Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[GAcoaster]

Wizard of Oz is an evergreen— even people who never saw the movie recognize it. Just about everyone has seen all or part of the movie, or Wicked, or even parodies of it.

I get LOTR has a dedicated following, but it’s no where near as recognizable to most people as any form of Oz would be.

 

[Brian G.]

Wizard of Oz is an evergreen— even people who never saw the movie recognize it. Just about everyone has seen all or part of the movie, or Wicked, or even parodies of it.

I get LOTR has a dedicated following, but it’s no where near as recognizable to most people as any form of Oz would be.

I LOVE LOTR but I agree here.

Oz (mostly thanks to the '39 film) is deeply embedded in our pop culture and language.

 

[Legacy]

It would break the portal concept they have going. Also both LOTR and Wicked need the 20 acres. Splitting it would hurt them both.

Wicked needs space for the Emerald City, Shiz University, Munchkinland, Kiamo Ko. It's important to show all those so that not just Wicked fans recognize the space. If you put Wicked anywhere else you'll have to cut locations or significantly cut the scale.

You can see each location below.


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You absolutely do not need Kiamo Ko. The show barely does anything with it, and the book does little more than have Elpheba mope around the castle. I’d argue you don’t “really” need Munchkinland or Shiz as a full land either. One or the other (and I’m partial to Shiz). The only essential land is Emerald City.

A ride that takes you through the other locations would work.

 

[Brian G.]

You absolutely do not need Kiamo Ko. The show barely does anything with it, and the book does little more than have Elpheba mope around the castle. I’d argue you don’t “really” need Munchkinland or Shiz as a full land either. One or the other (and I’m partial to Shiz). The only essential land is Emerald City.

A ride that takes you through the other locations would work.

Emerald City and Yellow Brick Road. That's it.

 

[Collin]

You absolutely do not need Kiamo Ko. The show barely does anything with it, and the book does little more than have Elpheba mope around the castle. I’d argue you don’t “really” need Munchkinland or Shiz as a full land either. One or the other (and I’m partial to Shiz). The only essential land is Emerald City.

A ride that takes you through the other locations would work.

People are going to have certain expectations. If you can't walk Shiz people will be mad, you can't take the yellow brick road from Munchkinland to the Emerald City? People will be mad. I agree that Kiamo Ko is the easiest to cut and include in a ride, I just don't know what the movie is doing with it yet so it might be cool to see more of but you could also just put it on top of a show building like beast's castle lol. You need to check boxes.

 

[belloq87]

Put me in the camp that thinks Middle-earth would have a bigger draw than Oz.

But it's debatable. I think both THE WIZARD OF OZ and LORD OF THE RINGS (specifically THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, but I'll hear arguments for the entire trilogy being one work) are the defining fantasy films of all time, with more than enough cultural cachet to justify major theme park lands.