Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[IOAGuy]

Personally, I love inside settings that feel like outside, like the Mexico Pavilion or even Knockturn Alley

I love this too. Idk why, it just feels more cozy. Also a plus since they have A/C running.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

If what I have been hearing is correct, yes. BUT, it will feel like your outside in the jungle. Yea, one of those type deals. Should be incredible, with views of the coaster from the ride entrance - as if it's all outside, but within a gigantic show building. Again, if what I've heard is correct.

Personally, I love inside settings that feel like outside, like the Mexico Pavilion or even Knockturn Alley.

This may mean the ride is always set at night. In a dense jungle. So they have more control over lighting and you know, no rain.

This would be news to me, but explains why plans changed.

 

[Magic-Man]

Is it possible that Universal might build a clone of The Flying Dinosaur from Universal Japan in the new park?

 

[shiekra38]

Is it possible that Universal might build a clone of The Flying Dinosaur from Universal Japan in the new park?

I hope not, unless it is tucked away or in the new park...That ride wrecked USJ's JP

 

[quinnmac000]

So turns out we have even more films for the parks. So it turns out for theme parks, any film keyword any film Spielberg has directed will be allowed for Universal to use in their parks.

However, MCA head Sid Sheinberg, who had been one of the people to first champion Spielberg as a director and producer, was not about to lose his biggest star. Being cash strapped at the time, Sheinberg couldn't compete with the cold hard cash Warner Brothers was offering Spielberg, so he did what he could and threw a theme park clause into Spielberg's contract. Spielberg would serve as a creative consultant on any theme park attractions related to his films and any film he directed would be allowed at Universal.

 

[E.Gadd]

Close Encounters restaurant in Sci-Fi City? You know, for a "This Means Something" mashed potato platter.

 

[Skipper Justin]

Maybe just a General alien theme restaurant. "Gut busting" Alien Cheeseburger.

 

[Viator]

So turns out we have even more films for the parks. So it turns out for theme parks, any film keyword any film Spielberg has directed will be allowed for Universal to use in their parks.

I actually had a thought more that he may have a similar involvement that is in the way he was in for the restoration of the Metro Sets.

And that, Jurassic World wouldn't necessarily mean Spielberg would be involved, as that was directed by Colin.

 

[quinnmac000]

I do have to wonder if that Iron Man patent was also for a potential Pacific Rim attraction

 

[zg44]

That Spielberg contract is more of an albatross than a benefit at this point for the theme parks; he basically gets ~2% of all ticket revenue (plus possibly extra) from most of the parks...; the payout on that is like over $50m a year by now probably, and Comcast/Universal would like him to exercise that option for them to buy him out. I remember before Harry Potter seeing that it was around $20m a year...

But now that there's a 3rd park on the horizon and Beijing; he's likely to wait until those are up and running to exercise the option; so you're talking possibly a $1-2 billion buyout...

Either way, I wouldn't put too much on that clause because the Spielberg contract is likely to end at some point (whenever he wants his giant payday for estate planning purposes).

 

[quinnmac000]

That Spielberg contract is more of an albatross than a benefit at this point for the theme parks; he basically gets ~2% of all ticket revenue (plus possibly extra) from most of the parks...; the payout on that is like over $50m a year by now probably, and Comcast/Universal would like him to exercise that option for them to buy him out. I remember before Harry Potter seeing that it was around $20m a year...

But now that there's a 3rd park on the horizon and Beijing; he's likely to wait until those are up and running to exercise the option; so you're talking possibly a $1-2 billion buyout...

Either way, I wouldn't put too much on that clause because the Spielberg contract is likely to end at some point (whenever he wants his giant payday for estate planning purposes).

The clause still is in effect during a buyout. He films still will be allowed at Universal/ creative consultant on rides based off his films. Just won't get the money.

 

[zg44]

The clause still is in effect during a buyout. He films still will be allowed at Universal/ creative consultant on rides based off his films. Just won't get the money.

I'm not even sure the contract is as broad as Sid Sheinberg says it is; according to other articles on it, Universal still has to pay for and license the rights to those movies for the theme parks. It doesn't really guarantee anything other than Spielberg "consulting fees", see here:

Spielberg's Universal Deal Lasts 'In Perpetuity'

Sheinberg is obviously going to defend the contract (because he made it), but it's a terrible deal by any measure at this point. It reminds me of that "worst sports contract ever" that the NBA signed with one of the former ABA owners to give them a fraction of 4 teams' TV money forever. The NBA ended up paying $300m over the 40 years that contract was open and then another $500m to end the contract. One of the other ABA owners sold his team for like $2m way back when, just to show how they made off on that.

