Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!

[JT3000]

And Burk has a half a dozen animated movies behind it, a live action that is out now and presumably plans for a number of follow-up live action with the same version of these characters.

Will Wicked have the same?

That's not a rhetorical question, btw - does anyone here know if they have plans beyond this first/second half movie pair to keep pushing this on as a franchise?

If the story is complete, does it need any more chapters? This sounds like we're asking for continuation just for continuation's sake, which can hurt a franchise just as easily as it can produce longevity.

Speaking of franchises, Wicked is just a spin-off of Wizard of Oz, a franchise that's been embedded in American pop culture for over a century. Perhaps they would be better off doing a general Oz theme for a land, although that might require securing the rights to the original film likenesses, as that's the version everyone knows. Either way it has legs.

 

[Rich Brownn]

And Burk has a half a dozen animated movies behind it, a live action that is out now and presumably plans for a number of follow-up live action with the same version of these characters.

Will Wicked have the same?

That's not a rhetorical question, btw - does anyone here know if they have plans beyond this first/second half movie pair to keep pushing this on as a franchise?

Yes, the authors of the musical have expressed they hope to do additional projects in the same universe.

 

[lazyboy97o]

If the story is complete, does it need any more chapters? This sounds like we're asking for continuation just for continuation's sake, which can hurt a franchise just as easily as it can produce longevity.

Wicked is the first of four alternate Oz books written by Gregory Maguire.

 

[JT3000]

Wicked is the first of four alternate Oz books written by Gregory Maguire.

So do they plan to continue with the stories in the other books? Because the movie is an adaptation of the musical, which in turn is apparently based only on the first of these books.

 

[MrPromey]

If the story is complete, does it need any more chapters? This sounds like we're asking for continuation just for continuation's sake, which can hurt a franchise just as easily as it can produce longevity.

Speaking of franchises, Wicked is just a spin-off of Wizard of Oz, a franchise that's been embedded in American pop culture for over a century. Perhaps they would be better off doing a general Oz theme for a land, although that might require securing the rights to the original film likenesses, as that's the version everyone knows. Either way it has legs.

I'm not asking them to run anything into the ground but that's what studios do today if they think there's a penny to be made and I don't think Universal is going to build a "permanent" theme park attraction for a popular Broadway musical no matter how much the niche audience of people who both have the means and access to experiencing them and also love them might want.

I say that as someone who very much enjoys the touring version of shows like this.

This will live or die with Universal on the popularity of the movie IP and if the height of that ends this coming winter, I just don't see it happening.

I mean, look at Harry Potter. They ran out of original story for the original characters and now it's all "The world of..." because they need to do everything they can to keep the movie IP current to try to keep their investments paying off.

 

[MrPromey]

Yes, the authors of the musical have expressed they hope to do additional projects in the same universe.

Then that's how they'll keep it going and how it might be possible to see Universal invest in more permanent attractions, I think.

I know there is more to the "The Wicked Years" series that is the source the musical is based on but you hardly ever hear anyone talking about the books - or at least I never do - so it makes me a little uneasy letting Hollywood churn out new songs the way they do, to adapt more books as a venture gone down not because it's a good idea* but because it might be a lucrative one... but that'll of course, be what they do.



*And it may also be a good idea but we know from movie sequels, they don't really care if it is or isn't when they decide to do that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know there is more to the "The Wicked Years" series that is the source the musical is based on but you hardly ever hear anyone talking about the books - or at least I never do

My local Barnes & Noble still has a small aisle table dedicated to Wicked with the novels and other merchandise. Unless they’ve reversed themselves, a few years ago Barnes & Noble handed a lot of power to their store managers to determine what each store sells and stopped doing things like forced, company-wide promotions paid by publishers. Even if Universal was paying, it seems odd that they’d keep it up during this lull between the movies.

 

[MrPromey]

My local Barnes & Noble still has a small aisle table dedicated to Wicked with the novels and other merchandise. Unless they’ve reversed themselves, a few years ago Barnes & Noble handed a lot of power to their store managers to determine what each store sells and stopped doing things like forced, company-wide promotions paid by publishers. Even if Universal was paying, it seems odd that they’d keep it up during this lull between the movies.

I don't think Universal even has anything to do with the books, do they?

Besides paying out royalties to someone?

It seems like if anything, the publisher would maybe be trying to ride the popularity of the movies to promote the books considering that the movies are only indirectly sourced from the books to begin with.

... and I'm not saying that's what's happening here (anyone paying). Certainly not denying the manager of your B&N might be a big fan of the books or feel that there is an audience that's eager start reading them.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Then that's how they'll keep it going and how it might be possible to see Universal invest in more permanent attractions, I think.

I know there is more to the "The Wicked Years" series that is the source the musical is based on but you hardly ever hear anyone talking about the books - or at least I never do - so it makes me a little uneasy letting Hollywood churn out new songs the way they do, to adapt more books as a venture gone down not because it's a good idea* but because it might be a lucrative one... but that'll of course, be what they do.



