As I said, HP's characters and the gist of the story are well-known beyond HP fans as are Star Wars characters and main story-arc or most of the big Marvel ones. LotR on the other hand doesn't have this. Also, @jasone point is adding to my argument of the appeal to the general public being way lower compared to the other IPs named.
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Universal UK theme park in Bedford
- Thread starter Matt N
- Start date
Tommy Hawkins on X has posted some great map overlays to show how the park might possible sit on the site.
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I've been having a little ponder - here's a list of lands which either could happen or are rumoured to happen, and what rides could fit in each possible land. I've only been to the Hollywood and Japan Universal parks, so bear with me! I'm no expert.
Jurassic Park
A Jurassic Park River Adventure, those are absolute classics!
Something similar to that amazing-looking dark ride in Beijing.
A rollercoaster features on the concept art, it looks like a B&M. I suppose a wing coaster would fit but speaking for myself, I'm not feeling too warmly towards that model after suffering through Mandril Mayhem, and Rapterra looks very shaky from off-ride footage. Maybe a flying coaster like in Japan? I did that one, it was ace!
Paddington
Some sort of kid-friendly dark would work well here. Maybe a journey through London or a boat ride through Peru?
It's not all about coasters but you could fit a nice junior coaster here.
Back to the Future
In the concept art that looks like a Back to the Future Intamin launch coaster.
A dark ride of some sort would be cool!
A transport ride themed to the flying cars of the future maybe?
DreamWorks
I think an Arthur-style Mack Inverted Powered Coaster would be perfect for this area, if it indeed happens.
A few kid-friendly flat rides, maybe a more traditional family coaster as well?
Several shows featuring the characters.
Lord of the Rings
Ooh, there's a lot to think about here! Maybe a Splash Mountain-style water ride with dark ride sections?
Or a Mines of Moira ride, either a mine train or an RMC?
A flying theatre themed to the infamous eagles?
A dark ride taking you through the world, maybe one themed around Gollum exploring the mountains?
Maybe an Escape from Gringotts-like indoor rollercoaster that's mostly a dark ride?
Like I said, lots of possibilities to float here!
James Bond
OK, this is my favourite movie franchise so I would adore this to the high heavens!
A Forbidden Journey-style dark ride where you move through a James Bond story.
Alternatively, one a bit more like Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, but I think there's so much storytelling potential with a James Bond Dark Ride!
Or alternatively alternatively, a drop ride / lift-themed ride a la Tower of Terror and Battle at the Ministry?
A launched coaster themed to a car chase, maybe a Mack coaster like Stardust Racers?
A stunt show.
Minions
Oh do we have to?! Illumination are such a lazy- of course they have to, regardless of the quality of the films (or lack thereof) these movies are box office megahits.
They might replicate Minion Mayhem.
A shooting dark ride would be a really fun thing for the family.
A small family coaster if they want a coaster for this.
The Fast and the Furious
There's no hint of this in any rumours, but it could happen. This is one of Universal's biggest franchises, after all. Obviously, the critically panned Supercharged should not be included!
A stunt show would be a lovely fit here also.
A Radiator Springs / Test Track / Journey to the Centre of the Earth-like ride system would also be good.
Sorry to suggest a launched coaster once again but yes, a launched coaster would be the obvious choice here.
And... yeah, that's it. A bit of an unstructured ramble there! Anyway, would be interested to know what you guys think!
Jurassic Park
A Jurassic Park River Adventure, those are absolute classics!
Something similar to that amazing-looking dark ride in Beijing.
A rollercoaster features on the concept art, it looks like a B&M. I suppose a wing coaster would fit but speaking for myself, I'm not feeling too warmly towards that model after suffering through Mandril Mayhem, and Rapterra looks very shaky from off-ride footage. Maybe a flying coaster like in Japan? I did that one, it was ace!
Paddington
Some sort of kid-friendly dark would work well here. Maybe a journey through London or a boat ride through Peru?
