Let's talk about "Wicked."
Universal's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical also is hitting at movie theaters. "Wicked" enjoyed the third-biggest opening of the year and appears to have the strong word-of-mouth and critical reviews to remain a strong draw at the box office throughout the holiday season.
Given this financial and critical success, I would be stunned if "Wicked" were not the first IP announced for the inevitable expansion of Universal Epic Universe after it opens in Orlando in May. Universal is testing the waters with pop-up installations at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood, but I expect to see a fully realized, immersive Oz-themed land at Epic Universe sometime before the end of the decade.
But what, specifically, will that be?
"Wicked" is filled with amazing locations that would work well as immersive environments in a theme park land, with Shiz University and the Emerald City in Part One and the Kiamo Ko castle in the upcoming Part Two. But the heart of this franchise's appeal lies with its starring characters - Glinda and Elphaba - and their relationship, expressed in some of the most memorable and emotional songs in the recent Broadway repertoire.
That creates the challenge for the designers of a "Wicked"-themed attraction. How do you place guests in those environments so that they can spend time with these characters and hear those iconic songs?
The easiest solution is a "book report" attraction that merely retells the story of "Wicked." But with its signature immersive land attractions, Universal has embraced the modern design convention of placing the guest at the heart of the story. In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World, you are the character at the heart of these experiences. I expect Universal to cast its guests in a similar starring role for Oz.
So what is the narrative that requires the guest's presence and action in Universal's theme park installation of Oz? That is the creative challenge that, when answered, will determine where this attraction will be set and which supporting characters from the films will be featured.
And, which ride systems would be most appropriate to facilitate the telling of this narrative.
I suspect that any "Wicked"-themed land at Universal Epic Universe would include multiple attractions, with at least one not having a ride-height restriction. Themed food and merchandise will need their places within the land as well. (If Universal does not have a Ozdust Ballroom bar serving a Green Elixir cocktail, what are they even doing?)
Finally, one cannot forget legal restrictions. Universal produced the "Wicked" musical and films, and owns the rights to Gregory Maguire's novel. L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is in the public domain. But Universal - to my knowledge - does not own the theme park rights to the 1939 MGM film, "The Wizard of Oz." That means no ruby red slippers in a Universal Oz land, or any other specific changes or additions that MGM made to Baum's work. We will see in "Wicked - Part Two" how Universal handles the arrival of Dorothy Gale in its movie.
All that said, it's time to hear from all you aspiring theme park attraction designers and "Wicked" fans. What should Universal Creative deliver in a new Oz-themed land?
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And yet the parks have multiple Marvel and Star Wars attractions.
I think it would be best to see how much it actually does make at the box office, first.
Wicked could give them soarin' + twister. A cool outdoor stage show could give them a teacups and dumbo ride.
I think we're jumping the gun a bit on this one. The projection for opening weekend was $125-150 million domestic, but actual was only $112 million, which indicates underperformance despite the strong numbers. If both parts together are able to achieve grosses in the $1-1.5 billion range worldwide, then it might be time to start talking, but until that happens it's probably too early to be taking bets on an Oz portal.
Were it to happen, however, I'd have a small Munchkinland entry area with one or two shops and/or dining locations, then guests can follow the Yellow Brick Road from there to the Emerald City, which would make up the majority of the portal. Some sort of live show would have to be included in the area's attractions (perhaps a retelling of the Wicked story), and for the others I'd do an all audiences interactive dark ride where guests are given training wands to audition for an opening as the Wonderful Wizard's assistant (think a modernized version of MIB) and a flying coaster that allows guests to defy gravity (something like Phantasialand's F.L.Y. could work really well for that). Ozdust could be relocated here as either the land's signature restaurant or something more along the lines of Oga's Cantina, and there'd be plenty of other options to infuse the land with additional outlets to increase Epic's revenue.
As a Wicked fan, a Wicked themed attraction for me should be less about the action sequences and more about experiencing this magical world and the wonderful music from the musical.
The greatest appeal would be an attraction that incorporates the amazing songs and complements them with stunning visuals and physical sensation.
I want to feel like i'm flying during "defying gravity", dancing during "dancing through life", amazed by the emerald city in "one short day" or scared while being unjustly hunted during one of the mob songs.
The ride definitely needs to provide some sense of flying. I'm thinking Avatar flight of passage (broomstick flight? Harry Potter does not cover that part so well IMO), Soarin' (hot-air balloon ride over OZ). Even a Spiderman/Transformers dark ride vehicle can provide this feeling with the proper video sections.
As much as I would like this being realized, to justify a land, the franchise would need to grow its fanbase substantially with more movie sequels & spin-offs. Otherwise, the most we can expect is for it to replace an existing attraction like ET or Race through NY with Jimmy Fallon.
As a Wicked fan, a Wicked themed attraction for me should be less about the action sequences and more about experiencing this magical world and the wonderful music from the musical.
The greatest appeal would be an attraction that incorporates the amazing songs and complements them with stunning visuals and physical sensation.