*And it may also be a good idea but we know from movie sequels, they don't really care if it is or isn't when they decide to do that.

Considering he musical is very loosely based on the books, I imagine they'll pick and choose just pieces to build a new story on (Glinda and Elphaba's friendship is like 2 chapters in the book).

 

[MrPromey]

Considering he musical is very loosely based on the books, I imagine they'll pick and choose just pieces to build a new story on (Glinda and Elphaba's friendship is like 2 chapters in the book).

I admit I've not read the books (or been able to see the Broadway version of the musical*) so I'll take your word as a subject matter expert, here.

*Don't keep an eye on tour dates so by the time I realize it's heading to town it's always sold out unless paying crazy prices in the aftermarket.

 

[Gusey]

I think what Wicked has going for it compared to other movie musicals is the sets being very fantastical and mostly practical. That way, if they built a Wicked land, there is already a visual representation of the Oz settings. Compared to the Japan Wicked land, which was largely flat and based on the limited sets of a theater show.

Also, Mark Woodbury back in February said that when he saw Wicked, he thought "This is a theme park waiting to happen". They're at least floating the idea around of Wicked attractions at one Universal Park, it just might not be Epic (My bet is Lost Continent replacement to keep the literature theme of the park)

Universal keeps teasing Wicked attractions

 

[JT3000]

I'm not asking them to run anything into the ground but that's what studios do today if they think there's a penny to be made and I don't think Universal is going to build a "permanent" theme park attraction for a popular Broadway musical....

They already did, in Japan. A Cliff's Notes version of Wicked. It ended up only lasting a few years, but they did it. They also have experience adapting other musicals for a theme park environment. An entire land might be a bit of a stretch, but they'll do anything if they can be convinced of its profitability.

 

[MrPromey]

They already did, in Japan. A Cliff's Notes version of Wicked. It ended up only lasting a few years, but they did it. They also have experience adapting other musicals for a theme park environment. An entire land might be a bit of a stretch, but they'll do anything if they can be convinced of its profitability.

A stage show that ran for 5 years is not what I'd call permanent. If anything, that's what I'd expect them to do here.

If it doesn't need to be indoors. they already have three unused open-air theaters on property ready for a makeover.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Getting reports of LOTS of effects broken on most of the rides. Monsters, for instance, running with no pre-show and half the animatronics frozen.

There is one thing I firmly believe Universal has been doing better than Disney since Potter, and that is keeping the effects on their attractions working. So to hear reports of lots of effects broken on almost every ride at Epic is... concerning.

 

[JT3000]

A stage show that ran for 5 years is not what I'd call permanent. If anything, that's what I'd expect them to do here.

If it doesn't need to be indoors. they already have three unused open-air theaters on property ready for a makeover.

Nothing is actually permanent in a theme park, and many hypothetically "permanent" attractions don't last as long as others. Just ask the creators of Superstar Limo, another "permanent" attraction.

None of the currently unused theaters would be appropriate for a Wicked show, unless they retheme all of Lost Continent in the process.

 

[MrPromey]

Nothing is actually permanent in a theme park, and many hypothetically "permanent" attractions don't last as long as others. Just ask the creators of Superstar Limo, another "permanent" attraction.

None of the currently unused theaters would be appropriate for a Wicked show, unless they retheme all of Lost Continent in the process.

Seriously?

You're really going to go this way with it and pretend like you don't know what I mean?

Fine, we'll say "semi-permanent' or perhaps "long-term" by which I mean, intended to not be temporary or short-lived.

I would call a takeover of the Hello Kitty store and a green paint-job that can be changed to any other color in a day or two to likely not be a semi-permanent/long-term change, for instance - sort of like all the popup tribute stores they do.

I could see that going back to Hello Kitty or being redone for the next big thing Universal wants to promote in late 2026 or early 2027 after the second half has gone through theatrical and home releases.

Or are you saying the show in Japan was intended to be there longer but was a flop which is why it only made it five years?

The Lost Continent theater is right on the edge of that Island, they'd hardly have to retheme everything to make it work.

It would seem a pretty stupid move both in cost and land to build a fourth theater when they already have three unused.

 

[JT3000]

Seriously?

You're really going to go this way with it and pretend like you don't know what I mean?

I'm not sure anyone knows what you mean at this point, because I was clearly referring to the former Wicked show in Japan, which was intended to be just as "permanent" as any other attraction, not the Wicked retheme of the Hello Kitty store here. Did you think a show that was meant to be temporary would last 5 years? It had an entire Oz land built around it.

The Lost Continent theater is right on the edge of that Island, they'd hardly have to retheme everything to make it work.

Sure, if you want to have another random theater that doesn't fit into any particular land, most likely just sitting there, taking up valuable space once the show inevitably ends. Otherwise, the smart thing to do would be to use all of what remains of LC for a new land, not further divvy it up into parts.

 

[MrPromey]

I'm not sure anyone knows what you mean at this point, because I was clearly referring to the former Wicked show in Japan, which was intended to be just as "permanent" as any other attraction, not the Wicked retheme of the Hello Kitty store here. Did you think a show that was meant to be temporary would last 5 years? It had an entire Oz land built around it.

