Let's play being head of Universal Creative...

[TheCodeMan95]

There's enough room in plenty of spots at USF, really.

It's just a matter of Universal wanting to do something in those areas, and when.

Pasting my comment from the other thread:

The most interesting spot for me is Fear Factor. Between Fear Factor and the MIB tent area, it makes up about 95k square feet. Nothing insane, but here are some comparisons.
Simpsons Ride: 29k sq ft
Transformers: 39k sq ft
Bourne: 35k sq ft
Mummy: 65k sq ft
Minion Mayhem: 21k sq ft
Diagon Alley (without Gringotts and Hogwarts Express): 87k sq ft

So.. there is genuine potential to put something of significance in the FF/MIB Tent plot.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

V2 of the wherever Universal park concept.

Universal’s Harbor of Adventure

• Would feature a giant centerpiece at the center

Jurassic Park

• Same as Orlando’s
• Jurassic Park Ride
• Camp Jurassic
• Dino Encounter
• Discovery Center
• Jurassic Outfitters
• All new dining area

Egypt Timey-Wimey

• Exhibit based on either Egyptian animals (probably small though) or actual artifacts
• Revenge of the Mummy (opened after 2004)
• Either a haunted house or Poseidon’s Fuey style attraction based on a haunted museum, The Scorpion King or the Egyptian Underworld
• Restaurant based on the Egyptian Palace
• Stage Show based on

Uni Horror

• Castle Dracula (either elaborate haunted house or Poseidon’s Fury-style walkthrough)
• Roller coaster based on the Wolfman
• Phantom of the Opera musical (or based on Frankenstein)
• Restaurant based on one of the Classic Monsters

Amity Village

• JAWS the Ride
• Classic style haunted dark ride based on Chucky
• Amity Landing Restaurant

New York

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Xavier Institute Ride
• Fantastic Four experience
• Either King Kong Encounter or Kongfrontation
• Big Apple restaurant
• Marvel comic store
• Finnegan’s
• Safari Outfitters

Hill Valley Timey-Wimey

• Back to the Future Rollercoaster
• E.T. Adventure
• 3-D Film
• Cafe 80s

Anyone else interested in me expanding on this concept?

 

[TheUniC6]

I have been wondering about ideas for a Classic Monsters ride that would in someway be exclusive to Hollywood. Maybe one can use some variant of the updated screen tech and ride system from the Beijing Jurassic World attraction. This would replace the Simpsons ride on the upper lot in the 2026-2028 timeframe.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I think Monsters should take over the F&F tram location once the new coaster opens. A tram scene would allow Universal to finally showcase the Monsters during the tour in a significant way versus just a simple reference.

 

[Bort]

Anyone else interested in me expanding on this concept?

I’ve always liked the idea of Hill Valley/BTTF finding its way into parks again. Such an iconic franchise, with some memorable locations that could offer great ride ideas, restaurants, merch, etc.

Plus, it’s only a matter of time until there’s some sort of reboot/spin-off/etc. because, for better or worse, no one lets these iconic franchises rest for good.

 

[Legacy]

Plus, it’s only a matter of time until there’s some sort of reboot/spin-off/etc. because, for better or worse, no one lets these iconic franchises rest for good.

Robert Zemeckis has gone on record as saying “over my dead body” with regards to a BttF reboot or legacy sequel. He’s 70 right now. It could be another 20-30 years before BttF is authorized to get rebooted.

 

[shiekra38]

I’ve always liked the idea of Hill Valley/BTTF finding its way into parks again. Such an iconic franchise, with some memorable locations that could offer great ride ideas, restaurants, merch, etc.

Plus, it’s only a matter of time until there’s some sort of reboot/spin-off/etc. because, for better or worse, no one lets these iconic franchises rest for good.

Yes, the "town square" and 80s Cafe lend themselves well to a land

Much like with Jaws, and Old Epcot, I feel the proverbial ship has sailed

 

[TheUniC6]

I’ve always liked the idea of Hill Valley/BTTF finding its way into parks again. Such an iconic franchise, with some memorable locations that could offer great ride ideas, restaurants, merch, etc.

