Universal is building British bonds
What may be coming to the the company’s first European park
Universal Epic Universe in Florida hasn’t even officially opened yet, but Universal Destinations & Experiences is already getting folks shaken up and stirred about its next project. The prolific company confirmed it will be building its first-ever European theme park and resort in Bedford, England, about 60 miles north of London. Its brief announcement contains virtually no details and explicitly states, “We recognise [sic: the release was issued in the UK] the tremendous excitement our theme parks and destinations bring; however, it is too early in the process to know the possibilities of featured attractions and experiences.” Universal did, however, include concept art showing an aerial view of the park. Tantalizing clues from that, along with some reporting from the BBC, has fueled a slew of speculation about what’s on the way to the park. Let’s break it down, keeping in mind that what follows is all unconfirmed conjecture.
In 1999, when Universal opened Islands of Adventure, its second gate at Universal Orlando, it helped usher in an era of theme park lands that are devoted to single intellectual properties. Marvel Super Hero Island and Seuss Landing focus on creative brands rather than a single IP, although they function as multiverse lands in which multiple characters and storylines coexist. Jurassic Park, however, transports guests and envelops them in the world and mythology depicted in the dino-centric movies and books. In 2010, the park introduced the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which takes single IP world-building and immersion to the next level. With four meticulously crafted, IP-driven lands (including another Potter-inspired one), the new Epic Universe follows the trend.
Although the UK park will probably be called “Universal Studios” (no official name has been released thus far), the company’s US-based studio parks have largely evolved from taking guests behind the scenes of moviemaking to placing them into lavishly staged real-world facsimiles of movie franchises. It is likely that the British park will follow suit. So what properties will get the nod?
What may be most striking about the new park, which is scheduled to open in 2031, is what it likely won’t include: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Harry and the gang are fixtures at Universal’s parks in Hollywood, Orlando, Japan, Beijing, and Singapore, but the Universal park where J.K. Rowling and her fictional Potterverse are actually based will reportedly not build another Hogwarts School because the nearby Warner Bros Studio Tour already pays homage to the films and books.
According to a BBC source, filling the fantasy void–castle and all–will be a Lord of the Rings land. Eagle-eyed fans scouring pixellated magnifications of Universal’s concept art have noted turreted buildings and other indications supporting the premise. If true, the UK park would score a major coup. The Tolkien series is a rare worldwide blockbuster franchise that has yet to be represented at a theme park. Fans, who are just as passionate about hobbits as others are about house-elves, would surely travel afar for the chance to visit Middle-earth.
If prognosticators and spies are correct, the veddy British James Bond would get his own gadget-filled land. The BBC says that a stunt show featuring the 007 sleuth is in the works. It would supposedly be similar to The Bourne Stuntacular, the (incredible) attraction at Universal Studios Florida. However, that show incorporates an enormous screen and is staged in an indoor theater, whereas the concept art for the UK park shows an outdoor amphitheater (see the top of the image above) in which a stunt show appears to be taking place. Some have speculated that a WaterWorld show, which has been wowing audiences at Universal’s parks in Hollywood, Japan, Singapore, and Beijing for years, could be headed to the outdoor arena.
Speaking of veddy British, the lovable Paddington Bear would anchor a land featuring rides and attractions for young children. That makes a great deal of sense to me. He is a cherished character who would have powerful emotional appeal. I could see kids (and wistful adults) queueing up to meet the adorable chap. I could also see Paddington Bear becoming the Mickey Mouse ambassador proxy for the UK park. A Minions (and possibly other Illumination Entertainment properties) land would likely also cater to younger visitors. The screwball yellow characters have become a Universal parks staple.
Another Universal staple, Jurassic Park (or the spinoff, Jurassic World), would almost surely find a new home in England. The concept art appears to show a land with a marquee attraction similar to Jurassic World Adventure at Universal Studios Beijing (which, based on reports and on-ride videos, seems to be one of the world’s great dark rides). Other features referenced in the art include a twin drop tower ride and a children’s interactive play area. A nearby coaster in the artwork could represent a clone of Jurassic World VelociCoaster, the wildly popular ride that wows guests at Islands of Adventure.
If we are to believe the BBC’s reporting and fans’ detective work poring over the illustration, a second major coaster will be themed to “Back to the Future.” That seems far-fetched. The last time Marty McFly went time traveling in a film was 1990. Universal closed both of its Back to the Future: The Ride attractions in 2007 to make way for The Simpsons Ride. But Hill Valley’s Courthouse Square, which is part of the Hollywood park’s backlot studio tour and was the site of a pivotal scene in the original BTTF, seems to be clearly identified in the concept art. If the rendering of the blue coaster is accurate, it looks like it could be an LSM launch coaster from Intamin in the style of Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg–complete with a massive spike. Lending credence to a BTTF revival at a theme park, the new Stardust Racers coaster at Epic Universe is embellished with a Flux Capacitor on the back of the trains.
Rounding out the park will be an entrance plaza that looks like an ode to the golden age of Hollywood, a 500-room hotel, and a retail, dining and entertainment complex á la CityWalk. Universal says that it expects the park to attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year of operation, which would make it the largest attraction in the UK.
What would you like to see represented in Universal’s UK park? Would you want to visit park with lands themed to Lord of the Rings, James Bond, and Paddington Bear?
I think you underestimate the cultural relevance of Back To The Future - while there may not be any new media, I think the films themselves, if not at least their iconic imagery, have become part of popular culture at large. Some have suggested that the Back To The Future parts of the Fan Fest nights at Hollywood are an early test to see how this sort of land would be received. But it looks like we’ll have to wait quite a few years to find out!