It's not all about coasters but you could fit a nice junior coaster here.
Back to the Future
In the concept art that looks like a Back to the Future Intamin launch coaster.
A dark ride of some sort would be cool!
A transport ride themed to the flying cars of the future maybe?
DreamWorks
I think an Arthur-style Mack Inverted Powered Coaster would be perfect for this area, if it indeed happens.
A few kid-friendly flat rides, maybe a more traditional family coaster as well?
Several shows featuring the characters.
Lord of the Rings
Ooh, there's a lot to think about here! Maybe a Splash Mountain-style water ride with dark ride sections?
Or a Mines of Moira ride, either a mine train or an RMC?
A flying theatre themed to the infamous eagles?
A dark ride taking you through the world, maybe one themed around Gollum exploring the mountains?
Maybe an Escape from Gringotts-like indoor rollercoaster that's mostly a dark ride?
Like I said, lots of possibilities to float here!
James Bond
OK, this is my favourite movie franchise so I would adore this to the high heavens!
A Forbidden Journey-style dark ride where you move through a James Bond story.
Alternatively, one a bit more like Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, but I think there's so much storytelling potential with a James Bond Dark Ride!
Or alternatively alternatively, a drop ride / lift-themed ride a la Tower of Terror and Battle at the Ministry?
A launched coaster themed to a car chase, maybe a Mack coaster like Stardust Racers?
A stunt show.
Minions
Oh do we have to?! Illumination are such a lazy- of course they have to, regardless of the quality of the films (or lack thereof) these movies are box office megahits.
They might replicate Minion Mayhem.
A shooting dark ride would be a really fun thing for the family.
A small family coaster if they want a coaster for this.
The Fast and the Furious
There's no hint of this in any rumours, but it could happen. This is one of Universal's biggest franchises, after all. Obviously, the critically panned Supercharged should not be included!
A stunt show would be a lovely fit here also.
A Radiator Springs / Test Track / Journey to the Centre of the Earth-like ride system would also be good.
Sorry to suggest a launched coaster once again but yes, a launched coaster would be the obvious choice here.
And... yeah, that's it. A bit of an unstructured ramble there! Anyway, would be interested to know what you guys think!
I
think the green coaster could be something to do with Wicked. Maybe we could be seeing a defying gravity coaster?
basicbatch
Roller Poster
And Harry Potter pretty much is Star Wars:
"J.K. Rowling did not write a masterpiece—she wrote Star Wars with sucky lightsabers. Have you ever looked at them side by side? What do we have here? A young, male, orphaned protagonist who, for his own safety, has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle until a mysterious bearded stranger—who was actually the one to deliver him to his aunt and uncle as a baby—comes into his life and starts to teach him about an ancient kind of magic. Granted, he’s going to learn a lot more about this magic from an older, wiser wizard who’s high most of the time. Regardless, his uncle is totally against this magic stuff and won’t even tell him what really happened to his parents. But against his uncle’s wishes, he leaves home for the very first time, makes some new friends, and meets a pretty, impetuous young girl. Though there will be an odd sexual tension between the two of them throughout, he will only ever love her like a sister—while she struggles with the feelings she has for his best friend, the scruffy comic relief."
Josh94
Roller Poster
Anyone else a bit surprised at the Back to the Future rumours? Don't get me wrong I think it would be cool but it just seems a bit unlikely that Universal would base one of their flagship attractions for this park on an old IP that, as far as I'm aware, has no plans for any future movies.
I kind of agree, and I think a lot of commentators have been massively overplaying its relevance and the British people's affection for it. Yes, there's a musical which has done alright, and some people of a particular age (my dad, who is 65, loves it) might have some nostalgia towards it. I (38) kind of do too but only towards the ride, having holidayed in Orlando all my life.
