Hmmm...
https://youtu.be/DAObQ7oAy7k
Real possibility - or just "the first to go"?
Any thoughts about this?
Suits are involved. it will likely get scrapped before it hits the ground.
I would love it if it actually happens. That said, the pessimist in me thinks the Classic Monsters section will end up being replaced with something else. Fingers crossed it actually pans out. At the very least, it would be nice to see some sort of Monsters ride or attraction at Universal. The dark ride through Dracula's Castle, mentioned in that video, would be great. If they ever replace Revenge of the Mummy, perhaps that would be a good idea.
Universal announced that their new Orlando park will be called "Epic Universe", and released some concept art. While they didn't say what properties would be involved, some are speculating that art shows a Universal Monsters part of the park. While I'm still only cautiously optimistic that the new park will have a section for the monsters, I have to admit that a section of the concept art does show something resembling a European village. You can see something that looks like a castle and maybe even a windmill. Here's an article on it: https://attractionsmagazine.com/universals-epic-universe-concept-art/
Full park:
(https://attractionsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Universals-Epic-Universe-Concept-Art.jpg)
Possible Universal Monsters section:
(https://attractionsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Epic-Universe-Monsters-937x500.png)
(https://attractionsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Epic-Universe-Draculas-Castle-798x500.png)
Quote from: TheMadScientist on August 01, 2019, 08:04:11 PM
I have to admit that a section of the concept art does show something resembling a European village. You can see something that looks like a castle and maybe even a windmill.
That would be cool! I'd like to see Frankenstein's lab, rather than the windmill.
Quote from: Anton Phibes on June 07, 2019, 12:19:03 PM
Suits are involved. it will likely get scrapped before it hits the ground.
Sue-ers belong in the sewers.
Some information on a possible ride for the Universal Monsters portion of the new 'Epic Universe' park: https://orlandoparkstop.com/news/theme-park-news/universal-monsters-ride-vehicle-possibly-revealed-in-patent-for-epic-universe/
I really, REALLY hope this park gets made. After stopping due to Covid, it looks like construction is back on and Epic Universe could open 2025.
I haven't been able to find much about these elsewhere, but I also found these two pieces of purported concept art on Twitter:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FF_tMpEXIAM7Ahu?format=jpg&name=large)(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FF_tMpBXIAARmln?format=jpg&name=large)
Potential details on the Universal Monsters Land for the Epic Universe park:
https://screamscape.com/html/epic_universe.htm#Monsters
Excited that it looks like this is definitely going to happen, but some of the details on the theming feel a bit over done to me (the whole modern day village tourist trap thing). I'd rather they just theme it around a classic European village, and know visitors are capable of suspending their disbelief when it comes to the necessary modern technology you'd obviously have in the park. So if this is the general theme behind the park, hopefully it's kept to a relative minimum and doesn't make itself too obvious.
Would be interesting
New video on Youtube about the Universal Monsters section of Universal's new "Epic Universe" park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9i8VjjY2g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9i8VjjY2g)
Looks pretty interesting, especially the indoor ride featuring different monsters.
Quote from: TheMadScientist on December 26, 2022, 04:03:03 PM
New video on YouTube about the Universal Monsters section of Universal's new "Epic Universe" park:
Cool! Can't wait for re
al pictures!
Rumor has it that the name of the Epic Universe Monsters land will be called.........................................DARK UNIVERSE.
Quote from: delfloria on March 22, 2023, 11:18:11 PM
Rumor has it that the name of the Epic Universe Monsters land will be called.........................................DARK UNIVERSE.
Sounds like a winner! ;D
I live in Orlando and am closely watching the progress of Universall's new Epic Universe theme park. Terrific information is regularly posted by orlandoparkstop.com run by a woman named Alicia Stella. Additionally, someone called bioreconstruct often posts aerial images of the construction on Twitter. I thought I would give everyone an update on some of the information that has been revealed through photos and Universal patents and trademark filings.
As mentioned already, the land will be called Dark Universe.
The setting will be the fictional European Village of Darkmoor.
The classic monsters once terrorized the village and the inhabitants live in fear that they will return. Weapons like axes and crossbows are at the ready throughout the streets, shops, and restaurants.
As with the other lands at this park, visitors will pass through a large, highly themed portal to enter the land.
The village will have one large gift shop which appears to be called Oddities and Monstrosities.
The large restaurant in the land looks to be hilariously titled Da Stakehaus and can hold over 300 people.
"Fog Rooms" are being constructed at the end of the main street to create a layer of fog, day and night, throughout the land.
