Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Mike S]

This is why Jekyll and Hyde is, really, the missing link for a show opportunity. He is NOT in Unchained. And frankly, a Dr. Jekyll-version of Alien Encounter where we go into a hospital theater to observe a demonstration of his new potion (at which point, bad things happen) could work incredibly well.

Invisible Man Alien Encounter.

 

[rageofthegods]

Funny enough I was thinking of a circus attraction featuring lesser known Gothic villains from that era (e.g. Island of Dr. Moreau creatures, Sweeney Todd, the guy from Mad Love who had a knife thrower's hands, etc), but that would be a) dead within six months and b) too similar to Cirque Arcanus, so no point.

For a show, I maintain it'd be cool to do something with Bride but Jekyll and Hyde would also be fun. I think it'd be really nice to have a few more dedicated meet and greet areas where monsters get regularly swapped out, sort of like Avengers Campus. Maybe one in the main village with scientists/village monsters, and another in the forest near Burning Blade with more creature type monsters.

 

[SkiBum]

This is why Jekyll and Hyde is, really, the missing link for a show opportunity. He is NOT in Unchained. And frankly, a Dr. Jekyll-version of Alien Encounter where we go into a hospital theater to observe a demonstration of his new potion (at which point, bad things happen) could work incredibly well.

Yeah, I can imagine two actors, one as Jeckyll and one as Hyde, where one falls behind a lab desk and the other pops up and starts going on a rampage.

 

[belloq87]

Jekyll and Hyde are not traditionally considered part of the Universal Classic Monsters group. The only time Universal made a movie with those characters in that era was ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.

Is that an argument for not putting them in the land? Not necessarily, but Universal has no real history with them to draw from.

 

[Alicia]

Jekyll and Hyde are not traditionally considered part of the Universal Classic Monsters group. The only time Universal made a movie with those characters in that era was ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.

Is that an argument for not putting them in the land? Not necessarily, but Universal has no real history with them to draw from.

So many ands and ampersands

 

[GAcoaster]

If they acquire Warner (or just the Looney Tunes) they could just do this...



To me this was the story of Jeckyll and Hyde!

 

[Casper Gutman]

Frankly, I think that's the case for any Monsters show. Dragons and Potter can carry their shows; but there's a reason why we got a Werewolf rollercoaster.

Maybe there’s a reason we didn’t get the show but there really is no good reason we got Werewolf - a big load of nothing in a park that already had too many coasters. One of the only blots on an incredible park.

Dark Universe really does feel unfinished. It needs another ride, absolutely, but what it needs just as much if not more is more areas to explore, more unique retail space, and perhaps a small covered performance area.

 

[Loki]

Unfortunately out of all the Universal Monsters, the Creature is possibly the least utilized in terms of media. And the only monster not to get a modern reboot (outside of The Monster Squad). While I would love a Creature Boat Ride, it would be a huge gamble for Universal.

 

[saint.piss]

Unfortunately out of all the Universal Monsters, the Creature is possibly the least utilized in terms of media. And the only monster not to get a modern reboot (outside of The Monster Squad). While I would love a Creature Boat Ride, it would be a huge gamble for Universal.

To be fair a reboot is in the works so

‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’ Remake in the Works From James Wan

James Wan is in talks to direct a "Creature From the Black Lagoon" remake.

variety.com

 

[Loki]

To be fair a reboot is in the works so

‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’ Remake in the Works From James Wan

James Wan is in talks to direct a "Creature From the Black Lagoon" remake.

variety.com

Then I stand corrected. Did not hear that news. Would be interesting to see a modern take on the Creature. Although it could be said The Shape of Water was close.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Maybe there’s a reason we didn’t get the show but there really is no good reason we got Werewolf - a big load of nothing in a park that already had too many coasters. One of the only blots on an incredible park.

Dark Universe really does feel unfinished. It needs another ride, absolutely, but what it needs just as much if not more is more areas to explore, more unique retail space, and perhaps a small covered performance area.

They would have been better off shelving the Werewolf coaster concept until later when they can properly flesh it out or leave the space empty until something great gets approved. I'm not a fan of the ride, and aesthetically it takes away the draw of the Burning Blade tavern by hiding it from the main village area.

I actually think DU would have been a better product without it, as odd as that sounds.

 

[OrlLover]

Maybe there’s a reason we didn’t get the show but there really is no good reason we got Werewolf - a big load of nothing in a park that already had too many coasters. One of the only blots on an incredible park.

Dark Universe really does feel unfinished. It needs another ride, absolutely, but what it needs just as much if not more is more areas to explore, more unique retail space, and perhaps a small covered performance area.

