Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Disneyhead]

See, that's the problem with many of the IPs Universal has in their arsenal. Many of them are quite similar. If they put LotR in the big expansion plot in Epic, then they have 3 IPs with Dragons on the right side of the park. And Potter draws heavily on the LotR tropes. Zelda has a similar feel.

And Potter and Wicked have similar issues. I suspect USGB will be the only park to get a full blown Oz land, and it will be very WWOHP-like but a bit more green and pink.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

See, that's the problem with many of the IPs Universal has in their arsenal. Many of them are quite similar. If they put LotR in the big expansion plot in Epic, then they have 3 IPs with Dragons on the right side of the park. And Potter draws heavily on the LotR tropes. Zelda has a similar feel.

And Potter and Wicked have similar issues. I suspect USGB will be the only park to get a full blown Oz land, and it will be very WWOHP-like but a bit more green and pink

Now that you mention it, there are a lot of IPS that basically just exist somewhere within the venn diagram of lizards, castles, and magic.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I know this image lends itself more to Blue Sky, but I just wanted it for reference of possibilities for everyone to consider.

Celestial Park Theater & Celestial Park Original (label on map) - can switch around, but I feel like these two spots are prime for more original takes (or a small IP).

If the expansion pad between SNW & Dark Universe is utilized by Luigi's I find it hard to connect it to Celestial Park, so ideally it would be a perfect transition to Dark Universe.

There's a sliver of land to the west of Ministry of Magic's showbuilding. While small, and in the firework launch zone, I could see this area eventually utilized by a mini indoor land or Potter expansion.

To the east of Ministry of Magic, is the original Potter expansion pad for the 2nd attraction. While I'd like to save this spot for future Potter expansion based on the show's response, I could see this go away for a different land/portal altogether. It's enough land for a dark ride and mini and the size of SNW's Mario area.

The top corner is obviously the largest expansion opportunity that seems to be saved for LOTR.

In summary, you could see Epic gain approximately 7+ attractions & experiences (pending how they design each land).

 

[Alicia]

View attachment 25166
I know this image lends itself more to Blue Sky, but I just wanted it for reference of possibilities for everyone to consider.

Celestial Park Theater & Celestial Park Original (label on map) - can switch around, but I feel like these two spots are prime for more original takes (or a small IP).

If the expansion pad between SNW & Dark Universe is utilized by Luigi's I find it hard to connect it to Celestial Park, so ideally it would be a perfect transition to Dark Universe.

There's a sliver of land to the west of Ministry of Magic's showbuilding. While small, and in the firework launch zone, I could see this area eventually utilized by a mini indoor land or Potter expansion.

To the east of Ministry of Magic, is the original Potter expansion pad for the 2nd attraction. While I'd like to save this spot for future Potter expansion based on the show's response, I could see this go away for a different land/portal altogether. It's enough land for a dark ride and mini and the size of SNW's Mario area.

The top corner is obviously the largest expansion opportunity that seems to be saved for LOTR.

In summary, you could see Epic gain approximately 7+ attractions & experiences (pending how they design each land).

I believe that top one by the pond is earmarked as hotel expansion.

 

[Collin]

The issue comes down to genre. Epic has one videogame land which is sorta a blend of genres but has minor fantasy elements. Httyd and Potter are fantasy. Dark Universe is Horror. The hub is sci-fi fantasy. So whether the expansion is Wicked or LOTR, they will have similarities to the current portals.

And to clarify Wicked is American-focused fantasy. The designers talked about this a lot actually from Chicago's White City as the inspiration for the Emerald City to the inclusion of different forms of transportation. So Having Wicked in Epic would help break up the European fantasy. However, like some of you have said there's a risk the land could be too similar to Paris. I think a partial solution to that would be to include another location like Munchkinland.

LOTR has the benefit of Rivendell being unique compared to Potter and Httyd. But like the Emerald City, some art nouveau elements would be pretty similar to Paris.

Ideally the expansion should be Sci-Fi but I don't see a Sci-Fi property they will be able to get their hands on that can fill nearly 20 acres like LOTR or Wicked. Both are very expansive worlds with multiple locations.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I believe that top one by the pond is earmarked as hotel expansion.

Expansion for Helios or new hotel expansion?

 

[Disneyhead]

Expansion for Helios or new hotel expansion?

I'm not @Alicia but I suspect her answer will be, "IDK, permits say "hotel expansion".

 

[Viator]

Ideally the expansion should be Sci-Fi but I don't see a Sci-Fi property they will be able to get their hands on that can fill nearly 20 acres like LOTR or Wicked. Both are very expansive worlds with multiple locations.

I know it was thrown about once--but a version of "Sci-Fi City" from Singapore could be an interesting option. Isn't like you wouldn't have pick of IP's that could work well for it.

Headline it with Star Trek + Metroid, and you could then fill in blanks with original concepts (or even a version of Battlestar Galactica that could work in tandem with the land at large). Isn't a perfect route, but it would be a route that could be viable.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I believe that top one by the pond is earmarked as hotel expansion.

Perfect spot for a Potter hotel

 

[moth]

There's no way the HTTYD expansion plot is that big, right???? That's definitely enough for another flat and a flying simulator ride. Easiest way to round out a land ever.


Anyways I second Godzilla in Universal (look at my pfp), but instead of it being apart of Tokyo in a hypothetical Studios expansion (which would be an amazing get, the Sanrio, Godzilla and probably Miku or something else (Sonic???) land would be a mega hit), I say we need a sci-fi franchise in EU and it should be The Monsterverse.

Now, using a American reinterpretation of a Japan icon seems crazy, especially such a recent one from a moderately popular franchise, but it gives Universal the ability to kill Skull Island in IOA by moving Kong to EU, gets them the ability to use Godzilla, who everyone loves and adores with all their hearts and I won't take no for an answer on, and also let's them use Mothra who everyone DEFINITELY loves and adores . But really, it's the most popular sci-fi IP in the current landscape they likely can license.

Godzilla and King Kong fighting is a novel concept and won't get old. Everyone loves giant monsters and I feel like while there's probably a worry of overlap with Dark Universe, the monsters there are more... personal?, the monsters at the Monsterverse camp won't look you in the eye, they're larger than life. I'm biased, I'm insane, but I think Godzilla and by extension, the Monsterverse should get a seat at the EU table.

 

[mccgavin]

Now, using a American reinterpretation of a Japan icon seems crazy, especially such a recent one from a moderately popular franchise, but it gives Universal the ability to kill Skull Island in IOA by moving Kong to EU, gets them the ability to use Godzilla, who everyone loves and adores with all their hearts and I won't take no for an answer on, and also let's them use Mothra who everyone DEFINITELY loves and adores . But really, it's the most popular sci-fi IP in the current landscape they likely can license.

Godzilla and King Kong fighting is a novel concept and won't get old. Everyone loves giant monsters and I feel like while there's probably a worry of overlap with Dark Universe, the monsters there are more... personal?, the monsters at the Monsterverse camp won't look you in the eye, they're larger than life. I'm biased, I'm insane, but I think Godzilla and by extension, the Monsterverse should get a seat at the EU table.

I do not think Universal would want to replace their version of King Kong with Warner Brother's "Kong". The former requires no licensing agreements on Universal's part, as they own that version outright.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Godzilla at universal would be insane. absolutely insane. I just can't imagine it happening. it would be so wild. would the ride just be a screen ride or just a roller coaster?
how do you even depict him in the land? just a giant head?