Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Clive]

Perhaps, as you said, you drew the building too tall. But conversely, what I don't understand is, when land is so scarce, why do they build such short buildings? Why not put a four or five story building there with a high-ceiling event space on the ground floor and four or five stories of break rooms, offices, whatever above? Put all the things they need there so other land doesn't need to be dedicated to backstage functions.

I would think such a taller building could still avoid sightline issues from within SNW, and if the facade facing Celestial Park was cool, the building could contribute to, rather than detract from, the theme and skyline.

Without knowing the details about what the building will consist of (I know as much as what's been discussed here), my guess is that the budget/drive isn't currently there to theme a taller building, even if that choice has the potential to pay enormous dividends down the line. See Universal Hollywood's Walking Dead building, which now functions as a versatile flex space for seasonal attractions while also providing the park with much-needed back-of-house space for entertainment and makeup/hair/costuming prep.

In an ideal world, they'd build a taller structure (similar to what @tommyhawkins has illustrated) with back of house space upstairs and a theater/flex space on the first floor. The building would need a suitable Celestial Park facade to avoid breaking the immersion right as you enter the park and head toward Nintendo or Dark Universe.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Perhaps, as you said, you drew the building too tall. But conversely, what I don't understand is, when land is so scarce, why do they build such short buildings? Why not put a four or five story building there with a high-ceiling event space on the ground floor and four or five stories of break rooms, offices, whatever above? Put all the things they need there so other land doesn't need to be dedicated to backstage functions.

I would think such a taller building could still avoid sightline issues from within SNW, and if the facade facing Celestial Park was cool, the building could contribute to, rather than detract from, the theme and skyline.

Trying to respond to everyone but my phone won't let me.


It may too tall... but equally the MK bulding is a three storey building so it's about right for 2, maybe a couple feet shorter

I'd like nothing more than a flex space for this. I wrote out a whole paragraph for my article. But when I finished it was nagging at me so I ditched it. Although it's not impossible it can be used the same way sound stages are, I think the only way guests are going to see it is like a grad bash or Orlando informer events or private hire conventions. Europa has a similar building right next to the entrance it calls a Confertainment Centre:


That's marginally bigger, we were warned they want to tap into the conference market. I know it's disappointing but the park has like another 36 acres of expansion pads baked into the design. 1.25acres is nothing really in comparison

 

[DrStarlander]

The building would need a suitable Celestial Park facade to avoid breaking the immersion right as you enter the park and head toward Nintendo or Dark Universe.

A brick factory building in which the large factory windows are actually video screens would be cool. The building, overall, would fit into Celestial Park material-wise (and slightly steampunk-wise), and it would be generic enough to host any event, from Christmas to Halloween to a corporate party. The windows being video screens would allow thematic displays (or enticement) related to what's going on inside, whether a snow storm at Christmas or brooding forest and moonlight sky at Halloween, confetti at New Year's, fireworks, etc.

 

[AustinT]

Screamscape is reporting that Creative has been given the directive to give Wicked the Harry Potter treatment, i.e. freedom to create whatever, wherever.

Wicked FG's BO is not looking great compared to the first at all. Much less international interest, much higher domestic drops, worse word of mouth. This one's worldwide total could finish about a couple hundred million lower than the first film. They've reported the merch and branding push for this movie was insane and setting records, but is the market speaking and saying they've had enough Wicked for now? I'd think a third film seems very risky and less likely now. I wonder how/if this affects how they plan to bring it into the parks.

 

[Jake S]

Wicked FG's BO is not looking great compared to the first at all. Much less international interest, much higher domestic drops, worse word of mouth. This one's worldwide total could finish about a couple hundred million lower than the first film. They've reported the merch and branding push for this movie was insane and setting records, but is the market speaking and saying they've had enough Wicked for now? I'd think a third film seems very risky and less likely now. I wonder how/if this affects how they plan to bring it into the parks.

I just think it's too early for this kind of talk. Let's see how it does over the next month. The international split is also very similar to the first film and I'm not sure how much international box office dictates what gets built domestically anyway.

 

[AustinT]

Sure, we won't know the final box office total until another 2 months or so, but that's just how the box office works. The bulk of the returns have already come in and it'll just taper off over the next few weeks. The trends/day to day drops are not looking pretty. I do think this probably solidified this IP not going into any international parks like some were speculating for UGB. I would love to be a fly on the wall and see how an IP's returns and the numbers dictate how much budget or free reign creative gets to design stuff.

 

[rageofthegods]

Wicked FG's BO is not looking great compared to the first at all. Much less international interest, much higher domestic drops, worse word of mouth. This one's worldwide total could finish about a couple hundred million lower than the first film. They've reported the merch and branding push for this movie was insane and setting records, but is the market speaking and saying they've had enough Wicked for now? I'd think a third film seems very risky and less likely now. I wonder how/if this affects how they plan to bring it into the parks.

The first Wicked already made more than any How To Train Your Dragon movie. I fail to see the point of continuing to question whether there's sufficient interest in bringing this to the parks. That doesn't mean that they will, but Wicked is already demonstrably more popular than several IPs that have gotten full-on lands.

This is a park with a Fantastic Beasts land for God's sake.

 

[Jake S]

Sure, we won't know the final box office total until another 2 months or so, but that's just how the box office works.

Yes, but there's a pretty big holiday coming up that tends to coincide with a lot of movie theater visitation. That's why I think it's too early to start going on about the legs of a movie.