Plus, it’s only a matter of time until there’s some sort of reboot/spin-off/etc. because, for better or worse, no one lets these iconic franchises rest for good.

Maybe they could do another BTTF animated series on Peacock. When NBCU bought DWA they wanted to do animated series on Universal film properties. So far F&F and Jurassic World have gotten TV series.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Robert Zemeckis has gone on record as saying “over my dead body” with regards to a BttF reboot or legacy sequel. He’s 70 right now. It could be another 20-30 years before BttF is authorized to get rebooted.

I don't always fully understand how rights work - but do directors actually have any say in things like that?

 

[belloq87]

I don't always fully understand how rights work - but do directors actually have any say in things like that?

It's a sliding scale.

Sometimes there are clauses written into contracts that give filmmakers a kind of veto power over sequels/remakes.

Sometimes the filmmaker in question is so influential that a studio doesn't want to risk irritating them by pursuing a sequel/remake, despite having the technical authority to do so.

Sometimes the filmmaker has no say at all, and the rights holders don't care what the filmmaker thinks!

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Universal Park concept v3

Overall

This ditches the outdated and kinda irrelevant studio theme that only really works on Hollywood. Rather it’s akin to Islands of Adventure. Look at the very Universal logo itself. Why not have it themed as a trip through the world itself? Alternatively, the theme could that be of time itself, with Doc Brown serving as the park’s mascot.

Universal’s Harbor of Adventure

• The entry plaza. It kind of ties all the lands together aesthetically. Characters representing each land (but NOT from those lands itself) are present.
• One idea for presentation; is that it starts off mundane and low key; but the design grows more grand and fantastic as you go on; eventually leading to…
• The world tree. Inspired by Yggdrasil; it’s not really a real tree, but a big ol mess representing the lands you are about to go to.
• The Enchanted Oak Tavern would be present but with a different interior as it’s not in an medieval setting.

Jurassic Park

• Overall the land is pretty identical to Orlando’s; however the scenery (or specifically the greenery) would be emphasized and the land may be longer if Pteranodon Flyers is a ride here (so that the ride isn’t so short).
• Jurassic Park River Adventure is a hybrid of Orlando (overall ride design; second floor of building) and Hollywood (Falling Jeep, Canopy and entrance, T-Rex at roof).
• Camp Jurassic and Discovery Center would remain identical to Orlando.
• I think Japan’s version of Jurassic Outfitters has an animatronic raptor? If so this park steals that.
• Dino Encounter features a variety of Dinos like Raptors and Triceratops, each week or day focusing on a different set.
• The restaurant for this is themed to the center of the earth itself.
  

Egypt Timey Wimey

• Storyline for the area is that a strange time paradox caused by a meteor caused the various ages of Egypt from various points in time to clash. So you’ll see explorers from the 1930s speaking with royals from the Old Kingdoms while decrepit tombs and grand palaces co-exist. In actuality this is just an excuse to not be specific with what the land should look like.
• For all the attractions in this land, the various storylines and settings depend on which point of time the attractions are set in.
• The water ride first takes a trip on the Nile River then descends into a drop. Either it transports guests into a world of mysticism or it takes them back into the Kingdom; a historical tour.
• Either a haunted house or a Poseidon’s Fury style walk though; the storyline follows: hh1 is set in a museum ransacked with the army of the dead, hh2 is set in the Oasis of Ahm Shere where the Scorpion King and Anubis’s army waits, and hh3 takes guests into the Egyptian Underworld itself.
• Revenge of the Mummy opened after 2004 in this; and is an original take that doesn’t repeat scenes from the Florida and Hollywood versions. Maybe it’s in a museum, maybe a tomb.
• The restaurant for this is based in the Egyptian Palace itself. Grand architecture with high ceilings, giant statues lining the walls, exquisite food.
• An actual museum of sorts would be present here. Either it showcases exotic animals associated with Egypt, actual Egyptian artifacts or props from the Mummy and Scorpion King movies.
• Stage show either follows an historical storyline like Rome’s conquering of Egypt or a fantastical one like the stories of Sekhmet and Set.
  

