Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 - Speculation & Rumors

[ItsAtrap]

I think we can count on a One Piece show in WW.

I'd love to see BTTF 2 with the "future" courthouse square. Then in 2027 BTTF 3 over in Denver Street.

One can dream, right?

 

[Viator]

I think we can count on a One Piece show in WW.

I'd love to see BTTF 2 with the "future" courthouse square. Then in 2027 BTTF 3 over in Denver Street.

One can dream, right?

Given certain things, I actually wonder if BTTF might not be back for a Year 2 and they go with something else. Hope I'm wrong on that though.

 

[ladiesman217]

Given certain things, I actually wonder if BTTF might not be back for a Year 2 and they go with something else. Hope I'm wrong on that though.

What do you mean by 'certain things'? (Not in the loop on what may be happening with the IP drama-wise so kinda puzzled here).

But if they do decide to go with another IP, Grease is right there. Biff's car is already Greased Lightning and they can still have a school dance and have a couple of songs scattered along the cycle that would surely get a lot of people excited. Seems like Paramount is willing to work with Universal (though MPL may be a problem when it comes to the rights of the individual songs) so don't see why they wouldn't try it out.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'd like to hear why BTTF would not be back

It scored the highest and literally they could just bring it back with some new scenes and the car ending....feels like a slam dunk

 

[Legacy]

What do you mean by 'certain things'? (Not in the loop on what may be happening with the IP drama-wise so kinda puzzled here).

But if they do decide to go with another IP, Grease is right there. Biff's car is already Greased Lightning and they can still have a school dance and have a couple of songs scattered along the cycle that would surely get a lot of people excited. Seems like Paramount is willing to work with Universal (though MPL may be a problem when it comes to the rights of the individual songs) so don't see why they wouldn't try it out.

An immersive Grease would be an interesting direction. It’s an IP that’s recognizable but wouldn’t necessarily “draw” anyone outside demographics (olds and musical nerds). I don’t think the Pink Ladies show did particularly well either.

Now… what if they did a Wicked walkthrough like D&D?

 

[Clive]

Can't talk about the survey, guys. I know no one explicitly has yet, but we're inching toward it.

 

[ItsAtrap]

I'd like to hear why BTTF would not be back

It scored the highest and literally they could just bring it back with some new scenes and the car ending....feels like a slam dunk

From the rumors I've heard, ThePowersThatBe were freaked out by how expensive it was AND the "backlot" people were not happy with it. There seems to be animosity between the backlot and the tour.

 

[Jerroddragon]

From the rumors I've heard, ThePowersThatBe were freaked out by how expensive it was AND the "backlot" people were not happy with it. There seems to be animosity between the backlot and the tour.

Wow

The number one reviewed thing.....I have no idea how you even do this event without it?

Like then it's just HHN without the screams and.....at least from people I talked to BTTF was why they came it was unique and many just were not impressed by the wakthroughs so.....I hope they find a way to make it work because getting off the tram I think is a HUGE draw for an event like this

I would say use the plaza but I feel like it would be too small unless they limited people but then you need to find a place to Q guests and I guess less live music if that happens

 

[Clive]

I did not realize the backlot team was allegedly unhappy with the Back to the Future stuff. That's potentially a massive problem, because I don't think the event will work without that kind of engrossing, immersive headliner, whether it's BTTF or something else.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I did not realize the backlot team was allegedly unhappy with the Back to the Future stuff. That's potentially a massive problem, because I don't think the event will work without that kind of engrossing, immersive headliner, whether it's BTTF or something else.

I mean can they do the event? Yes, will it draw wayyyyyy less people if your going to repeat attractions (rumors both D&D and Star Trek are coming back) this is going to be a hard event to grow.

Like I was saying in another thread, we also need USH to build another show area that has a normal show and then can be used for HHN and Fan Fest to help these events grow and do more.

Anyway, I hope they can make the Backlot work for the event because there are soooooo many ways you can go with Fan Fest with that area open and while I miss it for HHN, I'd take Fan Fest getting to use it because besides seeing BTTF come back...seeing BTTF 2 and maube BTTF on the western sets would be soooo cool

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I did not realize the backlot team was allegedly unhappy with the Back to the Future stuff. That's potentially a massive problem, because I don't think the event will work without that kind of engrossing, immersive headliner, whether it's BTTF or something else.

Mark Woodbury seemed to like it when I was there, so many he can override that opinion. Not sure why the backlot would be upset with a slightly different version of the thing they've been doing since the 60s.

 

[BriefCasey]

I guess they're upset about having a backlot spot be outright unavailable for filming twice in one year. They probably gave HHN a pass since it was once a year.

 

[ItsAtrap]

Universal makes strange financial decisions.

In the '90's HHN kind of stalled financially - making money but not much - so they cut budgets. Then stopped it altogether for a while. Perhaps they believe if they spend less money on the next couple of FFN's they can start to see a good profit?

We all know that doesn't work, but ThePowersThatBe seem to think that way.

 

[Viator]

Universal makes strange financial decisions.

In the '90's HHN kind of stalled financially - making money but not much - so they cut budgets. Then stopped it altogether for a while. Perhaps they believe if they spend less money on the next couple of FFN's they can start to see a good profit?

We all know that doesn't work, but ThePowersThatBe seem to think that way.

Would they lean more to the idea of ride overlays to be a hook like how Osaka does Universal Cool? Part of me wonders if with additional sponsors, if they could fund XR films for the sake of say, Mummy.

That, combined with One Piece WW and DreamWorks Theater getting Osaka imports alongside the 1-2 walkthroughs would make some sense.

 

[Freak]

Would they lean more to the idea of ride overlays to be a hook like how Osaka does Universal Cool? Part of me wonders if with additional sponsors, if they could fund XR films for the sake of say, Mummy.

That, combined with One Piece WW and DreamWorks Theater getting Osaka imports alongside the 1-2 walkthroughs would make some sense.

XR should not be a thing at USH. It was a fad that quickly died out in the mid 2010’s and I hope it stays dead. I tried it back when it was in the Revolution at SFMM back then and it made me sick. Not to mention it will slow down ops exponentially. I hope they don’t make it a thing.

 

[Viator]

XR should not be a thing at USH. It was a fad that quickly died out in the mid 2010’s and I hope it stays dead. I tried it back when it was in the Revolution at SFMM back then and it made me sick. Not to mention it will slow down ops exponentially. I hope they don’t make it a thing.

I’m not saying it’d be a good idea. But I wonder if they’d consider the “cheap” element of repurposing specific Osaka films (or working with Osaka directly on films that both Hollywood and Osaka could use for either Space Fantasy and/or Mummy).

With Hamikuma making the jump to HHN domestically this year, and Jujutsu Kaisen being fully integrated (and One Piece tested), I can see the Pacific Rim division of UDX trying to collaborate more and more going forward for cost-efficiency.

 

[BriefCasey]

Once again, I just hope they actually dub any future USJ carryovers and have them rotate between the two mediums throughout the night. It's not inherently a bad idea, but not dubbing it is where it feels kinda cheap.