Oz - Tony Baxter's Final Project

[Disneyhead'71]

This matches up with some of what I've heard closer to Tony's side of things.

Is the thinking that it would go into Islands? That would allow Studios to get Nintendo-land and Islands to get the Oz expansion. And would continue the theme of always having something under development in each park (Diagon/Kong). Maybe it would finally replace Toon Lagoon... don't know if there's room for a theater there though.

There is already a large, mostly abandoned theater in Toon Lagoon.

I believe that they are now at the point of exploring how best to bring the Wicked IP into the parks. I don't think they have anything close to decided yet.

 

[Sped2424]

There is already a large, mostly abandoned theater in Toon Lagoon.

I believe that they are now at the point of exploring how best to bring the Wicked IP into the parks. I don't think they have anything close to decided yet.

Is the film still happening? Cause if so that's just some massive good timing and pr.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Is the film still happening? Cause if so that's just some massive good timing and pr.

Yes. With a supposed 2016 release date.

 

[LAKid53]

There is already a large, mostly abandoned theater in Toon Lagoon.

I believe that they are now at the point of exploring how best to bring the Wicked IP into the parks. I don't think they have anything close to decided yet.

Wicked? As in the book and the musical? Nice.

 

[BazH]

Yes. With a supposed 2016 release date.

It won't arrive until December 2017 at the earliest.

 

[AEfx]

Return to Oz is an excellent movie and is fondly remembered and beloved by children of the 80s and early 90s which was the target audience. It was mature and didn't sugar coat things like most modern movies do

Funny you should mention it. It was recently released as a DMC Exclusive Blu-ray - and it's been selling like hot cakes. Non-DME members have been gobbling them up on eBay (for up to $60, though it's now stabilized). Word on the street is it will be one of the exclusives that sold well enough that they take it to retail.

It's really an amazing film, if you aren't looking for a direct sequel to Oz. I had a lot of fun revisiting it - I hadn't seen it since it was in theaters. It was amazing how much I had forgotten - and how mature the themes really were. At one point I kept thinking that even if they kept the same script, if it was been directed by Tobe Hooper or someone similar it would have been a very, very different film.

I totally see why it didn't do well and why it didn't catch on - it was on that last wave of "it's OK to make a scary movie for kids". Very enjoyable to watch today - and the Blu-ray looks pretty darn good for a film that wasn't given the deluxe treatment.

 

[Bairstow]

If Universal is indeed thinking about building attractions based on a Wicked movie, I can only imagine the swordfighting currently going on between their IP lawyers and MGM's regarding how close it can or can't be to the 1939 film. Supposedly specific shades of green were at issue when Disney made the Franco turkey.

Also, "Wicked" seems like a bit of an odd choice for a themed park area. One of the major themes of that play is that the magical fairy-tale land of Oz is a far more corrupt and imperfect world than the happy place in '39 film, full of class divisions and latent racism.

 

[MotherOfBirds]

I've heard a decent bit about trying to shoehorn Wicked somewhere in USO, and most of it learned toward attractions and/or a land. I'd be interested to see the visual direction they take for a land and the movie, seeing as the stage show doesn't give us much in the way of the world's aesthetic.

 

[AEfx]

I think Universal would be far better off just doing a permanent production of the show.

 

[Sped2424]

I've heard a decent bit about trying to shoehorn Wicked somewhere in USO, and most of it learned toward attractions and/or a land. I'd be interested to see the visual direction they take for a land and the movie, seeing as the stage show doesn't give us much in the way of the world's aesthetic.

Well actually it does granted not like a film, but there is definitly an aesthetic they can pull and fully realize.

The Tic Toc dragon and the gears are a huge motif in the show, as are clocks.

Sort of an OZ steampunk feel

Oz the city tiself, popcorn lights, sort of an art nouveau take on the architecture.

Thankfully they don't need to work to hard to make the land seem iconic or memorable to guests. The 1939 film has done all the work, they just need to put the wicked aesthetic on top of it in order to avoid that pesky copyright and boom, instant success.

 

[MotherOfBirds]

I'm looking forward to DHS guests asking where Wickeland is

 

[Captain Neo]

There not doing a Wicked Land. Universal has their hands full with Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and Nintendo there not adding more to the plate.

 

[marni1971]

There not doing a Wicked Land. Universal has their hands full with Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and Nintendo there not adding more to the plate.

And you know that how?

It is definitely back on the table. Maybe nothing will come of it. But as of now it's more than blue sky.

And you forgot Marvel. Pretty amazing huh.

 

[Bairstow]

That's the thing about Universal these days; Unlike Disney, there's always a "next" project.

 

[Magenta Panther]

And you know that how?

It is definitely back on the table. Maybe nothing will come of it. But as of now it's more than blue sky.

And you forgot Marvel. Pretty amazing huh.

If Universal builds an Oz land, I really hope it won't revolve around Wicked. It'd be great if it was modeled on the 1939 Wizard of Oz film. Wicked is indeed very popular, but it's not nearly as popular and memorable (and family-friendly) as that film IMO.

 

[GLaDOS]

And you know that how?

It is definitely back on the table. Maybe nothing will come of it. But as of now it's more than blue sky.

And you forgot Marvel. Pretty amazing huh.

I have to assume Universal will be preplanning attractions in case their movies hit, which brings this new Oz rumor. With a Wicked movie possibly a few years away, they don't want to be caught with their pants down if it hits a home run like F&F and Jurassic World have. It's clear they weren't ready for either to be as big as they were.

Still, I don't know how a Wicked project fits into the timeline, outside of turning one of the terrible theater shows or the unused Toon Lagoon theater into a Wicked production. Kong, Sapphire, Hulk, and more than likely work on F&F and Fallon will be 2016, not to mention Volcano Bay. 2017 will still have F&F work, Nintendo I would imagine, and maybe the beginning of bigger Marvel work. This on top of needing to fit in work on something Jurassic World after the past week.

Not saying they can't do it...but the logistics are pretty baffling for the next 5 years.

 

[marni1971]

Not saying they can't do it...but the logistics are pretty baffling for the next 5 years.

Tell me about it. And changing sometimes weekly!

 

[Mike S]

If they add a Wicked show (and no land) maybe it could go next to London and be themed to the West End. There should still be room for something else too, right?

 

[Sped2424]

There not doing a Wicked Land. Universal has their hands full with Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and Nintendo there not adding more to the plate.

I am just going to tell you that you're incorrect.

 

[Captain Neo]

And you know that how?

It is definitely back on the table. Maybe nothing will come of it. But as of now it's more than blue sky.

And you forgot Marvel. Pretty amazing huh.

Marvel isn't on the table either