Epic Universe has a lot at stake
Dark Universe land to focus on legendary monsters
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The Universal theme parks trace their roots to the tram tours the studio began offering 60 years ago of its Hollywood backlots and soundstages. But the practice of inviting the public onto its lot dates back much farther. The oldest existing U.S. film studio welcomed guests to watch films being shot in the early 1900s. In those formative years, Universal Pictures began developing its reputation as the go-to studio for monster movies. It introduced Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Wolf Man, and a host of other iconic characters. If Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Tinker Bell, and their cuddly colleagues are the legacy, heart, and soul of archrival Disney, the mighty monsters fill that role at Universal. And they want to drive a stake through your heart and steal your soul.
Universal frequently features its monsters at Halloween Horror Nights, and they have surfaced at the theme parks in various other incarnations. Now, they will have their own land: Dark Universe. The company revealed some details about the land, which is set to open next year as part of Universal’s Epic Universe, the massive new theme park that is rapidly taking shape at Universal Orlando’s new south campus. (Sorry for all of the “universe” variations, but blame it on, er, Universal). Dark Universe will include what appears to be yet another genre-busting, bar-raising, mind-blowing attraction from Universal Creative, the gurus who have made a habit out of blowing minds.
The E-Ticket ride, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will take guests into Frankenstein Manor, the foreboding, Gothic edifice that will be the land’s centerpiece. It seems that Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is a chip off the old block and is conducting wacky experiments like her great-great-grandfather. She has captured The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and other monsters as her unwitting subjects. The wily Dracula, apparently, is having none of it and wants to foil her plans.
Long before Universal revealed anything about Monsters Unchained (and really, the recent announcement doesn’t divulge a heckuva lot), I was hearing rumblings that it would freak park fans out, both with its its edgy storyline and its next-level attraction design. Without addressing specifics, Universal Creative folks danced around the ride’s groundbreaking nature as part of the announcement.
“We kind of tow that line of being family-friendly, but we can also be PG-13,” says Frances Franchesci, production designer. Universal has long pushed the boundaries established by the more squeaky clean Disney. It sounds like Monsters Unchained will push even harder, with the company promising it will be “Universal Orlando’s most terrifying attraction yet.” The Disneyverse occasionally goes kablooey speculating about a park devoted to Disney villains. I don’t know whether it would actually happen–although I’d love to see it, but suspect it will never come to pass. Leave it to Universal, however, to fully embrace its dark side.
“You’re going to see things that defy what you know of as a theme park attraction,” teases Patrick Braillard, senior show writer. It remains to be seen what Universal is doing with the ride system, set design, show controls, effects, and other elements of Monsters Unchained. But the designers do let on that the animatronic figures will be the most advanced ever devised.
“We used every technology I could possibly think of,” adds Gregory Hall, assistant director of creative design. “And then we realized we needed to [develop] new technology.” Consider me mighty intrigued.
Dark Universe’s other attraction, Curse of the Werewolf, will be a launched, spinning coaster from Mack Rides. It will have a top speed of 37 mph and won’t include any inversions, so it won’t be as intense as the (wonderful) Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City. Because this is Universal, however, the resort contends that it will be “incredibly thrilling” even if it’ll simultaneously be “family friendly.” The ride will be themed to The Wolf Man, and passengers will discover that they must hightail it into the forest to escape the monster and his curse lest they also become werewolves.
Visitors will be able to participate in the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience (for an additional fee I’m all but certain.) Those who get decked out will be especially photogenic when they encounter “real” monsters such as the Bride of Frankenstein and Ygor who will be stationed at meet-and-greet locations as well as roaming the land. Somehow (and it’ll be fascinating to see how Universal pulls this off), The Invisible Man will be on hand to sing songs and tell tales.
When guests pass through the Dark Universe portal, they will be entering Darkmoor, a village in which all of the Universal monsters coexist in a kind of multiverse that spans nearly 100 years. In renderings, the land, with its ominous, period architecture, gives off creepy vibes with vague Wizarding World of Harry Potter overtones. Universal says that Dark Universe will be crackling with sinister electrical energy that will converge on the clock tower looming over the village (and presumably inside the manor where Dr. Frankenstein will no doubt be flipping the switch and releasing voluminous volts).
At Das Stakehaus, which will be run by Dracula and his fellow vampire restaurateurs, patrons “will have steaks on stakes,” quips Jen Wilson, assistant director of projects for Universal Creative. I’m guessing she is referring to the kebabs that will be on the menu. The land’s other eatery, The Burning Blade Tavern, will offer burgers, bratwurst, and other dishes. But more significantly, the windmill that adorns the tavern will periodically burst into flames, taking its cue from a pivotal scene in Universal’s 1931 classic, “Frankenstein.” I can already see the hordes of guests poised outside the restaurant with their smartphones at the ready to capture what should be a wild effect, especially at night.
Of the five lands that will comprise Epic Universe when it opens next year, I’ve long maintained that Dark Universe is the one that most captivates me. Now that details have been spilled, I’m only more enthralled. Universal seems to fully appreciate the significance of its monsters and have lavished the budget and (considerable) creative capital on them that they deserve.
The resort has yet to reveal what will be in store at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Ministry of Magic (and rumors indicate that its featured attraction may be just as pioneering as Monsters Unchained) as well as the in-park Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which looks positively stunning. I’ll report about them as info becomes available. You can read about the park’s other lands, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and Celestial Park, as well as the two other new hotels on the way, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, in my earlier coverage.
Now that Universal has shared some details about Dark Universe, what Epic Universe land most intrigues you? Are you excited to see what Universal will be creating to honor its movie monsters heritage?
Just read that Danny Elfman is doing the music for Dark Universe! Perfect choice, I'm a big fan.
This is, of course, the land that I've been looking forward to the most. I was a little disappointed we didn't get more detail beyond what we already knew, but it's still good to get the official word. I think the burning windmill is a fantastic touch and I can't wait to see it in person.
Definitely hoping the Monsters Unchained attraction lives up to the incredible hype. I'm torn between wanting to know everything about it and wanting to know nothing about it until I actually ride. Universal is definitely being coy with that one, so I'm really hoping they've got some magic up their sleeve.
Even without any big rides, however, this land would be a dream come true for me. I've always had a deep love for the Universal monster films. I own every Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, and Invisible Man film from that era on Blu-ray, and have watched them all repeatedly. The mere act of walking around in an immersive environment based on these characters would be more than enough to make me happy. To throw a coaster and a groundbreaking E-ticket ride on top of that is like dumping a bucket of cherries on top of my sundae.
Usually movies give way to the theme park. I wonder - if this land is well-received - if the reverse might be true and the theme park gives way to an appetite for more films based on Universal monsters. As you've already pointed out, the Universal "monster-verse" movie concept flopped spectacularly. Could this indeed be the way to get that back on track? After all, The Invisible Man film by Leigh Whannell did very well, and he's got a new Wolf Man movie coming next year. I'm crossing my fingers.