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

rd805

rd805

Well-Known Member
drew81 said:
I wonder if Epic is getting additional entertainment offerings in the not so distant future?

🤷🏻‍♂️
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if the expansion plot is Wicked/Oz - a small version of the stage show (much like Japan) seems like a no-brainer to me.

**Edit NOT the expansion for Potter, but the true new world expansion for future use **
 
T

TalkToEthan

Well-Known Member
As for opening new attractions/lands Universal is even more creatively bankrupt than Disney——its reliance on IP is off the charts.

How about trying something thematically new and doing it so well that there would be a demand for a movie franchise.
 
Baloo124

Baloo124

Indifferent
Premium Member
Tom Morrow said:
I personally feel like Wicked/Oz is one of the lamest things they could possibly choose. No shade against the musical or original film but it just doesn't seem like there's all that much to work with in terms of attractions.
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I felt the same way when LOTR rumors were tossed around years ago for other Uni parks.
LOTR is also my favorite movie trilogy ever made.

So much of the action happens on foot, the saga just doesn't lend itself to a proper ride experience.
If you include the prequels, there's the barrel/river scene in the 2nd Hobbit movie, but other than that, not fitting for theme park rides imo.
 
rd805

rd805

Well-Known Member
I do find it sort of wild that my gut told me this park needed: Spinner style / low energy covered ride, indoor dark ride attraction. It appears that our first new ride be higher thrill level - nothing of the ride system is obviously confirmed, but if it is a flying style bike attraction (permits from YEARS AGO), that doesn't fill the needs? I mean, i won't complain - i like high ticket level attractions, but just INTERESTING.
 
danlb_2000

danlb_2000

Premium Member
TalkToEthan said:
As for opening new attractions/lands Universal is even more creatively bankrupt than Disney——its reliance on IP is off the charts.

How about trying something thematically new and doing it so well that there would be a demand for a movie franchise.
Click to expand...

Next you'll be suggesting the movie studios create original works instead of sequels and remakes, and that's just crazy talk.
 
rd805

rd805

Well-Known Member
Baloo124 said:
I felt the same way when LOTR rumors were tossed around years ago for other Uni parks.
LOTR is also my favorite movie trilogy ever made.

So much of the action happens on foot, the saga just doesn't lend itself to a proper ride experience.
If you include the prequels, there's the barrel/river scene in the 2nd Hobbit movie, but other than that, not fitting for theme park rides imo.
Click to expand...

1) I think the mine's -> Balrog could be a ride theme (BUT that's almost very Gringott's already and could cause it from being included).
2) Making peace / Ents BATTLE - i love those giant tree's ha.
3) Or just mount doom finale itself -> The land could either be the Shire, or Rivendell, with the ride being essentially some highlights of Mount Doom.


I think there are tons of opportunities because the world's are so vast; but it may take a specific sequence to branch off of and create something interesting.
 
Purduevian

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
rd805 said:
1) I think the mine's -> Balrog could be a ride theme (BUT that's almost very Gringott's already and could cause it from being included).
2) Making peace / Ents BATTLE - i love those giant tree's ha.
3) Or just mount doom finale itself -> The land could either be the Shire, or Rivendell, with the ride being essentially some highlights of Mount Doom.


I think there are tons of opportunities because the world's are so vast; but it may take a specific sequence to branch off of and create something interesting.
Click to expand...
I imagine if they did a LOTR land... at least 1 ride would be a "greatest hits" ride like forbidden journey. Probably using the Scoop technology disguised as a magic carriage or something.
 
ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
Alice a said:
Is it internationally beloved? I really don’t know much about it 🤷

I didn’t see the movie until I was an adult and it was a “eh, nice” moment. I didn’t feel particularly inspired by the sets, although the poppies made me snarf.

I’m familiar with the Wicked play, but not the films, because I think Aaron Tveit is fantastic looking and I saw it during his run.

It was fine, catchy, but didn’t particularly make me want to visit Oz.

I realize this is entirely possibly my failing, I just didn’t know there were that many people who wanted to visit Oz badly enough to travel, possibly long distances, to pay to visit a thrill-ride-heavy brand of theme park.
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I think Wicked fever may be short lived. Most of us who have seen the musical recognize a problem movie-goers will soon experience: many (most) Broadway shows have a stronger Act 1 and weaker Act 2. No where is that more dramatic than Wicked. All of the iconic songs and the best world-building are in Act 1. Act 2 has very few memorable scenes and the story gets more and more convoluted (and contradictory to the movie it tries to segue into). The result, for many, is that the exuberance you feel at the end of “Defying Gravity” is completely gone 90 minutes later. Wicked is great because of Act 1 and in spite of Act 2.

Making an entire 2-hour movie out of Act 2 was…a choice. I doubt, when all is said and done, people will still be clamoring for a theme park land.

And please don’t even think of picking up the book.
 
BrianLo

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
ToTBellHop said:
The result, for many, is that the exuberance you feel at the end of “Defying Gravity” is completely gone 90 minutes later. Wicked is great because of Act 1 and in spite of Act 2.
Click to expand...

60 minutes. The second act is 30 minutes shorter. Which I am somewhat fascinated with how they’ll handle the sequel as the reviews roll in.

I am a fan and I do feel the first movie could have left 10 minutes on the cutting room floor to not drag out the songs sooo much. Like you I’ve had my doubts on the strength of the sequel. But since more than half of it needs to be original material they can maybe rescue it.


That aside, there’s plenty of potential for a Wicked land. This is in their set experience thing.

IMG_7276.jpeg




Universal is also short on options, in my opinion. So if not Wicked (and Zelda and Pokemon), what next? Maybe One Piece, albeit another license.
 
Tom Morrow

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
TalkToEthan said:
As for opening new attractions/lands Universal is even more creatively bankrupt than Disney——its reliance on IP is off the charts.

How about trying something thematically new and doing it so well that there would be a demand for a movie franchise.
Click to expand...

To be fair, reliance on IP has always been Universal's thing. It began as a place where you can "ride the movies". (I know that before that it began as a movie studio tour).

Disney, on the other hand, used to be an even mix of IP experiences and original ones.
 

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