The Future of Lost Continent

[Brian G.]

Jurassic World Is Universal's biggest IP and it's not even close.

I mean, I'm not gonna debate which one you wanna put at the 1 spot - but it kinda is close...

Potter always made sense, but I'm talking Wicked, not the Wizard of Oz. Nobody was clamoring for a themepark land when it was on broadway and as far as we know, there will only be 2 films.

Actually... they were. For a while, Jim Hill even touted it as Marvel's rumored replacement!

It's only heated up because of its success at the Box Office and Universal's recent remarks about it.

At the end of the day, it's still the Wizard of Oz.

 

[Mad Dog]

I mean, I'm not gonna debate which one you wanna put at the 1 spot - but it kinda is close...



Actually... they were. For a while, Jim Hill even touted it as Marvel's rumored replacement!

It's only heated up because of its success at the Box Office and Universal's recent remarks about it.

At the end of the day, it's still the Wizard of Oz.

Yes, bottom line, most GP would probably think of Wicked and Wizard of Oz being essentially the same. Wizard of Oz actually expands
the number of people that would be interested in a land. Wicked supports it by making it more current and relevant again.

 

[yankeetrex]

Not trying to debate, but I just don't understand how wicked is in the same stratosphere of Jurassic?

Jurassic has at least 4 Billion dollar films(if you adjust the first for inflation)?

I mean, I'm not gonna debate which one you wanna put at the 1 spot - but it kinda is close...



Actually... they were. For a while, Jim Hill even touted it as Marvel's rumored replacement!

It's only heated up because of its success at the Box Office and Universal's recent remarks about it.

At the end of the day, it's still the Wizard of Oz.

 

[GA-MBIT]

My hope would be that it leans harder into the Wizard of Oz elements than the Wicked-centric ones. A Wizard of Oz land is an incredible concept and always has been. The numerous Oz theme park attractions across the past century show that to be true. It would fit the exact same mold as New Fantasyland or Dark Universe; a brand new high-tech take on century-old films that pioneered that medium.

Give me Emerald City, the Wicked Witch's castle, Munchkin Village, the Yellow Brick Road, flying monkeys and Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin-man. Give me those timeless elements.

My worry is that it leans far too much into Wicked-specific elements. Shiz or the Ozdust Dance don't ring as eternally iconic as the Emerald City does. I'm totally okay with a Wicked ride somewhere. I think that would be a wonderful and very popular addition to the parks. I would also be cool with those classic elements portrayed as they were in the Wicked films, including Elphaba and Glinda themselves. But if Lost Continent ends up becoming just the school from Wicked (2024), with a simulator ride based on the train or something; I'll be honest and say that there are far, far better options, to put it mildly.

 

[Brian G.]

Not trying to debate, but I just don't understand how wicked is in the same stratosphere of Jurassic?

Jurassic has at least 4 Billion dollar films(if you adjust the first for inflation)?

Joe was talking about "right now". Rebirth vs Wicked - it was close at the box office. We'll see how "For Good" does in November.

Like I said, if you want to put Jurassic over Wicked at 1, sure - but it's foolish to say Wicked isn't close, especially when you make it a Jurassic vs Oz battle.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Not trying to debate, but I just don't understand how wicked is in the same stratosphere of Jurassic?

Jurassic has at least 4 Billion dollar films(if you adjust the first for inflation)?

Wicked is just getting started as a media franchise outside of Broadway. I'm sure they will try to milk the hell out of any potential spin-off(s) they can make.

The decision to base an entire theme park land shouldn't just be based on the number of films and their box office records. If that were the case, Waterworld would not exist and Fast and Furious would have its own portal at Epic Universe.

My hope would be that it leans harder into the Wizard of Oz elements than the Wicked-centric ones. A Wizard of Oz land is an incredible concept and always has been. The numerous Oz theme park attractions across the past century show that to be true. It would fit the exact same mold as New Fantasyland or Dark Universe; a brand new high-tech take on century-old films that pioneered that medium.

Give me Emerald City, the Wicked Witch's castle, Munchkin Village, the Yellow Brick Road, flying monkeys and Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin-man. Give me those timeless elements.

My worry is that it leans far too much into Wicked-specific elements. Shiz or the Ozdust Dance don't ring as eternally iconic as the Emerald City does. I'm totally okay with a Wicked ride somewhere. I think that would be a wonderful and very popular addition to the parks. I would also be cool with those classic elements portrayed as they were in the Wicked films. But if Lost Continent ends up becoming just the school from Wicked (2024), with a simulator ride based on the train or something; I'll be honest and say that there are far, far better options, to put it mildly.

This is also my concern with Wicked. Not saying that some of the more unique aspects of Wicked shouldn't be presented, but it shouldn't be the main focus. Building anything Oz related should have the yellow-brick road, munchkin land, Emerald City, etc.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

Also notable that if you compare Wicked Part 1 and Jurassic World Rebirth in terms of domestic gross only, Wicked handily won. I think that's important both because studios get their best exhibitor split from domestic grosses, and also because we're speculating on additions to domestic parks.

But I just can't believe we might get a big addition in this area, whatever it is. I already love the land because it's the space I pass through going between Hagrid's and the Velocicoaster bridge. I'll miss the chicken stingers at Fire Eaters, but I'm assuming we'll get some sort of handheld breaded chicken offering at this new land.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Jurassic World Is Universal's biggest IP and it's not even close.

Domestically or internationally? I agree internationally but this is a domestic park.

