Universal likely to get Lord of the Rings theme park rights...

[slappy magoo]

People are saying about the drop in appeal after the last book comes out for HP, can you imagine the drop in appeal for LOTR at that time.

Unless it takes that long for the last HP movie and The Hobbit to be made.

Seriously, ladies and germs, an attraction based on a film/tv franchise is enough to make people check it out once, but the ride has to be good to have legs. Conversely, if the ride is e-ticket-worthy, it doesn't matter what, if anything, it's based on, people will return to ride it. Personally I hate the pre-show BS for both Dinosaur and especially Rock N Roller Coaster, but I can't deny, once you're in motion, they're really well done. I'm sure some people go on RNRR because they're Aersmith fans, but I can't imagine someone going back on it if they thought the ride was weak but they want to somehow show spiritual solidarity with geriatric rock stars.

Many of Disney's popular attractions are based on movies/shows that are decades old. Granted, Disney also has the ability to herald their library as chock full of classics, but what about the love for non-Disney titles like Indy Jones, Twilight Zone and everything in GMR?

The franchise tie-in will get people to check it out. Whether it's repeat-worthy is entirely dependent on Uni/IOA's Imagineer-equivalent (Sim-agineers? Imagini-nots? Faux-magineers?)

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I don't care for Lord of the Rings at the parks.. but I do think Universal's bringing Harry Potter to the parks did force Disney to move Star Tours 2.0 from the backburner after.. how long.. almost 10 years?

Now, if Harry Potter is extremely successful, Disney will have to do a lot more than that, like changing the fact that the Magic Kingdom hasn't seen a new E-Ticket in 15 years.

 

[kcnole]

I sure hope they don't get it...not because I want Disney to have it, because I definitely DO NOT. I just don't like the thought of them add TWO huuuge names in Harry Potter and LOTR...both of which have massive followings. The thought of Universal even coming close to taking over Disney's numbers (I know it is a vey big Long Shot) doesn't sit well.

How? If Universal could become as good of a vacation destination as Disney it would be a good thing. 1. We'd have even more quality attractions to visit. 2. It would force Disney to work even harder. Competition is a good thing people. The fact that Disney has been able to get away with things like MILF and SGE for a while are due to the lack of it. Somebody needs to force Disney back to the destination it once was. If its not going to be the executives, who else?

 

[cmatt]

heh - lotr BOOKS have not dropped in popularity since there conception, and more to the point - never will. They are masterpieces imho - and have a rich diverse universe. The same will happen to the movies - peter jackson did an amazing job, and with a bit of luck if it is movie base having peter's input would be a huge bonous. If its more booked based - well thats equally as good also.

Harry potter will go the same way - and as schools are carrying the books for students to read (and in the future for students to study). Universal wont drop them just because it is an old franchise! - There is alot more then a bunch of movies (ala back to the future - which is for me the best trilogy), there is an entire universe that can be touched upon!

 

[CTXRover]

I think its a bit of an assumption by screamscape's author(s) mixed with some facts that an agreement with New Line to bring Freddy, Jason and Leatherface to HHN suddenly equates to a new partnership between Universal and New Line in a such a way that theme park rights to an intellectual property that New Line has nothing to do with other than being the distributor of the films based on that property could be granted. LOTR rights would have to come from Tolkein estates, the same way HP theme park rights had to ultimately come from JK Rowling, which then allowed Uni to work with WB movie creators to build an HP land.

Its a bit of a strech imo, but I know its fun to talk about any and all possibilities.

 

[MAF]

Disney always has Narnia..

No offense, but I can't stand when people say this. Sorry but Narnia is nowhere near as popular as HP or LotR....

 

[WildcatDen]

^ You forgot to add "In my opinion."

As the books go, Narnia has a big following. Since there are many more books and two more movies in the works, I would not write it off just yet. . .

 

[jedimaster1227]

There is plenty of room for Lord of the Rings over at the Studios side of the resort. While I could see it fitting into the Lost Continent, Harry Potter beat the competing franchise out for that spot. Just remember, not all attractions at Universal Studios will be there forever... Back to the Future's closure is sure proof of things to come.

 

[cmatt]

^ You forgot to add "In my opinion."

As the books go, Narnia has a big following. Since there are many more books and two more movies in the works, I would not write it off just yet. . .

the film was utter drivel mind you - badly acted and directed (imo :king: )

 

[disneyparksrock]

No offense, but I can't stand when people say this. Sorry but Narnia is nowhere near as popular as HP or LotR....

