Middle Earth theme park at Universal

[The Empress Lilly]

I might be crushed for this opinion, but I don't want Universal to have another big franchise land in the park. Port of Entry and The Lost Continent are the only non-franchise lands in Islands of Adventure,

Yes, this is why I prefer Disney over UNI. IoA in particular is a loose collection of IP franchises. It lacks a heart and soul, a true unifying thought.

Sadly, Disney, Iger's Disney, is rapidly moving in UNI's direction. The master is taking its cue from the pupil.

 

[SirLink]

Yes, this is why I prefer Disney over UNI. IoA in particular is a loose collection of IP franchises. It lacks a heart and soul, a true unifying thought.

Sadly, Disney, Iger's Disney, is rapidly moving in UNI's direction. The master is taking its cue from the pupil.

What? IoA in particular always had a basic cohesive theme of Literature. You had the Classics, comic books, newspaper strips, Dr Seus books, JP started as a book, Harry Potter( a book franchise). Yes they have franchises in the park but it fits more cohesively than most Disney parks.

 

[WED99]

What? IoA in particular always had a basic cohesive theme of Literature. You had the Classics, comic books, newspaper strips, Dr Seus books, JP started as a book, Harry Potter( a book franchise). Yes they have franchises in the park but it fits more cohesively than most Disney parks.

Although your theory works, it's not entirely correct. IoA's theme is Adventure (as it says in the name). Every area in the park fits this theme.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

I can see it now...

Uni gives up Marvel and uses that land for Lord of the Rings...


Jimmy Thick- Disney makes a Avengers ride at DHS where you stop a rampaging Hulk in Disney World and he throws the Spaceship Earth geodesic sphere at you...Wait what?

 

[marni1971]

It's been discussed. Nothing more so far. As a potential third gate.

IOA needs fleshing out first, plus the next resort and Waterpark.

And then the serious plans of expansion will begin.

 

[Malin]

I was under the impression Universal had sold the space for the third park?

 

[Malin]

I can tell you that the Universal "source" (for want of a better term) for MiceChat is not to be taken seriously whatsoever. He steals from other sites, and his weekly "parkhopper" reports are riddled with errors.

He's stated on the MiceChat forum that its not a done deal. The talk of them purchasing the rights has come from DustySage since he posted it out over FaceBook and on the Editors Note at the site. Who his source is, I'm not sure?

Update Eric is now also saying its a done deal.

 

[SirLink]

I was under the impression Universal had sold the space for the third park?

I thought someone either @marni1971 or @whylightbulb mentioned Comcast execs came in with an open checkbook(see I can spell American ) to agree not only to new projects but also to open a dialogue to buy back the Lockheed Martin land that was previously sold off.

 

[GeorgiaPinesRJB]

Like others have mentioned, this won't be based on the Peter Jackson movies but the books themselves. The Tolkien family has tried cashing in on the renewed popularity the books brought on by the movies and have released a few video games that don't use the same aesthetic as the Jackson movies (War of the Ring and that Fellowship of the Ring games that came out around the times the movies did are examples of this). I liked the games that the Tolkien family made, as they are different from the movies yet still familiar. It would be interesting to see LotR in a park, any park, but it won't be the New Line/Jackson LotR. Just as the Harry Potter area is based on the aesthetics of the movies, and that's a major draw for a lot of fans, especially those who only know the movies... I don't think the LotR area will have the same draw since it won't be the same (I love the movies and the books but I know a lot of fans that only know LotR as the movies). As long as there isn't The Silmarillion: The Ride. That thing was a nightmare to read.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Hate the hippy crappy books. Love the pain that a potential raft of new attractions causes the usuall suspects.

 

[SirLink]

Like others have mentioned, this won't be based on the Peter Jackson movies but the books themselves. The Tolkien family has tried cashing in on the renewed popularity the books brought on by the movies and have released a few video games that don't use the same aesthetic as the Jackson movies (War of the Ring and that Fellowship of the Ring games that came out around the times the movies did are examples of this). I liked the games that the Tolkien family made, as they are different from the movies yet still familiar. It would be interesting to see LotR in a park, any park, but it won't be the New Line/Jackson LotR. Just as the Harry Potter area is based on the aesthetics of the movies, and that's a major draw for a lot of fans, especially those who only know the movies... I don't think the LotR area will have the same draw since it won't be the same (I love the movies and the books but I know a lot of fans that only know LotR as the movies). As long as there isn't The Silmarillion: The Ride. That thing was a nightmare to read.

