Wicked Future Thoughts?

[Captain UP]

For those of us who've seen the movie, I am guessing I'm not the only one who noticed the massive theme park potential this has for Universal.

I fully expect to see plans in the next couple of years for Wicked-themed lands, comparable in size and scale to the HP Universe.

A ride or experience based on going to the Wizard's inner chamber? Or maybe just the super obvious Defying Gravity thrill ride?

Any thoughts, guesses, predictions here?

 

[Lewisc]

https://www.kcur.org/community/2016...f-oz-theme-park-turned-out-to-be-just-a-dream

30 years ago an Oz park never got off the ground in Kansas.

Oz park in NC didn't last.
https://landofoznc.com/our-story/

Wicked could work, I don't know who owns theme park rights

 

[Captain UP]

https://www.kcur.org/community/2016...f-oz-theme-park-turned-out-to-be-just-a-dream

30 years ago an Oz park never got off the ground in Kansas.

Oz park in NC didn't last.
https://landofoznc.com/our-story/

Wicked could work, I don't know who owns theme park rights

Universal has some kind of deal with the film because they've got a bunch of promotional stuff there now.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Comparable to HP? lol. No. Maybe a land years from now, but nothing on the scale of HP in multiple parks as Wicked is not even close to the cultural juggernaut HP is.

 

[Lewisc]

Lance @screamscape is discussing possible locations and types of attractions.

 

[HopperFan]

Very possible.
The Musical is 20 years old and still highly popular.
The Wizard of Oz is an American treasure.
I expect this movie to be the same.

Warner owns Wizard of Oz.
Universal owns Wicked Movie.
Warner owns licensing of Harry Potter at Universal Parks.
In 2020 Warner & Universal entered 10 year joint venture (of some kind).

There is a relationship in existence that could make an easy transition to add the IP to the parks. Epic Universe is built with a design to add more lands. UO already has a flood of Wicked Movie stuff happening.

If they did this I'd be as excited as I am about Classic Monsters land!

 

[Smugpugmug]

USJ had a Wicked stage show so it does show that in some capacity Universal could do something with the Wicked IP.

 

[georgina]

If they did this I'd be as excited as I am about Classic Monsters land!

Me too, but my interest in both is pretty low.

 

[wendlle]

I'm a huge fan of Oz, Return to Oz is my fav film of all time and my kids love it too.
I love Wicked, my 6yo is obsessed with the original Wizard of Oz.

I'd love anything to do with Oz at Universal.

Here in Australia, WB Movie World is opening a small Wizard of Oz land in the next few months, the park sucks but next time I'm up in QLD I'll visit only because of the new land.

 

[HopperFan]

Me too, but my interest in both is pretty low.

Oh I am SO EXCITED about Classic Monsters!!!!

 

[Captain UP]

Comparable to HP? lol. No. Maybe a land years from now, but nothing on the scale of HP in multiple parks as Wicked is not even close to the cultural juggernaut HP is.

I respectfully disagree.

Please understand, I'm not talking about the scale of HP. I'm talking one land in one of the three Florida parks.

And I suspect once you see the numbers these two movies pull- in addition to multiple Oscar nominations- you might agree with me.

 

[GhostHost24]

I respectfully disagree.

Please understand, I'm not talking about the scale of HP. I'm talking one land in one of the three Florida parks.

And I suspect once you see the numbers these two movies pull- in addition to multiple Oscar nominations- you might agree with me.

Eh.. Looking at the BO now and it's nothing earth shattering. Yes it's doing very well, but the way people talked about it made it sound like it was gonna do well over a billion which it won't. I mean Moana made more over the weekend.

 

[Captain UP]

Eh.. Looking at the BO now and it's nothing earth shattering. Yes it's doing very well, but the way people talked about it made it sound like it was gonna do well over a billion which it won't. I mean Moana made more over the weekend.

Wicked came out three days earlier and is still well ahead of M2 overall.

And remind me: Moana has several theme park tie ins already, including a featured attraction?

 

[TheGatekeeper]

My two-cents:
I read McGuire's first three books, Wicked, Son of a Witch, and a Lion Among Men over a decade ago. I can't recommend the books highly enough. I went to see the musical as soon as it came through my town. Fabulous. I'll see the movie eventually. With that being said, my desire and interest in a Wicked themed land or even a ride is next to zero, and I'm more of a well-versed Wicked fan than most.
The Wizard of Oz has been in the public consciousness for over a hundred years. It's beloved, but I do not see it having even close to the same draw and interest as WWoHP. People aren't running out to read McGuire's books en masse either, like they did the Potter books. It's not even close to the same and the appeal base is a much narrower demographic.

 

[Lewisc]

Stealing from Screamscape. Universal has available space.
Just a show---fear factor location
Small land. Lost Continent has Sinbad and Possiden areas

epic has expansion areas

Toon land could find space

PLUS
Do we know when the contract for Simpsons expires?

 

[Smugpugmug]

PLUS
Do we know when the contract for Simpsons expires?

2028.

 

[Lewisc]

2028.

Then no rush.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Then no rush.

The contract expiring means that Springfield has to be out by 2028 if Universal doesn't renew so I predict in the next two years or so that it'll close.

 

[Captain UP]

The contract expiring means that Springfield has to be out by 2028 if Universal doesn't renew so I predict in the next two years or so that it'll close.

And considering that renewal means paying Disney for the rights, I'd say that's pretty accurate.

 

[Kit Jackson]

https://www.kcur.org/community/2016...f-oz-theme-park-turned-out-to-be-just-a-dream

30 years ago an Oz park never got off the ground in Kansas.

Oz park in NC didn't last.
https://landofoznc.com/our-story/

Wicked could work, I don't know who owns theme park rights

My guess is that not enough people were willing to travel there just for something Wizard of Oz themed. However, people are already going to Orlando to visit an existing theme park. I wouldn't say it's an absolutely brilliant idea that must happen, but I would not use the failure of the previous parks as a reason why it couldn't work in Orlando.

The biggest challenge would be aside from the theming, what makes it really different from the existing Harry Potter lands?

The contract expiring means that Springfield has to be out by 2028 if Universal doesn't renew so I predict in the next two years or so that it'll close.

I thought Universal had already decided they didn't want to renew the contract for Simpsons.