Wicked: The Experience coming to UOR

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Wizard of Oz yes, but people aren’t still talking about The Wiz these days

The Wiz just had a successful run on Broadway and will continue its national tour this year. Wicked is still making millions on Broadway. It might not be your favorite IP but it’s still incredibly relevant.

 

[belloq87]

A connection to THE WIZARD OF OZ is no guarantee of longevity (I love RETURN TO OZ, but it's not a well-remembered film today, for example).

WICKED seems like it's built enough of its own fanbase over the last two decades that it's almost an independent property at this point.

 

[GAcoaster]

Wizard of Oz yes, but people aren’t still talking about The Wiz these days

The Wiz is a different thing altogether.

Wicked has made billions of dollars as a stage musical, is poised to make billions worldwide as a film, and the film has a sequel coming out in one year. This already promises to be huge for them, so the store is likely to remain for at least 18-24 months. I even saw in the UOP group on Facebook that someone started an online petition asking Universal to make Wicked an expansion for Epic Universe, and honestly if the movie does as well as it's tracking right now I have to believe UC will be tasked with fast tracking Wicked for the parks. Wicked is also something that's accessible for people who ONLY know the 1939 Wizard of Oz film.

 

[Collin]

I see it today but so far not only is it referencing the 1939 film but also there's little winks and nods to other Oz movies and books. Similar to Dark Universe, Wicked is reimagining Oz but also still playing with what's familiar. I think it's a no-brainer that they bring it to the parks. In-house IP with deep connections in culture going back to 1900. Oz is timeless, and only more children will be introduced to the world through Wicked.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Wicked an expansion for Epic Universe, and honestly if the movie does as well as it's tracking right now I have to believe UC will be tasked with fast tracking Wicked for the parks

Fast tracked you say? Could this mean...

 

[GAcoaster]

With the HUGE reception for the premier of the movie in London, it looks like it would play well in a UK based park...

 

[v0latilebear]

I’m glad Universal is taking a swing with new IP before the movie even releases. But there have been many films recently that everyone swore were going to be blockbusters and did terrible. My fear is if Wicked turns out to not be good that the park is stuck with it.

 

[Disneyhead]

With the HUGE reception for the premier of the movie in London, it looks like it would play well in a UK based park...

Well, they can't do Potter, and they really like selling interactive wands.

 

[v0latilebear]

Well, they can't do Potter, and they really like selling interactive wands.

Not to derail but I thought it wasn’t that they couldn’t have potter, they just weren’t going to clone what already existed in the other parks

 

[GAcoaster]

Well, they can't do Potter, and they really like selling interactive wands.

And they OWN it, and the author would hopefully remain unproblematic. Gregory McGuire isn’t the celebrity that JKR is, and most likely wouldn’t be stupid enough to disrupt the flow of money.

 

[rageofthegods]

I’m glad Universal is taking a swing with new IP before the movie even releases. But there have been many films recently that everyone swore were going to be blockbusters and did terrible. My fear is if Wicked turns out to not be good that the park is stuck with it.

I think it's worth remembering that this isn't a new IP - around the world, it's one of the highest grossing musicals ever.

We'll see in less than a week if it'll be a big enough hit to justify a land, but my hunch is that it will, and by a comfortable margin.

And I've been bringing this up a lot: One of the most beloved attractions at Universal was based on Waterworld, an emphatically ungood movie. Sometimes, an attraction is just good, regardless of the IP.