Universal Horror or the Old World

• Overall land takes you back into the worlds of DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA & THE WOLFMAN. 19th century, villages and dark streets.
• Castle Dracula is an land in of itself; with either a haunted house or Poseidon’s Fury walkthrough exploring the corridors of the Count’s home and a water ride underneath taking guests down the murky depths as a homage to the defunct Wildwood attraction.
• Wolfman Woods is a roller coaster down an forest where it simulates you either being chased by a werewolf or as a werewolf yourself prowling the countryside.
• The Musical Show is set in an opera house and houses either a musical adaptaing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or FRANKENSTEIN. Instead of a traditional theme park stage show which is normally a 30 minute show done repeatedly, this one has 30 minutes acts throughout the day; eventually leading to an ending, then it repeats itself until the show really ends.
• The restaurant is themed on a Classic Monster not showcased in the other attractions (except the Mummy). Or it’s an original place that still is appropriate for the gothic mood for the rest of the event.

Amity Village

• Overall land and JAWS is identical to the Orlando and Osaka versions.
• Amity Village Restaurant is the same as Osaka’s.
• Instead of carnival games though, we get carnival rides here homaging either lesser known or hard to translate IPs like the Blues Brothers.
• A classic dark ride haunt is themed to Chucky of the Child’s Play series. Brad Dourif reprises his role.

New York

• Overall land is not a replication of New York like the other parks. Here New York is a war zone with super villains rioting and super heroes fighting and protecting. The vibe wouldn’t be depressing but the architecture would still be gnarled, smashed, and broken.
• The Amazing Adventures of Apider-Man is identical to the IOA version.
• Xavier Institute is either a 3-D Movie like Terminator or an actual ride (probably a Top Spinner). Storyline is either the Danger Room has gone berserk, a Sentinel is on a rampage, or Magneto crashes the party.
• Fantastic Four would be set in the Baxter Building and features a Reed experiment gone wrong.
• Either King Kong Encounter or Kongfrontation is recreated exactly as they were from the original parks they came from.
• Same thing with Safari Outfitters with Kong prop. And Finnegan’s.
• Of course this would be the place of a Marvel comic shop.
• The Big Apple eatery is either a homage to New York or is set in a LITERAL big apple caused by super powered hijinks. May involve giant insects.

Hill Valley Timey Wimey

• Once again, the storyline is that weird time shenanigans happened. In actuality, this is to avert the problem with time; so that it stays relevant.
• Characters like Medieval Knights, Samurai, 80s teenagers coexist and interact.
• Overall land however is faithful to the version of Hill Valley from 2015.
• Back to the Future the Rollercoaster uses actual sets for the coaster sequences.
• E.T. Adventure is set as a spaceship mission and is more technically impressive than the other ones.
• 3-D Movie may feature JAWS or another film relevant to the lore of BTTF.
• Cafe 80s recreates the movie’s restaurant but with a bigger arcade and actual waiters (using the movie’s digital ones would be both creepy and impractical).

 

[Legacy]

I don't always fully understand how rights work - but do directors actually have any say in things like that?

When they write it and own the concept, they do. Typical the original writer “owns” the idea (to include characters) unless the studio purchased it in its entirety.

 

[luckoftheirish]

Universal Park concept v3

Overall

This ditches the outdated and kinda irrelevant studio theme that only really works on Hollywood. Rather it’s akin to Islands of Adventure. Look at the very Universal logo itself. Why not have it themed as a trip through the world itself? Alternatively, the theme could that be of time itself, with Doc Brown serving as the park’s mascot.