The main dark ride attraction will be in a towering manor modeled after the former Chateau Miranda in Belgium.
This attraction will be called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and will contain many classic monsters.
The ride will be a KUKA arm attraction like Island of Adventure's Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, only without the large projector screens and featuring more animatronics.
The queue for the ride will take you through the Grand Staircase, the Great Room, the Study, the Library, the Dining Room, and the Corridor.
You will exit through a gift shop called the Manor Storehouse.
The secondary attraction for Dark Universe is a smaller coaster named The Curse of the Werewolf themed after The Wolf Man.
The exterior queue for this attraction will take you through a Romani village with wagons and tents and featuring Maleva the fortune teller.
A second, much smaller restaurant/bar will be in the back of the land but could be one of its most exciting aspects. Entitled The Burning Blade Tavern, this will be housed in a recreation of the windmill from Frankenstein and is being designed to feature fire effects.
In the back of the land is a plot set aside for future expansion. This has long been rumored to be for a Creature from the Black Lagoon boat ride.
Man, 2025 cannot come quickly enough because I want to live in this place.
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/P902-SitePlan-Labels-Universal-Classic-Monsters6-scaled.jpg)
Original Chateau Miranda:
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Castle_Miranda_front_side-scaled.jpg)
Construction on the Manor Dark Ride - Monsters Unchained:
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F1uOn3gXsAIPxKN-MONSTERS-RIDE-FACADE.jpeg)
Construction on the Curse of the Werewolf Coaster:
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F1uH5l3WIAY2g6c-MONSTERS-COASTER-scaled.jpeg)
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F1uC0SeXoAAGVHM-MONSTERS-COASTER-BARN-scaled.jpeg)
Construction on the Windmill - The Burning Blade Tavern
(https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F1uEMp8WAAAItz3-MONSTERS-WINDMILL-scaled.jpeg)
Quote from: brianfromtheblacklagoon on July 25, 2023, 09:23:16 PM
Man, 2025 cannot come quickly enough because I want to live in this place.
How lucky to be living next door to it! :)
Here's a little video from within the orlandoparkstop.com site.
https://youtu.be/tsHF-DZLfx4
Looks like it's officially official that Universal Monsters will have a section in the new Epic Universe park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4u83ncMjuE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4u83ncMjuE)
They show some images of the monsters at around 3:52 in the video. They're sort of "modernized" versions of Frankenstein, Wolfman and Dracula, which does make me wonder if those will be how they're depicted in the park. I'm not too surprised, and the designs could definitely look worse. That said, I hope we still get plenty of stuff with the classic versions (on merch at least).
Overall, very excited this thing is actually gonna happen, though it's essentially been confirmed for awhile now.
There's that word, "re-imagined", again. I thought it was imagined pretty good the first time.
They show a couple families of four strolling around the wondrous new attraction.
They don't show the shoulder to shoulder crowds waiting in line in the blistering summer heat.
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 30, 2024, 02:01:11 PM
There's that word, "re-imagined", again. I thought it was imagined pretty good the first time.
Yeah, upon more reflection my feelings are a bit more negative regarding the character designs for the park (particularly Dracula, specifically his costume).
I get that presenting the monsters 100% as they were in the original movies could come off as somewhat cheesy if they're trying to make a legitimately scary ride. So I understand them wanting to modernize the character designs a bit. That said, I still think they should have stayed truer to their iconic looks. Particularly with Dracula, since Wolfman and Frankenstein don't bug me too much. Hell, if they wanted to make Dracula a bit more menacing, they did a pretty good modernization in the haunted house a few years ago at HHN.
So while I think the designs could be worse, the Dracula design could also be much better. I don't think Universal understands that part of the appeal is the look of the character (cape, crest, widows peak, etc). Without that he just feels like a generic Dracula, rather than the iconic Universal Dracula.
Hopefully the classic characters will still be prominent at Epic Universe, on merchandise at least. Still very excited for the park, but do wish the designs were a bit closer to the originals.
Quote from: TheMadScientist on January 31, 2024, 06:58:45 PM
I get that presenting the monsters 100% as they were in the original movies could come off as somewhat cheesy
And they would have to pay the relatives. ;D
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 31, 2024, 07:04:09 PM
And they would have to pay the relatives. ;D
And therein lies the rub between Universal executives and us. For us it is a matter of love. For them it is a matter of money.
Apparently, never the twain shall meet.