What? You know the film and merchandising rights were sold to UA then to Saul Zaentz Company right? So ... they were responsible for the games, ring replicas, etc.

So if anything they will have the same visual language - perhaps even the voices of the cast of the LOTR and The Hobbit - of the movies in the new land.

P.S. Tolkein sold all merchandising rights ( as well as film and stage rights) in 1968. So why are we still talking about the Tolkein family, huh?

 

[GeorgiaPinesRJB]

What? You know the film and merchandising rights were sold to UA then to Saul Zaentz Company right? So ... they were responsible for the games, ring replicas, etc.

So if anything they will have the same visual language - perhaps even the voices of the cast of the LOTR and The Hobbit - of the movies in the new land.

P.S. Tolkein sold all merchandising rights ( as well as film and stage rights) in 1968. So why are we still talking about the Tolkein family, huh?

That's what I meant, Tolkien/Middle-Earth Enterprises (didn't realize that was Saul Zaentz Company and thought the family still had something to do with it).

Regardless, look at the games by Tolkien/Middle-Earth Enterprises and compare them to the games licensed based from the New Line/Jackson movies and there are differences. Not glaring differences, obviously, since they have the same source material, but enough noticeable differences that fans of the movies and purely the movies may see something amiss. So you're right, the visual language would be similar, but it wouldn't be the same.

When you say voice cast, do you mean from the UA animated films or the Peter Jackson films? (I was comparing the aesthetics of the Jackson films to the aesthetics of what Tolkien/Middle-Earth Industries has made in the last 10 years or so)

 

[BryceM]

Thank you, I would like to see updates in both JP and Seuss Landing. Last time I was their SL was in terrible condition.

It has been completely re-painted and touched up. As well as Toon Lagoon and Marvel Super Hero Island.

 

[BryceM]

Yes, this is why I prefer Disney over UNI. IoA in particular is a loose collection of IP franchises. It lacks a heart and soul, a true unifying thought.

Sadly, Disney, Iger's Disney, is rapidly moving in UNI's direction. The master is taking its cue from the pupil.

Well, I wouldn't say that... The lands in Islands of Adventure are all based around literature which tie back to the main theme of adventure. And with lacking a heart and a soul, I think that depends on the person. I've probably visited Islands of Adventure more in my short, 16 year lifespan than I have Magic Kingdom. I grew up with the park and watched the park change over time, so I guess I have that "emotional connection" with it that many people have with Magic Kingdom. I just would like to see The Lost Continent stay because it is such a beautifully themed land and one of the only non-IP ones.

 

[SirLink]

That's what I meant, Tolkien/Middle-Earth Enterprises (didn't realize that was Saul Zaentz Company and thought the family still had something to do with it).

Regardless, look at the games by Tolkien/Middle-Earth Enterprises and compare them to the games licensed based from the New Line/Jackson movies and there are differences. Not glaring differences, obviously, since they have the same source material, but enough noticeable differences that fans of the movies and purely the movies may see something amiss. So you're right, the visual language would be similar, but it wouldn't be the same.

When you say voice cast, do you mean from the UA animated films or the Peter Jackson films? (I was comparing the aesthetics of the Jackson films to the aesthetics of what Tolkien/Middle-Earth Industries has made in the last 10 years or so)

Well seen as all the deals regarding all the games went through Saul Zaentz Company, as that is classed as merchandise, I don't understand what your on about ... they handed licenses out to different partners to hope something would stick ... Vivendi, EA, and now at WBIE ...

When I say voice cast I mean from Peter Jackson films ... they'll want to use the props that are already created to theme a land, but the point is moot anyway ... until after the 3rd Hobbit film is released.

 

[HMF]

Well, the rumor states that universal is talking to the Tolkien family for the rights, but last I read, the Tolkien family (all but one of them) hate what Peter Jackson did with LoTR, so I highly doubt that they would let it happen after that.

If the Tolkien Family had their way each film would be 7 hours long.

 

[JimboJones123]

As long as they go back to Alan Lee for the design of the thing... Oh wait, PJ already did that.

 

[afar28]

LoTR's is a lesser property than Potter which is a lesser property than Star Wars. How would this crush Disney?

If Disney actually used the Star Wars property for more than a ride then it wouldn't crush them.

 

[SirLink]

If the Tolkien Family had their way each film would be 7 hours long.

Actually if the Tolkien Family had their way there would be no films.

 

[HMF]

Actually if the Tolkien Family had their way there would be no films.

And the property would have a considerably smaller fanbase. As you can probably tell I am not fond of the Tolkien Estate.