Who's going to get Middle Earth Land? Disney or Universal?

[Mr Mannn]

And what rides are we going to see?

I want to see a 13 Dwarfs Mine Train through the Lonely Mountain, and it would end in Lake town with the death of Smaug.
A Sea Food fancy restaurant and shopping area set in Lake Town would be nice.

Hobbit town is a MUST. not a ride but as an entry area to the park. Every night is Bilbo's Birthday party with fireworks by Gandalf.

There needs to be something set in Goblintown and show casing Golum losing the ring to Bilbo.

there is just so much good stuff for rides here!

I want to stay at a hobbit hotel where every room is a hobbit hole.

 

[rteetz]

No, no, no....

If anyone gets LOTR rights it's universal but it's not even incredibly likely there.

I also don't think anything you mentioned would happen anyways.

 

[zebsterama]

Universal - and it would be awesome!

 

[Eoghann]

Given Tolkien's (and his family's) stated dislike for Disney I can't imagine it going there. However for the moment at least the licensing rights are disputed between Warner Brothers and the Tolkien estate so nothing is happening for a long time yet if ever. The family are very much against that sort of thing as they want Tolkien's legacy kept "pure" and dislike the movies.

I'd love to see what Universal could do with the property, it lends itself to Diagon Alley level theming and would be as big a draw as Harry Potter. I know others on here don't see that, but we're talking about the 2nd and 3rd best selling fiction of all time (150 million copies for Lord of the Rings, 140 million for the Hobbit so substantially more than any the most popular Harry Potter book at 104 million copies), the number 6 movie franchise (Harry Potter made more money but had more movies and the Middle-Earth movies actually made more money per movie) and stories that essentially created an entire book genre. It would be a major draw.

As far as what, the options are huge so I'm guessing they'd pick a single location and theme around that.

 

[mort1331]

And what rides are we going to see?

I want to see a 13 Dwarfs Mine Train through the Lonely Mountain, and it would end in Lake town with the death of Smaug.
A Sea Food fancy restaurant and shopping area set in Lake Town would be nice.

Hobbit town is a MUST. not a ride but as an entry area to the park. Every night is Bilbo's Birthday party with fireworks by Gandalf.

There needs to be something set in Goblintown and show casing Golum losing the ring to Bilbo.

there is just so much good stuff for rides here!

I want to stay at a hobbit hotel where every room is a hobbit hole.

Already have in New Zealand, where it was all filmed. They kept it up and you can tour it. But to expand and make it a destination is not feasible there. Too expensive for the greater masses to get to it. Just the true fans will go.

 

[beer dave]

Hopefully six flags...

 

[crazy4wdw]

There were rumors in 2013 that Universal was close to a deal to bring attractions based on Lord of the Rings to its theme parks. Supposedly Tolkien's son, Christopher, nixed the deal. He's up in his late 80's, so once he passes there could be a possibility that the surviving heirs could sell the rights for theme park attractions.

 

[minnie mum]

I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future. And if it does, I don't see Disney doing it. They would ruin it. Universal could do it well. A Mines of Moria ride, featuring the Balrog, done like Journey to the Center of the Earth in Tokyo Disney Sea, would be really good.

We're headed to New Zealand next month. A trip to Hobbiton, and a pint of ale at the Green Dragon are high on our to do list.

 

[Planogirl]

I would love to see something built domestically but it needs to be beautiful and elegant. Wild rides and loud carrying on wouldn't work well with this IP IMO. The only exception I could see might be inside rides but it still needs to be truly beautiful since that world is so amazing.

It also needs space, lots of space. WWoHP was perfect for small areas since so much in the stories was in such tight quarters. However LOTR is often sweeping and majestic so that space seems important.

Who would get it? Likely no one, at least not for a while.

 

[It's A Small Underworld]

New Zealand already have one. It's called New Zealand.

Seriously though, it is more than likely going to be Universal. The one they're building in Spain is based specifically off of Tolkien's written works, and is not related to the film adaptations of Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. So don't go there if you're expecting recreations of Peter Jackson's work. A US park probably would, though.

 

[katt789]

I would absolutely LOVE to experience the adventure of Middle Earth, but there's no way in hell Disney would do it justice. It would need to be Universal. lol.

 

[DDLand]

Alright to be honest I'm not extremely excited by this idea. There's also the whole not having the rights thing too. This whole conversation is entirely theoretical and not very Rumory or Newsy. This is probably better suited for general discussion...

With all the above said, I don't get what you all are talking about Disney not being able to do the property justice. Have you been to DAK? Have you experienced the detail at New Fantasyland? Have you seen what they've done for Cars Land? Mystic manor? I actually would counter and say Disney is uniquely suited and well experienced with this type of project. The immersion would require incredibly detailed landscapes. Landscapes Disney has proven time and time again they're the best at. Everest, NF, Avatar, Cars Land, Adventure Isle, Tree of Life, and Mount Prometheus. Frankly they're unmatched in their work. I'd rather have Disney use the IP than Universal.