I also think people have been overstating Wicked's popularity and staying power on the basis of there being a long-running musical in London. Shows in London are very often frequented by a largely tourist customer base. London, and the UK, does not have any particular affinity or fondness for Wicked in my opinion.
Munchy Road Hippopotamus
Mega Poster
Surely it indicates that Universal are planning on a 4th movie in the next 5 years?
The Wicked IP would be based on the recent films, and I do think that adding a Wicked theme to the park would be successful. Re-creating Emerald City or even the yellow brick road would be quite amazing!
BTTF just makes sense
- It'll be the American themed area of the park, I think we'll likely get our equivalent of Mel's Diner there, plus the classic music makes it a great location for the stage show. Having an American themed area in the UK will work a lot better than having an American themed area in *checks notes* America.
- It's one of their most popular IPs that no longer has any park presence outside of a delorean you are not supposed to touch, but screw you universal parks and experiences that rope won't stop me touching it. Harry Potter, LOTR etc are great and all, but nothing is better value for money than promoting your own IP.
- We gotta go back and buy more merch Marty! here in the UK BTTF is still a big merch seller, t-shirts, smaller cars your permitted to touch :mindblown:, novelty replicas, in almost every TV/Movie/Gadget shop you'll find something BTTF related, people who haven't even seen the film seem to buy the merch, like it's some sort of embodiment of the cool 80's era.
- A coaster that looks like a delorean, having an entrance station set in the 80's and the exit station set in 2015, a launch to 88mph, Doc Brown telling you not to panic when it starts going backwards, you really don't want to go on that?
I understand what you are saying but then Universal Japan built a Jaws attraction based on a film from the 1970s.
Some franchises are more evergreen that others and it's hard to measure them. I'd presume if they are using BTTF they have some data to validate its ongoing popularity.
On top of that, if it's based around an absolutely killer rollercoaster then i think people will happily accept any IP. Not everything needs to appeal to the younger demographics, particularly when they will already be well catered for.
I do think perhaps you underestimate the enduring popularity of the series though. As well as the musical there have been the successful secret cinema events, various video game iterations and of course the Delorean remains iconic to the point that a reboot is supposedly on the way. I think it's a series that people feel particularly passionate about.
Ollie
CF Legend
Is there much else we're going off besides the building in the concept art that looks like the one from the film?
When I saw that artwork for the first time (before people started digging deeper into it), I thought it would be a Fast and Furious coaster.
Ollie
CF Legend
I hope not too. But seemed like the safest bet, and it's a well-known franchise that's still current.
In response to those quoting my posts, I don't disagree with anything you've said either, particularly on BTTF. My main point was simply "it's not some kind of cultural phenomenon in the UK (moreso than elsewhere ) in 2025 as some are suggesting". I don't know that it lingers in the back of younger people's minds as much as Jaws, given that example - and I don't think anyone under 30 who I work with would even know what BTTF is other than perhaps having heard of the musical only; having seen the musical last summer and telling colleagues, I had to explain what it was to a number of them (up to about age 35/40).
Having said all that, it's still a "good enough" IP that when backed with the right product, will do well. I simply don't think it's as strong and well-known or loved across age groups as, say, Jurassic Park/World, which is much stronger across a range of ages.
Then again, Universal has sort of always traded on these sorts of IPs I guess, thinking about Kong, etc. None of the rumoured IPs feel exciting to me right now, but once we get details I'm sure that'll quickly change (I have even seen HTTYD but Isle of Berk at Epic looks incredible!).
Having said all that, it's still a "good enough" IP that when backed with the right product, will do well. I simply don't think it's as strong and well-known or loved across age groups as, say, Jurassic Park/World, which is much stronger across a range of ages.
Then again, Universal has sort of always traded on these sorts of IPs I guess, thinking about Kong, etc. None of the rumoured IPs feel exciting to me right now, but once we get details I'm sure that'll quickly change (I have even seen HTTYD but Isle of Berk at Epic looks incredible!).