You’re always so good at summarizing the negative consensus on something.

What a talent.

 

[Casper Gutman]

You’re always so good at summarizing the negative consensus on something.

What a talent.

“One of the only blots on an incredible park.”

 

[belloq87]

Unfortunately out of all the Universal Monsters, the Creature is possibly the least utilized in terms of media. And the only monster not to get a modern reboot (outside of The Monster Squad). While I would love a Creature Boat Ride, it would be a huge gamble for Universal.

But he's also one of the most utilized in wider merchandising. Go into any store in the Halloween season, and if they have any Classic Monsters-related items, the Gill-Man is almost always represented.

Universal knows the Creature an iconic character design.

To be fair a reboot is in the works so

‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’ Remake in the Works From James Wan

James Wan is in talks to direct a "Creature From the Black Lagoon" remake.

variety.com

In fairness, a reboot has been in the works for 40 years at this point!

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

They would have been better off shelving the Werewolf coaster concept until later when they can properly flesh it out or leave the space empty until something great gets approved. I'm not a fan of the ride, and aesthetically it takes away the draw of the Burning Blade tavern by hiding it from the main village area.

I actually think DU would have been a better product without it, as odd as that sounds.

I think their heart was in the right place when the concept art for Epic first speculated a Show residing in Darkmoor; A show that probably prominently featured all of the classic monsters in some way, whether sceen-based, animatronic or costumed SFX at play you can tell it was something they were at least considering in the execution. While i somewhat understand the pivot to a rollercoaster based off the Werewolf cryptid as something easy for them to do, if not for any other reason, I honestly think they could have saved money and time by simply giving us a spooky walkthrough type of attraction utilizing all the same theoretical SFX they would've used for a show - but instead of sitting, you're simply walking through it. I've said it before but it would have been hella easy for them to have a mausoleum style entrance that goes into an indoor style cave/dungeon system near the graveyard entrance that already existed on the left side of the land and exits in the "woods" near the north side of the land in front of the tavern. Think the Amber Mines at IoA or Old Scratch's at MK in theme but add in a Meet n Greet area in the middle with some boo holes/screens to keep things fresh or interesting in other parts of the crypt.

It's one thing to go through the concept on a ride like Monster's Unchained, it's another thing to walk through it and physically be able to interact with it on the same coin. The only detriment i consider is that it would have been "more of the same" for the land, but it's easy to dismiss when you consider that you could rotate the MnG monster between Dracula/Mummy/Creature in this area and still keep the Bride/Frank MnG on the other side of the village and have them be different for thematic/lore/story related reasons. Hell, make the system large enough to be able to have a digital map/app type experience in there(like a Scavenger Hunt style MONSTER Hunt). We've seen how successful Power Up Bands and the Wand stuff is in their respective lands that i don't necessarily think we need a physical gimmick to introduce to Darkmoor, but i can't help but think that a themed maze with an app to tie into it, featuring a MnG of rotating characters could have been both easier and better recieved than the Werewolf coaster. It could have been VERY EASY for them to pivot to a spooky walkthrough/MnG style thing for their entire catalog of monsters instead of a lackluster AF coaster that aesthetically clashes with everything in the land; Worst of all blocking the Windmill.

I've actually had this exact idea for Jurassic Park for a long time, ever since we experienced the spooky queue for Kong and the thematic introduction of the paddock for Velocicoaster mixed with the the Raptor MnG in concept. We should totally have animated/screen-based/hologram-tech dinosaur viewing stations at all Jurassic Park lands in all Universal parks.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think their heart was in the right place when they first announced that a show was planned

They never announced it. Besides one early piece of concept art and the park overview from 2019 nothing else was ever said about it.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

They never announced it. Besides one early piece of concept art and the park overview from 2019 nothing else was ever said about it.

Widespread industry speculation supported by concept art from Epic's announcement reveal aside, corrected for factual accuracy. Thanks Joe.

 

[Clive]

But he's also one of the most utilized in wider merchandising. Go into any store in the Halloween season, and if they have any Classic Monsters-related items, the Gill-Man is almost always represented.

Universal knows the Creature an iconic character design.

In fairness, a reboot has been in the works for 40 years at this point!

I've read some of the Creature scripts over the years. We should be glad nothing has seen the light of day yet.

 

[belloq87]

I've read some of the Creature scripts over the years. We should be glad nothing has seen the light of day yet.

I suspect they've been overthinking it.

My pitch would basically be "ANACONDA, only good. And with multiple jungle monster species for the Creature to interact/fight with."

 

[rageofthegods]

I've read some of the Creature scripts over the years. We should be glad nothing has seen the light of day yet.

I trust James, he's number Wan in my book.