It's a similar outcome here; Spielberg will walk away with something like $1-2 billion probably in the late 2020s.

 

[Imperius]

I got it. Universal buys the theme park rights for Image Comics. They can build a giant castle from I Hate Fairyland, Saga land for sci-fi, can bring in a Walking Dead shooting ride, then an Invincible dynamic Efx coaster with shoe scenes against Battle Beast, Allen the alien, and Thragg.

Kidding, but I would enjoy it.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I'm not getting the hype of this far far away land. Shrek isn't popular and no amount of large land with pointless details being put into it that many people and kids won't recognize is going to make it better.

I'm sorry, you obviously never spend time watching the gift shop at the Sherk attraction.

Wizard of Oz? Pokemon?! damn, I'm ready to abandon universal if this ever happens. Who brought up such an irrelevant topic that is the wizard of Oz? Also Pokemon, I really don't like it, I almost hate it. I judged it as a child and I still do to this day. I'd hate to see that grow like Harry Potter did. I'd like for that to stay contained in the small area that is kids zone.

I doubt the accountants will miss you.

 

[zg44]

Shrek is being rebooted and Universal will try to make it a multiple-movie franchise again in the 2020s. That's what the Comcast execs have said since the DreamWorks buyout. As long as a new generation of kids sees the movies, they'll know Shrek just like the generation in their late teens and twenties does.

 

[Disneyhead]

The core group of characters in Shrek are great, fully developed characters. Any competent group of animators should have no trouble keeping the franchise alive.

 

[zg44]

The core group of characters in Shrek are great, fully developed characters. Any competent group of animators should have no trouble keeping the franchise alive.

The other thing is, with Universal now in charge, I'd expect new features to come in much lower in costs (and needing lower box office numbers to be profitable).

Illumination averages around $80-90m in cost per movie (of course outsourced into France). Those movies are profitable as soon as they hit $300m; and the ones like SLoP or Minions that go way beyond that end up printing massive amounts of money.

DreamWorks was averaging around $135-145m before the cost reductions brought that down to $125m for the most recent bunch. If the new Shrek's come in at $100-110m-ish a piece, that means they'll be profitable at $350m easily. I'd be surprised if a new set of Shrek movies can't pull those numbers.

 

[LJGonz]

Shrek is being rebooted and Universal will try to make it a multiple-movie franchise again in the 2020s. That's what the Comcast execs have said since the DreamWorks buyout. As long as a new generation of kids sees the movies, they'll know Shrek just like the generation in their late teens and twenties does.

Or Disney comes Out w Mona 2 and Shrek is left irrelevante and rarely acknowledged to any kid. You people are acting as if shrek is such an amazing movie, and with the new film coming out that kids will see the "wonder" in it or something. Umm, no. It's an OK movie but it's nothing a bad Disney movie can't beat. It is fairly mediOgre (pun intended) and shouldn't be made into a land. The best it should get is a ride like it has now. Really not getting why people are wanting a whole castle/ land/ ride related to this whatever movie. I like shrek, but not this extent.

 

[Disneyhead]

Or Disney comes Out w Mona 2 and Shrek is left irrelevante and rarely acknowledged to any kid. You people are acting as if shrek is such an amazing movie, and with the new film coming out that kids will see the "wonder" in it or something. Umm, no. It's an OK movie but it's nothing a bad Disney movie can't beat. It is fairly mediOgre (pun intended) and shouldn't be made into a land. The best it should get is a ride like it has now. Really not getting why people are wanting a whole castle/ land/ ride related to this whatever movie. I like shrek, but not this extent.

Ummm,

 

[Blue]

Or Disney comes Out w Mona 2 and Shrek is left irrelevante and rarely acknowledged to any kid. You people are acting as if shrek is such an amazing movie, and with the new film coming out that kids will see the "wonder" in it or something. Umm, no. It's an OK movie but it's nothing a bad Disney movie can't beat. It is fairly mediOgre (pun intended) and shouldn't be made into a land. The best it should get is a ride like it has now. Really not getting why people are wanting a whole castle/ land/ ride related to this whatever movie. I like shrek, but not this extent.

What does Moana have to do with Shrek? Disney and DreamWorks have coexisted in the past. Shrek even won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature over Monsters, Inc.

It's one of the biggest animated film franchises ever and definitely deserves more than a 3D film as an attraction.