Back to the Future, Star Trek to return to Universal theme park

Back to the Future the Ride... playing inside one of the domes in The Simpsons Ride. It's alright if I'm in a Krusty the clown car. They do that and I'll throw my money at them, no questions asked.

I really want to know how Universal is going to pull off using Star Trek. It's no secret that Paramount is struggling right now, and has been shopping itself around for quite a while - they just recently shuttered their Paramount TV division, which produced a number of shows still airing on both network and cable/streaming outlets. However, Star Trek is probably Paramount's most valuable IP, so unless Universal is planning to either scoop up Paramount or at least co-produce future Star Trek projects, it would likely cost a massive sum to get licensing rights to the popular Sci-Fi series.

Frankly, if Universal has managed to secure a blanket license for Star Trek (even if just for TOS, which aired on NBC in the 60's), they could probably run nightly events every single night of the year and the cash registers would not stop ringing. Also, if the Star Trek IP is indeed "available" for theme park licensing, is that potentially more valuable (and cost effective) than LOTR, the other massive fantasy/sci-fi IP that is not currently utilized in a US theme park?

Why the hell doesn’t Disney use this idea and create Star Wars themed hard ticket events at galaxy’s edge? Kind of like a highly immersive pop-up Galactic Starcruiser if you will.

They do have Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite

Touché. Is it like, super interactive with choreographed street shootouts, the odd explosion here and there, detailed film quality costuming from cast members and the occasional Holograph popping up to impart crucial info or more like a real nice meet and greet with cosplay? Because the version I have in my head, for which I’d happily pay, is more like the former lol

Way back in the 70s and 80s you’d have to check operating hours prior to visiting an Orlando park in case there was a private event, which seemed to occur often. Now that those have gone by the wayside, most likely because they’ve become cost prohibitive, it seems they are adding more and more evening events and it’s back to checking if the parks will be open in the evenings again. Not a bad thing if you are a passholder and able to choose your visit dates but definitely an inconvenience, disappointment, or added expense if you are a one time visitor.

Stark Trek's been crying out for a replacement experience since the one in Vegas shut down. You've got an admittedly mature fanbase, but one with a lot of money and no fear of spending it on Trek... I'm surpised we havent seen it properly used anywhere.

I don’t think the Back to the Future experience will be a retrofit of The Simpsons Ride. More likely is that it’s some show that takes place on the Studio Tour at Courthouse Square.

If you can afford to have enough drinks at Oga’s first, Disneyland’s Star Wars event can be everything you imagine. :-)

@Robert: May the flask be with you! ;)

@Russell Meyer
"...it would likely cost a massive sum to get licensing rights to the popular Sci-Fi series."

Or as you say, the studio is not doing well and would applaud the extra attention they get trough this event. Think about how Marvel went to Universal.
It would be cool if Universal would get a real Sci-fi presents into the parks again but I also still want LotR.

@O.T. - You would think that, but I highly doubt that even with Paramount's current financial situation, they wouldn't let Star Trek go at a cut rate price. Plus, everything that has been reported about the company seems to indicate that they would prefer a clean acquisition of all assets, not a piecemeal offloading of individual properties.

Marvel was licensed to Universal because the company was jumping at every opportunity where they could make a buck to keep themselves (and their army of writers and illustrators) afloat. That's not the case with Paramount, where they're not necessarily in the greatest position, but aren't a sinking ship. They've always been very carful about licensing their IP, and Star Trek requires an extra layer of agreement from the Roddenberry estate. I'm really curious what Universal has cooking for this, and if it's going to be a full-on Star Trek event, or just an event paying homage to the TOS and show that played at the park long ago, which is what I would expect from the BttF and D&D events.

For those that don't follow the IP closely, Star Trek was having a bit of a 3rd renaissance over the past 5-8 years with multiple series in active production and talks of another big screen adaptation to relaunch the IP world wide. However, the pandemic followed by the writers strike really hit the productions hard (Star Trek series typically utilize more writers than a typical show since they have always leaned on modern sci-fi authors to supplement their writers rooms). That led to the abrupt ending of Discovery, Picard (though that series played to a natural conclusion), and Lower Decks (animated series), which has left Strange New Worlds as the only series left standing, and with the uncertain future of Paramount+, it's unclear if any new series (like the long-rumored Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series) will get the green light anytime soon. However, it's still unlikely Paramount is going to let their biggest asset go for anything less than a king's ransom.

Any chance Universal is using these events to "focus group" interest in potential IPs to feature more prominently in the parks as attractions and lands?

not really