I want to feel like i'm flying during "defying gravity", dancing during "dancing through life", amazed by the emerald city in "one short day" or scared while being unjustly hunted during one of the mob songs.
The ride definitely needs to provide some sense of flying. I'm thinking Avatar flight of passage (broomstick flight? Harry Potter does not cover that part so well IMO), Soarin' (hot-air balloon ride over OZ). Even a Spiderman/Transformers dark ride vehicle can provide this feeling with the proper video sections.
As much as I would like this being realized, to justify a land, the franchise would need to grow its fanbase substantially with more movie sequels & spin-offs. Otherwise, the most we can expect is for it to replace an existing attraction like ET or Race through NY with Jimmy Fallon.
As a Wicked fan, a Wicked themed attraction for me should be less about the action sequences and more about experiencing this magical world and the wonderful music from the musical.
The greatest appeal would be an attraction that incorporates the amazing songs and complements them with stunning visuals and physical sensation.
I want to feel like i'm flying during "defying gravity", dancing during "dancing through life", amazed by the emerald city in "one short day" or scared while being unjustly hunted during one of the mob songs.
The ride definitely needs to provide some sense of flying. I'm thinking Avatar flight of passage (broomstick flight? Harry Potter does not cover that part so well IMO), Soarin' (hot-air balloon ride over OZ). Even a Spiderman/Transformers dark ride vehicle can provide this feeling with the proper video sections.
As much as I would like this being realized, to justify a land, the franchise would need to grow its fanbase substantially with more movie sequels & spin-offs. Otherwise, the most we can expect is for it to replace an existing attraction like ET or Race through NY with Jimmy Fallon.
Would they be able to fit it in Epic Universe? I am not an expert but from what I saw of the layout and remaining space in said layout, it’s mostly four giant lands in a circle around a central land, Is there room for a fifth spoke? I don’t think they can just place it in a corner between Nintendo and Monsters. It’s actually a problem I have with the long term longevity of the park with how hard coded it is to four IPs but that’s not my problem to solve.
Anyway, I remember reading Universal Japan once had an abbreviated Wicked musical in their Wizard the Oz land they once had, so. There’s an idea
I'm sorry, AJ, but a "small Munchkinland entry"? "Small"? You think you can just drop that here and walk away?
Look, any major expansion of Epic won't welcome its first guests until (I am guessing) 2030. The staying power of 'Wicked' and the priorities of whatever parent company Comcast sells its parks to will determine what (if any) expansions will occur in the near future.
This is a no-brainer: Fly using a broom or a balloon. It would have to be colorful.
This is a no-brainer: Fly using a broom or a balloon. It would have to be colorful.
This is a no-brainer: Fly using a broom or a balloon. It would have to be colorful.
This is a no-brainer: Fly using a broom or a balloon. It would have to be colorful.
The Wizard of Oz is an evergreen property, so Kabletown should be comfortable moving forward with Wicked World regardless of the Part 2 box office. How about a Springfield retheme? The rides and land are not long for the park and Emerald City could keep up the foot traffic. It may be better to place this in a legacy park rather than Epic to spread out guests throughout the resort.
I would definitely have a yellow brick road leading to an Emerald City backdrop that houses the E-ticket ride, perhaps with Munchkin Village being the actual area you walk around. Though if it is Wicked themed you also could have that area be themed more to the school.
I think the best place to "drop in" would be the Defying Gravity sequence. Develop a dark ride where you follow some of the story with Elphaba fleeing the Wizard, go into the song, and eventually in the ride you "lift" into the air and it turns into a ride that simulates flying.
Smaller rides could be some kind of suspended broomstick ride that soars gently over the land, or a show that uses technology to simulate the Wizard of Oz floating head.
“… and the priorities of whatever parent company Comcast sells its parks to will determine what (if any) expansions will occur in the near future.”
Is there ANY evidence to show that this is a serious consideration?
@Trex: Yeah. Since the Universal parks opened they have had like 437 different corporate owners ... "It's all just little bits of history repeating".
The last time the parks changed hands was in 2011, 13 years ago. There’s been nothing since then to suggest that Comcast is unhappy with their performance and looking to siphon them off.
Not sure what "siphon them off" means. But here's what I do know: The model that is the Universal theme parks has been sold before. Multiple times. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Universal Escape ... oops, I'm Sorry "Universal Orlando" won't seek another owner sometime in the near future. Maybe the new CEO of LIV (a former themed entertainment exec) could coax some Saudi money to step-in and (finally) add some decent new attractions to the existing Orlando parks. I mean, buying out the Universal parks would be easier than buying out Disney -- as Comcast learned back in 2004.
(Chuckle)
I think wicked will be better used as an addition to USF, being such a nostalgic film franchise and the lack of new attractions in that park. IOA and EU can lean on Nintendo and other non film properties but USF is perfectly served by the classic OZ theme.
There is a dormant Blue Man Group theater that could use some revitalization with a Wicked show...
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I have absolutely Zero intetest in a Wicked land. That being said, it's opening weekend was 72% Female, not sure a land tailored to mostly one half of the population is a great idea.