Yes, I know you were clearly pointing to the show. I was clearly pointing to how Universal semi-regularly does temporary things to take advantage of what is currently popular or to temporarily promote something not meant to last.

Sorry if I lost you, there.

A show in a general use theater can be like that. The sets get made. The rigging gets set up. the show runs. The show closes. It gets replaced with another show in the very same theater - you know?

You're aware that's a thing, right?

Given the show in Japan only lasted a few years, seems like the right approach for a movie property that may come and go unless they're planning more film adaptions loosely based on the other books... which it sounds like, at least someone is considering.

I mean, maybe this will have Potter-style legs but Potter has Potter style legs thanks to wildly popular books and eleven movies made by the same studio with a singular, cohesive look-and-feel, to date.

... Or I guess - I don't know - build a new theater somewhere in Epic (like that plot near the front) facing Celestial Park that's set up like Hyperion Theater that they can drop the next Live show they want to do into it when the time comes.

But building a new theater from the ground up is going to cost more money and take more time and with the second movie coming out this year, the clock is ticking to hit the apex of popularity with the general public* unless they're turning it into a franchise in which case, sure why not a whole land, I guess?

Or since this is all just speculation, maybe they do nothing at all.

Personally, I'd rather this than an Epic portal devoted to F&TF.

Sure, if you want to have another random theater that doesn't fit into any particular land, most likely just sitting there, taking up valuable space once the show inevitably ends. Otherwise, the smart thing to do would be to use all of what remains of LC for a new land, not further divvy it up into parts.

Because they couldn't just put a different show in the theater appropriate for the land being redeveloped next to it when that time comes, right?

That'd just be madness.

*I know all the theater kidos think the Broadway show is this big part of mainstream pop culture but the first movie was likely seen by more people in the first month than the Broadway and touring show combined have in their entire runs - that's just the magic of cheaper ticket prices and being able to run it in thousands of different places a half dozen times a day with no dark days. If a single movie or two was all it took to sustain popularity of something, there'd be more opening day attractions still open at USF.

 

[JT3000]

Yes, I know you were clearly pointing to the show. I was clearly pointing to how Universal semi-regularly does temporary things to take advantage of what is currently popular or to temporarily promote something not meant to last.

Sorry if I lost you, there.

A show in a general use theater can be like that. The sets get made. The rigging gets set up. the show runs. The show closes. It gets replaced with another show in the very same theater - you know?

You're aware that's a thing, right?

Given the show in Japan only lasted a few years, seems like the right approach for a movie property that may come and go unless they're planning more film adaptions loosely based on the other books... which it sounds like, at least someone is considering.

I mean, maybe this will have Potter-style legs but Potter has Potter style legs thanks to wildly popular books and eleven movies made by the same studio with a singular, cohesive look-and-feel, to date.

... Or I guess - I don't know - build a new theater somewhere in Epic (like that plot near the front) facing Celestial Park that's set up like Hyperion Theater that they can drop the next Live show they want to do into it when the time comes.

But building a new theater from the ground up is going to cost more money and take more time and with the second movie coming out this year, the clock is ticking to hit the apex of popularity with the general public* unless they're turning it into a franchise in which case, sure why not a whole land, I guess?

Or since this is all just speculation, maybe they do nothing at all.

Personally, I'd rather this than an Epic portal devoted to F&TF.



Because they couldn't just put a different show in the theater appropriate for the land being redeveloped next to it when that time comes, right?

That'd just be madness.

*I know all the theater kidos think the Broadway show is this big part of mainstream pop culture but the first movie was likely seen by more people in the first month than the Broadway and touring show combined have in their entire runs - that's just the magic of cheaper ticket prices and being able to run it in thousands of different places a half dozen times a day with no dark days. If a single movie or two was all it took to sustain popularity of something, there'd be more opening day attractions still open at USF.

Of course they could reappropriate the theater space in the future. But would they? This is the same company that's had a theater sitting empty for literally 99% of a park's existence, and you want to put that much faith in them to not allow it to happen again? For an IP that only managed to run for a handful of years in one of their other parks? Not to mention it's simply not an efficient use of the space, even while the show is still active. Whatever eventually replaces the remains of LC is going to need all of that land in order to maximize its potential. Start taking more chunks out of it and you're left with a mini-land at best.

Would I dedicate an entire land to this IP? I think a general Oz theme would play better to an American audience than a Japanese one, and would be immediately recognizable to most people at the very least, but I'm not convinced it would be much of an actual pull for most. Even if they made a great attraction, it would likely end up like Monsters, with one of the shortest waits in the park. However, this would be even more true for Wicked, whether they try to expand the franchise or not. It's niche. So the way I see it, you either do an entire Oz land, which at least bears a resemblance to the version everyone knows, or you don't bother. Either way, we don't need a theater that used to play Wicked sitting off on a thematic desert island somewhere.

 

[Andrew C]

Seems a good chance the universal park in England will get Wicked.