Universal’s Harbor of Adventure

• The entry plaza. It kind of ties all the lands together aesthetically. Characters representing each land (but NOT from those lands itself) are present.
• One idea for presentation; is that it starts off mundane and low key; but the design grows more grand and fantastic as you go on; eventually leading to…
• The world tree. Inspired by Yggdrasil; it’s not really a real tree, but a big ol mess representing the lands you are about to go to.
• The Enchanted Oak Tavern would be present but with a different interior as it’s not in an medieval setting.

Jurassic Park

• Overall the land is pretty identical to Orlando’s; however the scenery (or specifically the greenery) would be emphasized and the land may be longer if Pteranodon Flyers is a ride here (so that the ride isn’t so short).
• Jurassic Park River Adventure is a hybrid of Orlando (overall ride design; second floor of building) and Hollywood (Falling Jeep, Canopy and entrance, T-Rex at roof).
• Camp Jurassic and Discovery Center would remain identical to Orlando.
• I think Japan’s version of Jurassic Outfitters has an animatronic raptor? If so this park steals that.
• Dino Encounter features a variety of Dinos like Raptors and Triceratops, each week or day focusing on a different set.
• The restaurant for this is themed to the center of the earth itself.
  

Egypt Timey Wimey

• Storyline for the area is that a strange time paradox caused by a meteor caused the various ages of Egypt from various points in time to clash. So you’ll see explorers from the 1930s speaking with royals from the Old Kingdoms while decrepit tombs and grand palaces co-exist. In actuality this is just an excuse to not be specific with what the land should look like.
• For all the attractions in this land, the various storylines and settings depend on which point of time the attractions are set in.
• The water ride first takes a trip on the Nile River then descends into a drop. Either it transports guests into a world of mysticism or it takes them back into the Kingdom; a historical tour.
• Either a haunted house or a Poseidon’s Fury style walk though; the storyline follows: hh1 is set in a museum ransacked with the army of the dead, hh2 is set in the Oasis of Ahm Shere where the Scorpion King and Anubis’s army waits, and hh3 takes guests into the Egyptian Underworld itself.
• Revenge of the Mummy opened after 2004 in this; and is an original take that doesn’t repeat scenes from the Florida and Hollywood versions. Maybe it’s in a museum, maybe a tomb.
• The restaurant for this is based in the Egyptian Palace itself. Grand architecture with high ceilings, giant statues lining the walls, exquisite food.
• An actual museum of sorts would be present here. Either it showcases exotic animals associated with Egypt, actual Egyptian artifacts or props from the Mummy and Scorpion King movies.
• Stage show either follows an historical storyline like Rome’s conquering of Egypt or a fantastical one like the stories of Sekhmet and Set.
  

Universal Horror or the Old World

• Overall land takes you back into the worlds of DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA & THE WOLFMAN. 19th century, villages and dark streets.
• Castle Dracula is an land in of itself; with either a haunted house or Poseidon’s Fury walkthrough exploring the corridors of the Count’s home and a water ride underneath taking guests down the murky depths as a homage to the defunct Wildwood attraction.
• Wolfman Woods is a roller coaster down an forest where it simulates you either being chased by a werewolf or as a werewolf yourself prowling the countryside.
• The Musical Show is set in an opera house and houses either a musical adaptaing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or FRANKENSTEIN. Instead of a traditional theme park stage show which is normally a 30 minute show done repeatedly, this one has 30 minutes acts throughout the day; eventually leading to an ending, then it repeats itself until the show really ends.
• The restaurant is themed on a Classic Monster not showcased in the other attractions (except the Mummy). Or it’s an original place that still is appropriate for the gothic mood for the rest of the event.

Amity Village

• Overall land and JAWS is identical to the Orlando and Osaka versions.
• Amity Village Restaurant is the same as Osaka’s.
• Instead of carnival games though, we get carnival rides here homaging either lesser known or hard to translate IPs like the Blues Brothers.
• A classic dark ride haunt is themed to Chucky of the Child’s Play series. Brad Dourif reprises his role.