Nicky Borrill
Strata Poster
Yes, the whole trade mark being filed thing....
Guess this confirms this then...
(Taken from USGB Discussion on Facebook.)
Worth noting, that the section 41, whilst being the correct section for amusement rides, does read differently on the entry now...
Sack that... Wrong one... Here... https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-t...QzNKD2cN7yWsNww7XA_aem_mJDxUeHwSYI7TbW2LH0hnw
(Taken from USGB Discussion on Facebook.)
Sack that... Wrong one... Here... https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-t...QzNKD2cN7yWsNww7XA_aem_mJDxUeHwSYI7TbW2LH0hnw
It seems to be the only one filed so far, so would, I assume, be for one of the bigger rides.
Josh94
Roller Poster
All fair comments, I think I'm just struggling to understand how a company who have taken the time to remove all of their bttf attractions from their various parks are now planning to build a new one without any noticeable plans to release any new movies. But the trade mark has been registered so clearly there's some movement there somewhere.
I agree with you on the point about Wicked however given the recent(ish) comments from Mark Woodbury I'd say it's quite likely that we'll be seeing something coming to the Universal parks with that IP attached to it. Whether that's in the UK or elsewhere remains to be seen.
Universal Theme Parks to Feature Enchanting 'Wicked' Movie Attractions
Univeral's theme park chief Mark Woodbury has revealed that the highly successful Wicked movie will serve as the inspiration for secret 'significant attractions' that may come to the company's theme parks in the future.
www.broadwayworld.com
All fair comments, I think I'm just struggling to understand how a company who have taken the time to remove all of their bttf attractions from their various parks are now planning to build a new one without any noticeable plans to release any new movies. But the trade mark has been registered so clearly there's some movement there somewhere.
I agree with you on the point about Wicked however given the recent(ish) comments from Mark Woodbury I'd say it's quite likely that we'll be seeing something coming to the Universal parks with that IP attached to it. Whether that's in the UK or elsewhere remains to be seen.
Universal Theme Parks to Feature Enchanting 'Wicked' Movie Attractions
Univeral's theme park chief Mark Woodbury has revealed that the highly successful Wicked movie will serve as the inspiration for secret 'significant attractions' that may come to the company's theme parks in the future.
It's funny as i'm coincidentally reading the history of Universal Studios Orlando at the moment and the BTTF ride single handedly turned their fortunes around (and obviously the ride system is still in use). But obviously that was 35 years ago.
Tbh i think it's as simple as this: If Beijing and Osaka have built a themed attraction based on a 30 year old film that was notoriously one of the biggest flops in history that holds little public affection, then the UK can certainly have one based on a trilogy that was incredibly successful and remains beloved. Waterworld works because it's an excellent show, BTTF will work because it will be an excellent rollercoaster.
Disco Lumberjack
Mega Poster
I think more goes into the process of selecting an IP than how much money it has made recently. Take TRON at Magic Kingdom, it's not a particularly popular franchise, the last film didn't even clear $500m at the box office, but it had a strong aesthetic and a cool soundtrack. There's a whole land for How to Train Your Dragon at Epic Universe and that franchise doesn't get close to something like Lord of the Rings. Dark Universe at Epic Universe is using classic horror IPs that haven't made much money recently outside maybe being a draw at HHN.
When you're building a quality IP based attraction I think you're probably looking for an IP that is popular, has an element of nostalgia and could be tied in to a cool ride concept. The nostalgia aspect is actually kind of key, it indicates that the IP is going to age well within the park. Under those criteria I think Back to the Future makes perfect sense for a Universal park.
When you're building a quality IP based attraction I think you're probably looking for an IP that is popular, has an element of nostalgia and could be tied in to a cool ride concept. The nostalgia aspect is actually kind of key, it indicates that the IP is going to age well within the park. Under those criteria I think Back to the Future makes perfect sense for a Universal park.