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 31, 2024, 07:04:09 PM
And they would have to pay the relatives. ;D
I'm sure that's part of it. Honestly, I'd be fine with versions of the characters that more or less look like the generic versions you see on a lot of merch (below for an example of what I mean). To me, those are still identifiably the Universal versions of the characters (the Universal version of Frankenstein, the Universal version of Dracula, The Wolf Man as opposed to just a werewolf, etc).
Especially with Dracula, when you mess with the outfit and cape, he just becomes a generic version of Dracula imo. That's the main thing I don't like about the design. The head and face I'm fine with.
(https://fathead.com/cdn/shop/products/ochdqcnatz7dudhy6iwx.jpg?v=1630547420&width=1445)
(https://allears.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/epic-universe-universal-dark-universe-classic-monsters-land-2.png)
For reference, this is what Dracula looked like in the HHN maze from years back. They're obviously going for a much scarier look and feel, but the overall look still hews closer to the classic Universal Dracula. If they toned down the blood, I wouldn't have an issue with a similar look for a more modern-looking Epic Universe Dracula.
(https://i0.wp.com/halloweendailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Universal-Monsters-maze-at-Halloween-Horror-Nights-2018.jpg?w=796&h=995&ssl=1)
It looks to me like they are going for generic versions of Benicio's Wolfman (2010) and Van Helsing's Dracula (2004); Frankenstein looks to be conceptualized off Van Helsing's monster without the steam punk accessories.
Whether the monster designs are different or not, I can't wait. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HTnjAUp4rU
Article detailing the attractions at "Dark Universe": https://blog.discoveruniversal.com/news/everything-we-know-about-dark-universe-at-universal-epic-universe/ (https://blog.discoveruniversal.com/news/everything-we-know-about-dark-universe-at-universal-epic-universe/)
And an animated flyby video: https://x.com/wallin_ballin/status/1803820949872967950 (https://x.com/wallin_ballin/status/1803820949872967950)
Also worth noting that social media is booming with a lot of hype for it. Even trending on Twitter/X. Glad to see people get hyped for the Universal Monsters again.
Even more detailed info here..............and there is a shot of Dracula looking a lot more traditional. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eav_L8Sf5o
Wish the character designs were a bit closer to their classic looks (for Dracula in particular), but I'm still very VERY excited for this! Looks like a ton of fun, particularly for a monster fan. All of the responses I've seen have been incredibly positive too.
Kinda surprised there is not more chatter about this.
Quote from: delfloria on July 17, 2024, 06:08:02 PMKinda surprised there is not more chatter about this.
(https://j.gifs.com/vMLAw5.gif)
Right now, I dunno how many people can afford to go there. Since a loaf of bread requires a home equity loan these days,lol.
Look at a few of the animatronics that will be in the Monsters Unchained ride at the new park. Still wish the designs were closer to the original movies, but the animatronics are impressive.
Groovy! 8)
Guess this Creature evolved from a Piranha.
Quote from: TheMadScientist on October 29, 2024, 07:54:31 PMLook at a few of the animatronics that will be in the Monsters Unchained ride at the new park. Still wish the designs were closer to the original movies, but the animatronics are impressive.
I went to Epic Universe this past weekend for passholder previews. The Monster Unchained ride is amazing. The videos don't do it justice. The Frankenstein monster they show is part of a preshow and is very life like with its movements. It's a very impressive ride overall and its amazing what they can accomplish with animatronics now. Also in the land they have a meet and greet area which they say will offer different monsters. When I was there Saturday it was the Bride and Frankenstein monster when I went through and later in the day I saw it was just Bride by herself. My kids had fun interacting with both of them. There is also an exterior only building of the Lion Heads Inn where Dr. Griffin comes out and interacts with people. You can take pictures with him as well. The other ride in the area is a spinning rollercoaster "Curse of the Werewolf". You go through a barn area and there is a wolfman in it but its hard to get a good look. It is an enjoyable coaster though. I hate spinning but its not that bad on the ride and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Overall its a very impressive land although it isn't that large as some of the others. Previous rumors were to have a Creature river boat ride be added in the next couple years but I don't think anything is official yet.
Reviving this thread, just to say this looks super cool, from all the videos I've seen.
I honestly think the monster animatronic designs are decent, considering they don't have the actor likenesses. Then again, they might come off as too weird if they did have their actor likenesses. So yeah, I love all I've seen of this park. Especially the Phantom animatronic.
Now if they would just make a life-sized Elvira, Mistress of the Dark home version animatronic with realistic skin ...
... Oh, wrong forum.