New York

• Overall land is not a replication of New York like the other parks. Here New York is a war zone with super villains rioting and super heroes fighting and protecting. The vibe wouldn’t be depressing but the architecture would still be gnarled, smashed, and broken.
• The Amazing Adventures of Apider-Man is identical to the IOA version.
• Xavier Institute is either a 3-D Movie like Terminator or an actual ride (probably a Top Spinner). Storyline is either the Danger Room has gone berserk, a Sentinel is on a rampage, or Magneto crashes the party.
• Fantastic Four would be set in the Baxter Building and features a Reed experiment gone wrong.
• Either King Kong Encounter or Kongfrontation is recreated exactly as they were from the original parks they came from.
• Same thing with Safari Outfitters with Kong prop. And Finnegan’s.
• Of course this would be the place of a Marvel comic shop.
• The Big Apple eatery is either a homage to New York or is set in a LITERAL big apple caused by super powered hijinks. May involve giant insects.

Hill Valley Timey Wimey

• Once again, the storyline is that weird time shenanigans happened. In actuality, this is to avert the problem with time; so that it stays relevant.
• Characters like Medieval Knights, Samurai, 80s teenagers coexist and interact.
• Overall land however is faithful to the version of Hill Valley from 2015.
• Back to the Future the Rollercoaster uses actual sets for the coaster sequences.
• E.T. Adventure is set as a spaceship mission and is more technically impressive than the other ones.
• 3-D Movie may feature JAWS or another film relevant to the lore of BTTF.
• Cafe 80s recreates the movie’s restaurant but with a bigger arcade and actual waiters (using the movie’s digital ones would be both creepy and impractical).

I like your plan overall and it works as a cool what if but it strange to me you included other IPs in lands based on a singular franchise. Like Kong is the only non-marvel thing in New York, so it really should be replace with a hulk encounter or a ride where Galaktus invades New York. You could make New York a full on mix of Ips by only including say spider-man and adding other ips that take place there like Ghostbusters.

Even stranger is including a Chucky ride in Amity where there's just flat out zero connection unlike Kong and New York. ET in Hill Valley is also odd but it is a Universal classic and that land does have the excuse of time-travel I suppose.

I do like your idea for the Hill Valley land though it's creative and makes it work. Your Monsters Land is good too though it's missing a dark ride.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

I like your plan overall and it works as a cool what if but it strange to me you included other IPs in lands based on a singular franchise. Like Kong is the only non-marvel thing in New York, so it really should be replace with a hulk encounter or a ride where Galaktus invades New York. You could make New York a full on mix of Ips by only including say spider-man and adding other ips that take place there like Ghostbusters.

Even stranger is including a Chucky ride in Amity where there's just flat out zero connection unlike Kong and New York. ET in Hill Valley is also odd but it is a Universal classic and that land does have the excuse of time-travel I suppose.

I do like your idea for the Hill Valley land though it's creative and makes it work. Your Monsters Land is good too though it's missing a dark ride.

Felt it was appropriate to have a spooky dark ride as a homage to the ones in boardwalks; and hey why not theme it towards the Chuckster. Considered putting Chucky in New York but thought there would be too many haunted houses. Maybe Galactus could be part of the Fantastic Four experience, he’s part of their rogues gallery right?

 

[TheCodeMan95]

It's a sliding scale.

Sometimes there are clauses written into contracts that give filmmakers a kind of veto power over sequels/remakes.

Sometimes the filmmaker in question is so influential that a studio doesn't want to risk irritating them by pursuing a sequel/remake, despite having the technical authority to do so.

Sometimes the filmmaker has no say at all, and the rights holders don't care what the filmmaker thinks!

When they write it and own the concept, they do. Typical the original writer “owns” the idea (to include characters) unless the studio purchased it in its entirety.

So it's safe to say this is the case with Zemeckis?