:sohappy: Good posting! This is very true. Narnia is nothing compared to HP or LOTR. All the HP and LOTR movies were in the top 20 of the all-time worldwide box office. Narnia dosen't even come in until number 24. People can't keep comparing Narnia to Harry Potter and LOTR. Disney should be using their Star Wars licence better, because Star Wars does compete with HP and LOTR. Imagine all the awesome Star Wars attractions we could have, if Disney focuses on that instead of Narnia.

Universal=Harry Potter and LOTR=:sohappy:
Disney=Star Wars=:sohappy:

 

[JT3000]

^ You forgot to add "In my opinion."

As the books go, Narnia has a big following. Since there are many more books and two more movies in the works, I would not write it off just yet. . .

Opinion? What opinion? I had never even heard of this Narnia thing until I saw the trailer for the film. Did I go see it? Nope. It isn't very popular compared to the other franchises in question. That's a fact, not an opinion.

 

[jorgetheviking]

I really dont see Universal getting the rights to LOTR because they just got HP. Maybe a few years after HP opens Universal will try to get the rights but I doubt it. HP will get Universal enought attention to increase attendance at the parks. Thats gonna suck for me because Universal seems crowded enough now. Everyday Marvel Super Hero Island gets hour plus waits.

 

[WildcatDen]

All I am saying is that it is too early to close the book on the CS Lewis stories. The success (or lack) of the next movie will go a long way in determining the final result.

As for LOTR, it is my favorite series of books. I have read them nearly every year for the past 2 plus decades. The movies did nothing to take away from the books (except for a few odd twists in the Two Towers) and I really hope Peter Jackson and New Line clean up their monetary differences so that the Hobbit can be made with the same vision.

The Narnia books are very popular and represent a different perspective on a very similar story. I would expect that perspective to be ridiculed in most circles, as it has been on this site.

 

[WildcatDen]

Opinion? What opinion? I had never even heard of this Narnia thing until I saw the trailer for the film. Did I go see it? Nope. It isn't very popular compared to the other franchises in question. That's a fact, not an opinion.

Facts, eh? Well, I did not search comparisons of LOTR to Narnia because I am pretty sure it is a landslide for LOTR. As for Potter, well, in comparing the first 4 Potter films to Narnia as domestic box office, the total is as follows:

Potter - Stone $317,558; Chamber of Secrets $261,925, Azkaban $249,359, and Goblet of Fire $289,994 for an average of $279,709.

Narnia - $291,685.

Not popular, eh?

 

[JT3000]

http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/worldwide.php

What was that?

 

[WildcatDen]

As my post stated - Domestic

 

[JT3000]

The domestic numbers are just part of the picture. Worldwide matters more.

 

[SirGoofy]

Would love to see LOTR come to life themepark-wise, but I want Uni to focus on Harry for now. There's so much amazing things to be done with Harry Potter. I'd rather see them put their full force behind that before anything else. I don't wanna see two crappy adaptations of my two favorite literary franchises.

 

[WildcatDen]

The domestic numbers are just part of the picture. Worldwide matters more.

Okay. I understand your point, but since I am an American, and this is America, and USF is in Florida which, last time I checked, is also in America, I will say that Narnia has very similar Domestic Box Office numbers to the first 4 Potter films. Besides, even using your data, Narnia is a top 25 all-time movie with over 3 quarters of a billion in sales. Not popular at all, eh?

Narnia has two more movies in the works and it will be interesting to see if they drop like the second and third Potter films did. Come on, can't God get a little love????

As for the OP, it would be interesting to see what they would do with LOTR. Maybe "Bilbo's Barrel Ride" or "Smaug's Flight".

 

[MAF]

Opinion? What opinion? I had never even heard of this Narnia thing until I saw the trailer for the film. Did I go see it? Nope. It isn't very popular compared to the other franchises in question. That's a fact, not an opinion.

I wouldn't go that far, but it's definately not really an opinion that LotR and HP are much more popluar than the Narnia franchise. I read the first book back in 5th grade so I definately have heard of it before it become a movie, but really i had no interest at all in seeing the movie. I especially had no interest after all of the religious zealots touted it as some sort of "Christian movie". I'm not bashing religion by any means, but the way they hyped it up left a bad taste in my mouth. :shrug: