Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[Luke Hutchinson]

OK, next big date would be the budget 30/10/24

Not necessarily, They might still be in negotiations and the next thing we hear is the SDO being lodged with the government.

The budget is the government setting out how they’re going to accrue money and spend it yes but they won’t outright say “we need x amount of money for infrastructure improvements in Bedford for a theme park” because A) It looks tone deaf asking people to get ready for painful austerity like cuts so you can build a theme park and B) If they’re still in negotiations it shows their hand we already know in an ideal world they’d like to have announced it by now which tells you they want to make it work but they don’t want to be the equivalent of Florida agreeing to all of Walt Disney’s demands when he built WDW and Reedy Creek was setup as it wouldn’t be financially in their best interest.

 

[bedfordmassive]

Not necessarily, They might still be in negotiations and the next thing we hear is the SDO being lodged with the government.

The budget is the government setting out how they’re going to accrue money and spend it yes but they won’t outright say “we need x amount of money for infrastructure improvements in Bedford for a theme park” because A) It looks tone deaf asking people to get ready for painful austerity like cuts so you can build a theme park and B) If they’re still in negotiations it shows their hand we already know in an ideal world they’d like to have announced it by now which tells you they want to make it work but they don’t want to be the equivalent of Florida agreeing to all of Walt Disney’s demands when he built WDW and Reedy Creek was setup as it wouldn’t be financially in their best interest.

Yes - agreed. No reason to believe the next development will coincide with a specific other event.

The point was simply that this is the next calendar event where the government will be making major financial announcements on spending plans (and they will have to spend for UGB to happen, e.g. roads) and may wish to introduce some good news (foreign investment) in a manner that supports their other messages (we will bring in foreign investment, look it's working).

 

[Ludus]

EU opening date officially announced....
Hopefully on to UGB next!

 

[GAcoaster]

Watching the Wicked media/merchandising rollout as the movie is about to open, and assuming it is the smash hit juggernaut they seem to think it will be, I can't help but think that they have to be planning to use it as one of the IPs for this park if it happens. The merchandising component looks so similar to the product lines they created for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the parks, and I can't believe that's a coincidence.

 

[Steeb]

Watching the Wicked media/merchandising rollout as the movie is about to open, and assuming it is the smash hit juggernaut they seem to think it will be, I can't help but think that they have to be planning to use it as one of the IPs for this park if it happens. The merchandising component looks so similar to the product lines they created for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the parks, and I can't believe that's a coincidence.

I think a lot of the similarities in the merch design comes from them using the same designers for it (MinaLima), but none the less, if it lands the way they hope it will, I can definitely see them using the IP either here or in Orlando. Guess that decision might come down to how well it performs in the US and Europe.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Watching the Wicked media/merchandising rollout as the movie is about to open, and assuming it is the smash hit juggernaut they seem to think it will be, I can't help but think that they have to be planning to use it as one of the IPs for this park if it happens. The merchandising component looks so similar to the product lines they created for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the parks, and I can't believe that's a coincidence.

If it's true they once considered converting MSHI to Wicked, they could just adapt that work wholesale to a new land, but I imagine Universal would want a hypothetical Wicked land to skew much younger.

They should really think about adapting more of the books if they have the chance.

 

[GAcoaster]

I think a lot of the similarities in the merch design comes from them using the same designers for it (MinaLima), but none the less, if it lands the way they hope it will, I can definitely see them using the IP either here or in Orlando. Guess that decision might come down to how well it performs in the US and Europe.

Definitely using Mina Lima for some of the design is part of that, but there's more to it-- I think when the Wicked Store opens at USF it will be even more obvious that they are using the Potter model for this in the hope it can become their own thing.

 

[rageofthegods]

If it's true they once considered converting MSHI to Wicked, they could just adapt that work wholesale to a new land, but I imagine Universal would want a hypothetical Wicked land to skew much younger.

They should really think about adapting more of the books if they have the chance.

If Wicked is even half the hit it's looking like right now, then I can't imagine a Wicked 3 adapted from the next book is very far in the future.

 

[Della]

New DreamWorks film 'The Wild Robot' is getting rave reviews, I've read the book which was fantastic (my son's teacher was reading it to their class a few years ago and he couldn't wait for the next chapter so begged for our own copy). As this is a DreamWorks film, maybe this IP could feature in the park. The robot would lend itself very well to an animatronic, and the robot and baby gosling would both make great merchandise. It's a trilogy of books so has longevity - wikipedia says a sequel film is already in development.

 

[Altonsky]

If Wicked is even half the hit it's looking like right now, then I can't imagine a Wicked 3 adapted from the next book is very far in the future.

I hope Wicked does well as I love the musical and it really would make an amazing area in a park. But honestly I wouldn’t bet on it, musicals can be very hit and miss when it comes to the box office and sometimes don’t resonate with the general public.

Although I’m sure Ariana will pull in a significant number of people which is a bonus.

 

[rageofthegods]

I hope Wicked does well as I love the musical and it really would make an amazing area in a park. But honestly I wouldn’t bet on it, musicals can be very hit and miss when it comes to the box office and sometimes don’t resonate with the general public.

Although I’m sure Ariana will pull in a significant number of people which is a bonus.

That's what I was worried about too, until Wicked got the third-highest initial ticket sales for a PG film *ever*. Means it's ahead of massive, billion dollar movies like Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4. Movie's gonna sail to a 100m+ opening, at least here in the States.

 

[Altonsky]

That's what I was worried about too, until Wicked got the third-highest initial ticket sales for a PG film *ever*. Means it's ahead of massive, billion dollar movies like Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4. Movie's gonna sail to a 100m+ opening, at least here in the States.

Well that’s good news!! Hoping the movies and the box office takings both live up to expectations!

 

[JoeMcSqueezy]

A Wicked Land could be cool but I do fear thematically it may be too similar to The Lord of the Rings, as this high fantasy world, which if they're really keen on doing Middle Earth here, may steer them away from Wicked

 

[Mike S]

Is Wicked strong enough to hold a land on its own without using the rest of the Oz IP? Like can you imagine strong enough attractions that don’t include Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion?

I admit I’m one of the few that’s never seen the show lol

 

[rageofthegods]

Is Wicked strong enough to hold a land on its own without using the rest of the Oz IP? Like can you imagine strong enough attractions that don’t include Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion?

I admit I’m one of the few that’s never seen the show lol

Without wishing to spoil, every one of those characters end up being in the show, and only Dorothy is really a cameo. Familiar environments like the Emerald City and Munchkinland are present as well.

 

[OLSinFLA]

I hope Wicked does well as I love the musical and it really would make an amazing area in a park. But honestly I wouldn’t bet on it, musicals can be very hit and miss when it comes to the box office and sometimes don’t resonate with the general public.

Although I’m sure Ariana will pull in a significant number of people which is a bonus.

Almost all of the seats on opening weekend for large format theaters is already gone.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

Another themed land idea for Universal GB came to me:

Since NBCUniversal, via DreamWorks, owns the rights to Enid Blyton's Noddy IP, why not a Noddy-themed land (Noddy's Toyland) for the little kids? It would have a dark ride where you would ride in Noddy's red and yellow car ("Parp Parp!"), passing through various scenes from the classic Noddy stories. The land would also have character interactions with Big Ears, Tessie Bear, Noddy himself, and even Mr. Plod!

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

@ProjectUniversal just shared this very interesting article … Honestly sounds like it’s in the bag if Universal are happy with what the government are offering

 

[bedfordmassive]

Very interesting. There’s been a lot of infighting around budget and persistent leaking. My bet is that this is legit info and package announced budget day.

 

[Altonsky]

Gotta give us something to stem the doom tidal wave I suppose