This is a park with a Fantastic Beasts land for God's sake.

I mean, technically you're right.

 

[Clive]

While For Good is demonstrably not showing the legs of its predecessor, it's still already made a tremendous amount of money, and I have to imagine the Universal brass was aware of this potential outcome given the second act's known weaknesses. Both films are going to become huge library titles that will generate sizable returns for decades, just like the (ongoing) Broadway show and tours.

I know there is some significant resistance to Wicked attractions in the parks here, but, uh, I'd probably make peace with it coming in some substantial form. It's one of the few film IPs Universal controls that's ready-made for a theme park but hasn't yet been adapted, as the C-suite continuously teases in earnings calls. It's also a merchandising juggernaut, which, as we know, can be a major motivator.

 

[Frogki]

The second act of Wicked has generally been considered the weaker half of the show for fans, and the film didn't change any of it significantly enough to change that. I think the franchise as a whole is still a pretty strong concept for a land, between the history of Oz in general and the design treatment the Emerald City got in both films alone.

I have to reiterate that I think setting the land firmly after the first film would be a mistake, if for no other reason than the shows main showstopping climax is probably what most guests will want to experience.

For Good is admittedly a bit of a downer. It's also where the story gets into some considerably convoluted tie ins to the original franchise, which makes it tricky because obviously there is something to be said to tapping into that. The elevated pink Glinda train screamed people mover at me for sure.

I still lean towards the Potter method of no specific timeline for the overall land, but specific best moments should play out for guests to experience.

EDIT:
Clive, great minds think alike

 

[Jerroddragon]

Its a good thing Box Office isn't the only thing we look at when making lands or attractions

This park has the monsters, which...come on they aren't the biggest IP but it worked and glad they did it so well, that I want it over here at USH

So Wicked will work and I assume become even bigger over time.

Also a reminder we have attractions like the Mummy and Men and Black, they are big but to pretend they were like the king of box office....sometimes you just make attractions based on good ideas with strong IPs

 

[Brian G.]

Its a good thing Box Office isn't the only thing we look at when making lands or attractions

Also a reminder we have attractions like the Mummy and Men and Black, they are big but to pretend they were like the king of box office....sometimes you just make attractions based on good ideas with strong IPs

*Looks at Cars Land*

 

[Blue]

The first Wicked already made more than any How To Train Your Dragon movie. I fail to see the point of continuing to question whether there's sufficient interest in bringing this to the parks. That doesn't mean that they will, but Wicked is already demonstrably more popular than several IPs that have gotten full-on lands.

This is a park with a Fantastic Beasts land for God's sake.

Not to mention, Universal really doesn't have a lot of other big in-house IPs to choose from.

Combined with the Wizard of Oz element, Wicked is definitely deserving of a land.

 

[rageofthegods]

*Looks at Cars Land*

Exactly!

Like guys, if you wanna talk box office, there is currently a Tron coaster in two parks.

 

[Jerroddragon]

*Looks at Cars Land*

Thats the land when I saw announced was so disappointed to see all the space and money going into.....its for me by far the best land in the park

The creative team took a good film and made a fantastic land and we have seen it over the years, Splash mountain is another example the movie no one really knew made one of Disney most Iconic attractions

I mean, people can not like Wicked but look at the costumes and designs of the towns and Oz....its perfect for a theme park as shows, character meet and greets, food and attractions

 

[AustinT]

Yes, but there's a pretty big holiday coming up that tends to coincide with a lot of movie theater visitation. That's why I think it's too early to start going on about the legs of a movie.

It's impossible for this one to even come close to the first movie's totals after the second weekend drop was more than 2x as bad as the first movie's, and the worse reception this one has. The drops only get exponentially worse week after week.

*Looks at Cars Land*

Merch. Cars is the #1 Pixar brand in terms of merch. IIRC Mattel was selling around $1Billion in Cars toys each year for a while. I do think merch/branding revenue for Wicked may be a large driver of the push to get it into the parks.

Its a good thing Box Office isn't the only thing we look at when making lands or attractions

So Wicked will work and I assume become even bigger over time.

Also a reminder we have attractions like the Mummy and Men and Black, they are big but to pretend they were like the king of box office....sometimes you just make attractions based on good ideas with strong IPs

Of course it's not just box office returns. It's a ton of different factors. My initial statements were regarding how Universal may or may not use the box office and future franchise potential (since future films look more risky now) to dictate how much they throw into this IP when making park attractions. Yes, MIB, Mummy, Waterworld, and other things like that aren't lighting the box office of fire or moving a ton of merch, but those are also just singular attractions. Not massive lands with multiple attractions, dining, retail, etc like we're assuming Wicked will be.

I do think whoever brought up Monsters/Darkmoor, has probably the most fair comp. Not a huge box office draw, but it would be a striking land and deliver something for a specific demographic (spooky land more aimed towards teens and up) that is not found in other Universal parks. Similar to how Wicked caters to a demo that doesn't really have any lands in any other Universal parks that feel specifically for them.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Ok let me be real here, @AustinT is there an actual issue here or are you just still on your "I want Shrek" thing?

 

[Brian G.]

Merch. Cars is the #1 Pixar brand in terms of merch. IIRC Mattel was selling around $1Billion in Cars toys each year for a while. I do think merch/branding revenue for Wicked may be a large driver of the push to get it into the parks.

I'm aware, which is why I threw out the Cars comparison. A softer than most BO but big merch monster.