 

[GA-MBIT]

Wicked is just getting started as a media franchise outside of Broadway. I'm sure they will try to milk the hell out of any potential spin-off(s) they can make.

The decision to base an entire theme park land shouldn't just be based on the number of films and their box office records. If that were the case, Waterworld would not exist and Fast and Furious would have its own portal at Epic Universe.

This is also my concern with Wicked. Not saying that some of the more unique aspects of Wicked shouldn't be presented, but it shouldn't be the main focus. Building anything Oz related should have the yellow-brick road, munchkin land, Emerald City, etc.

A Wicked ride replacing Fallon can do whatever it wants imo; but once you start discussing a full land, then you need to make sure it will stand the test of time. I believe Wicked as an IP land works immeasurably better leaning on it's timeless aspects. The land should be Oz, or the Emerald City. It should not be Shiz University.

You don't need Dorothy or the gang to lead the land either. I believe Elphaba and Glinda are themselves iconic due to the musical.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

A Wicked ride replacing Fallon can do whatever it wants imo; but once you start discussing a full land, then you need to make sure it will stand the test of time. I believe Wicked as an IP land works immeasurably better leaning on it's timeless aspects. The land should be Oz, or the Emerald City. It should not be Shiz University.

You don't need Dorothy or the gang to lead the land either. I believe Elphaba and Glinda are themselves iconic due to the musical.

Fully agree with this. I only jumped on the Wicked bandwagon last year, so I don’t wanna offend any lifelong mega fans, but we do not need a Shiz recreation at all imo.

Maybe give us that spinning bookcase thing in a ride, but otherwise keep it to munchkinland and the emerald city

 

[Butterbeard]

When talking about new lands at USF, why do we never consider the area circled in red between MIB and Simpsons ? I see rumours always talking about replacing existing rides or lands, but to me this area screams future expansion, especially considering the dozens of extra acres for backstage use UOR now has next to EU.

Can someone explain why this parcel was never used, and will not be used in the near future ?

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

When talking about new lands at USF, why do we never consider the area circled in red between MIB and Simpsons ? I see rumours always talking about replacing existing rides or lands, but to me this area screams future expansion, especially considering the dozens of extra acres for backstage use UOR now has next to EU.

Can someone explain why this parcel was never used, and will not be used in the near future ?

View attachment 27931

Horror Nights - you can literally see all four of the tents in the image.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

When talking about new lands at USF, why do we never consider the area circled in red between MIB and Simpsons ? I see rumours always talking about replacing existing rides or lands, but to me this area screams future expansion, especially considering the dozens of extra acres for backstage use UOR now has next to EU.

Can someone explain why this parcel was never used, and will not be used in the near future ?

View attachment 27931

Folks have talked about that plot in the past. If I'm remembering right, there was a kernel of a rumor about Star Trek or some other nonsense going there like a decade ago.

Part of it is that we were all assuming until very recently that Simpson needed to be replaced by a certain time. Couple that with how many underwhelming USF attractions people have wanted swapped out (HRRR, Supercharged, Fallon), and it's been easy to focus on other targets.

 

[yankeetrex]

Domestically or internationally? I agree internationally but this is a domestic park.

Both Domestic and Internationally historically. I never was comparing Jurassic World Rebirth to Wicked domestically. Domestically Rebirth had a ton against it and still was the biggest movie of the summer(Stitch came out in the spring), i doubt it would have made 480 million domestically like wicked did. However If rebirth had premium large format screens for longer then a week, an IMAX run AT ALL, and a better received predecessor we'd possibly be looking at another billion dollar + movie in the franchise.

My statements have always been about comparing the two franchises overall historically and the future prospects of popularity in the parks for the future. I'm all for a WIzard of Oz land with walking characters from wicked, but a Shiz themed land with little to do with the original Wizard will feel too much like potter 2.0 and won't have universal appeal.

If I'm wrong I will gladly own up to it, but comparing the longevity of something like Jurassic World to Wicked is just really off to me.

 

[Brian G.]

Horror Nights - you can literally see all four of the tents in the image.

Also Parade Storage Building.

 

[ChrisFL]

A Wicked ride replacing Fallon can do whatever it wants imo; but once you start discussing a full land, then you need to make sure it will stand the test of time. I believe Wicked as an IP land works immeasurably better leaning on it's timeless aspects. The land should be Oz, or the Emerald City. It should not be Shiz University.

You don't need Dorothy or the gang to lead the land either. I believe Elphaba and Glinda are themselves iconic due to the musical.

It would be interesting if Twister was still there and this conversation was happening.

 

[kingcooger]

Potter always made sense, but I'm talking Wicked, not the Wizard of Oz. Nobody was clamoring for a themepark land when it was on broadway and as far as we know, there will only be 2 films. How dumb is it to ask a legitimate question?

I mean, there was a Wicked mini land overseas that people wanted to see come this way at one point in time.

As well, there are rumors of more Wicked related movies in the works.

And, officially, there are more Gregory Maguire novels to draw from with the main Wicked series including the books Wicked, Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz. He also wrote a sequel trilogy and this year he published. a prequel novel called Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.

 

[OLSinFLA]

I mean, I'm not gonna debate which one you wanna put at the 1 spot - but it kinda is close...



Actually... they were. For a while, Jim Hill even touted it as Marvel's rumored replacement!

It's only heated up because of its success at the Box Office and Universal's recent remarks about it.

At the end of the day, it's still the Wizard of Oz.

The authors said they were thinking of exploring more of the "Wicked" universe (as a film or play wasn't stated)