 

[Planogirl]

Alright to be honest I'm not extremely excited by this idea. There's also the whole not having the rights thing too. This whole conversation is entirely theoretical and not very Rumory or Newsy. This is probably better suited for general discussion...

With all the above said, I don't get what you all are talking about Disney not being able to do the property justice. Have you been to DAK? Have you experienced the detail at New Fantasyland? Have you seen what they've done for Cars Land? Mystic manor? I actually would counter and say Disney is uniquely suited and well experienced with this type of project. The immersion would require incredibly detailed landscapes. Landscapes Disney has proven time and time again they're the best at. Everest, NF, Avatar, Cars Land, Adventure Isle, Tree of Life, and Mount Prometheus. Frankly they're unmatched in their work. I'd rather have Disney use the IP than Universal.

Disney is certainly capable but they generally don't bother in WDW. I hope that that is changing now but who knows? NFL is pretty meh in my opinion and other good things are quite old.

 

[flvy]

New Zealand already have one. It's called New Zealand.

Seriously though, it is more than likely going to be Universal. The one they're building in Spain is based specifically off of Tolkien's written works, and is not related to the film adaptations of Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. So don't go there if you're expecting recreations of Peter Jackson's work. A US park probably would, though.

This was my reply. It's called New Zealand.


I wouldn't want anyone to get Middle Earth. The Hobbit was already such a let down after Lord of the Rings. I don't need anymore mess.

 

[minnie mum]

Disney is certainly capable but they generally don't bother in WDW. I hope that that is changing now but who knows? NFL is pretty meh in my opinion and other good things are quite old.

I agree that Disney is capable of doing it, if they were willing to commit the capitol to it. But they have, in recent years, cheaped out on their newest attractions. And I include NFL in that. Tokyo Disney Sea is the only stellar example in this century, and it wasn't bankrolled by Disney.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

I agree that Disney is capable of doing it, if they were willing to commit the capitol to it. But they have, in recent years, cheaped out on their newest attractions. And I include NFL in that. Tokyo Disney Sea is the only stellar example in this century, and it wasn't bankrolled by Disney.

Of course they are capable. They *invented* immersive theme park entertainment. The question is do they want to create something immersive with a single IP? They did it with Cars. They are doing it with Star Wars. They are doing it with Avatar (though I don't know why...maybe they'll be the smart ones someday the sequels finally come out...). They didn't want to create a Harry Potter land, so they passed on it, and made Universal finally somewhat of a rival in Orlando.

What will they do with Middle Earth? My guess is that they pass, since it just doesn't feel like their sort of thing - but then again, neither is Avatar. Do they buy it just to keep it away from USO? Whatever happens, I'll bet my bottom dollar that when Middle Earth comes available Disney will have it if they want it.

 

[Planogirl]

Of course they are capable. They *invented* immersive theme park entertainment. The question is do they want to create something immersive with a single IP? They did it with Cars. They are doing it with Star Wars. They are doing it with Avatar (though I don't know why...maybe they'll be the smart ones someday the sequels finally come out...). They didn't want to create a Harry Potter land, so they passed on it, and made Universal finally somewhat of a rival in Orlando.

What will they do with Middle Earth? My guess is that they pass, since it just doesn't feel like their sort of thing - but then again, neither is Avatar. Do they buy it just to keep it away from USO? Whatever happens, I'll bet my bottom dollar that when Middle Earth comes available Disney will have it if they want it.

It might not be that easy. By all accounts the Tolkien heirs literally hate Disney.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

It might not be that easy. By all accounts the Tolkien heirs literally hate Disney.

Indeed it might not be that easy. ...but when it comes time to sell, you sell to the highest bidder.

And besides, we're all dealing in rumor and innuendo here. I'll be that the Tolkien grandkids have no axe to grind with anyone. Even if one or two of them do, the majority will make the decisions, and that means CA$H OUT.

 

[atricks]

Indeed it might not be that easy. ...but when it comes time to sell, you sell to the highest bidder.

And besides, we're all dealing in rumor and innuendo here. I'll be that the Tolkien grandkids have no axe to grind with anyone. Even if one or two of them do, the majority will make the decisions, and that means CA$H OUT.

Tokein's dislike of Disney is well documented http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company


"I recognize [Walt Disney's] talent, but it has always seemed to me hopelessly corrupted. Though in most of the 'pictures' proceeding from his studios there are admirable or charming passages, the effect of all of them to me is disgusting. Some have given me nausea."

There are reports that it is written in Tolkein's will that anything Middle Earth related would never go anywhere near Disney. I've heard mention that JK Rowling even talked about this regarding Potter.

 

[mvk]

If there is anything that interests me less than Harry Potter, it is Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. I have kids entering what is likely the target range (6 & 8), and neither of them have ever expressed any interest in either. This wouldn't be a draw for my family on any level.