 

[jameson2005]

I have 2 land ideas that are based on Anime properties:

The first one is a Demon Slayer Land at the Universal Parks in Osaka, Orlando, Hollywood, and possibly Singapore: it will have a Japanese Village theme (Like the one seen in Episode 6). It will Include a boat ride, a teacup ride, and a show. The Boat ride will be about Tanjiro and Nezuko telling riders what it will take to be part of the Demon Slsyer Corp. However, we go through a forest where we encounter various demons and 3 villains from the previous arcs ( Muzan Kibutsuji, Doma, and Akaza). Its up to you, Tanjiro, Nezuko and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corp. to slay these demons permanently. acts. It will include projection mapping and the most advanced animatronics at Universal. The boat will even take us through various scenes while it spins, tilts, and drop. The second ride will be a teacup ride centering around Nezuko and the cup vehicles will be themed to coal baskets. A live show is a Demon Slayer Corp. training show where volunteers go through obstacles like climbing rock walls, avoiding traps, and defeating demons. If the volunteer is better than the other, they will get a special sword and become a member of the Demon Slayer Corp. The land will also include shops, meet n greets, and themed restaurants.

The second one is for a themed land based on Beastars (I know! An anime that people kinda forget that’s getting a 3rd season in 2024) for Universal in the land that is between MIB and The Simpson’s with a Cherryton Academy Section, a Zebuth city Section, and A Black Market Section. There will also be themed restaurants and meet n greets where you meet one of your favorite characters from the anime. This land will also be at Japan, Hollywood, and possibly Singapore. The attractions will include an AR roller coaster (In the Cherryton Academy section) and a dark ride (In the Zebuth City section).

 

[TheUniC6]

After seeing Puss in Boots last night and the fact that the end scene hints that fifth Shrek film (whether if it is a direct sequel to forever after or a flat out reboot) is closer than ever to happening, I was thinking that even if Shrek does not get his own land as an expansion at EU It needs a dark ride. I think a Midway Mania style ride themed around Shrek would have a lot a potential, I think an E ticket level ride should be where a villain on the level of Jack Horner tries to unravel the universe and Shrek and company will team up with all major fairy tale characters along with parody versions of the Disney princesses to stop him. This would be a trackless dark ride that blends projection mapping, practical sets, and the same type of curved in-depth screen effects the JW ride in Beijing and the upcoming Villain Con Minion Blast ride in USF have. This type of plot for the E ticket could also translate into a eventual film for the DWT at USH.

 

[luckoftheirish]

After seeing Puss in Boots last night and the fact that the end scene hints that fifth Shrek film (whether if it is a direct sequel to forever after or a flat out reboot) is closer than ever to happening, I was thinking that even if Shrek does not get his own land as an expansion at EU It needs a dark ride. I think a Midway Mania style ride themed around Shrek would have a lot a potential, I think an E ticket level ride should be where a villain on the level of Jack Horner tries to unravel the universe and Shrek and company will team up with all major fairy tale characters along with parody versions of the Disney princesses to stop him. This would be a trackless dark ride that blends projection mapping, practical sets, and the same type of curved in-depth screen effects the JW ride in Beijing and the upcoming Villain Con Minion Blast ride in USF have. This type of plot for the E ticket could also translate into a eventual film for the DWT at USH.

I think a Shrek will definitely come if Shrek 5 does happen and is a success, I mean there's plenty of space to add it at Epic or replace one of the outdated lands in the other 2 parks.

Though if it doesn't get a land, it really should get a ride in kidzone, Shrek is just way too iconic and big series just to be represented by a meet and greet.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I think a Shrek will definitely come if Shrek 5 does happen and is a success, I mean there's plenty of space to add it at Epic or replace one of the outdated lands in the other 2 parks.

Though if it doesn't get a land, it really should get a ride in kidzone, Shrek is just way too iconic and big series just to be represented by a meet and greet.

Shrek deserves so much more than it got at Universal. The potential is there for a GREAT dark ride with Shrek.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I think Far Far Away should one day takeover the MIB and FF plot. Plenty of room for a land and a big dark ride. The view from across the lagoon could be lovely and unique for USF.

This, or it takes TL. If there is a chance for more films than that will prove how timeless the franchise is.