow, I've never thought of a Toy Story Mania-type attraction with a bunch of quick WarioWare / Game & Wario-style micro-games throughout. It's too niche, and would never be greenlit, but man that would be a really fun addition. Lots of energy and zany visuals to work off of there, and the format is loose enough to fit a lot of the theme park specific quirks a ride would require.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Oh wow, I've never thought of a Toy Story Mania-type attraction with a bunch of quick WarioWare / Game & Wario-style micro-games throughout. It's too niche, and would never be greenlit, but man that would be a really fun addition. Lots of energy and zany visuals to work off of there, and the format is loose enough to fit a lot of the theme park specific quirks a ride would require.

Based on this description, I'd settle for an alternate version of the Bowser JR. shadow showdown mini-game room where it's Wario assaulting you with mini games where you have to react to certain things on the screen or contort your body in various shapes to win the game.

 

[illumination]

Oz would be my choice for an entire land expansion. However it could perhaps go into IOA to draw people there again.

At some point you know they will probably remake the Jaws movie. Adding this as a ride to Universal monsters would be fun. It could be high tech like Shanghai Pirates and make it look like you are going underwater at some parts.

 

[Legacy]

Oz would be my choice for an entire land expansion. However it could perhaps go into IOA to draw people there again.

At some point you know they will probably remake the Jaws movie. Adding this as a ride to Universal monsters would be fun. It could be high tech like Shanghai Pirates and make it look like you are going underwater at some parts.

That’s what the Creature ride should be…

 

[jarmor]

Speaking of the creature from the black lagoon. It seems Universal made a conscious decision ensure that there will be distinct different between the wolf man inside the manor and the werewolves on the coaster. Do we really think they will feature both the creature on Unchained AND a separate ride?

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Speaking of the creature from the black lagoon. It seems Universal made a conscious decision ensure that there will be distinct different between the wolf man inside the manor and the werewolves on the coaster. Do we really think they will feature both the creature on Unchained AND a separate ride?

For most guests, explicitly separating The Wolf Man from a generic werewolf is potentially a distinction without a difference. If they really feel the need to separate the two, The Gillman can refer to the creature's whose latent humanity was ignited by his first encounter with man, while the creatures can be generic members of his species who torment us throughout a separate ride.