Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[PerceptiveCoot]

Between this and Supercharged, I feel like I've missed three separate rumor cycles in the past 24 hours.

 

[yepthatguy]

Did anyone catch a confirmed name for this park now it’s official?

Is it “Universal Studios Great Britain” for certain?

 

[ParadoxPortals]

Even though the concept art isn't supposed to be super detailed or accurate, I'm not seeing adequate space for a second attraction in this art. Unless the land is expanded in the final pitch I worry it'll just be the coaster - which TBH would be enough on its own to draw people to the land


I've updated my predictions list to be more in-tune with current rumours and discoveries, including the (almost) confirmation that North of Dreamworks' Minions, is a Shrek area (based on the presence of the Poison Apple restaurant), the swapping of Pokemon for Paddington, and the removal of the Wicked land for more Jurassic World space).View attachment 25904

Ever a perfectionist, I've created a third and (hopefully) final version of my concept art dissection, this time not being my predictions but exclusively insight into what the concept art suggests will be in the resort as a whole, in-line with existing rumours and leaks about this project.

I've swapped-out the concept art I used for a higher-quality render, moved James Bond into the Jaws ride spot as it seems the show building connects to the Hollywood hub and unfortunately not Amity, I've added in a note signalling a possible Camp Cretaceous and guessed a Jurassic World restaurant may be a new version of Beijing's Hammond's restaurant, and also I've changed-up alot of my Dreamworks Land predictions to exclude Trolls but include Sing and move Secret Life of Pets (there's a chance it will end up being Minion Mayhem, I do recognise that). I'm also aware I'm guessing that the hotel will be Hard Rock brand, I have no reason to assume that other than the fact Hard Rock restaurants are pretty popular here in the UK, I just wanted a logo to attach to the hotel to bring attention to it.

Maybe I'm being a bit prideful here but I'm hoping to have drawn up the most qualitative and accurate version of the rumoured site plans based on all the info we've been accruing these past couple of years. Any notes or criticisms, send them my way!

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Ever a perfectionist, I've created a third and (hopefully) final version of my concept art dissection, this time not being my predictions but exclusively insight into what the concept art suggests will be in the resort as a whole, in-line with existing rumours and leaks about this project.

I've swapped-out the concept art I used for a higher-quality render, moved James Bond into the Jaws ride spot as it seems the show building connects to the Hollywood hub and unfortunately not Amity, I've added in a note signalling a possible Camp Cretaceous and guessed a Jurassic World restaurant may be a new version of Beijing's Hammond's restaurant, and also I've changed-up alot of my Dreamworks Land predictions to exclude Trolls but include Sing and move Secret Life of Pets (there's a chance it will end up being Minion Mayhem, I do recognise that). I'm also aware I'm guessing that the hotel will be Hard Rock brand, I have no reason to assume that other than the fact Hard Rock restaurants are pretty popular here in the UK, I just wanted a logo to attach to the hotel to bring attention to it.

Maybe I'm being a bit prideful here but I'm hoping to have drawn up the most qualitative and accurate version of the rumoured site plans based on all the info we've been accruing these past couple of years. Any notes or criticisms, send them my way!View attachment 25908

Where is everyone getting Back to The Future?

 

[ParadoxPortals]

Where is everyone getting Back to The Future?

This building has a uniquely-shaped front, and in the concept art for the town square area of the park you can see the back of it as a facade to the left of the front of the main (clocktower(?)) building, which would make geographical sense for Hill Valley's canonical layout.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Honestly my first thought upon looking at the "Paddington" area was Smurfs due to the mushroom esque shape of one of the buildings and the colors used. French people visit Britain too!

 

[Alicia]

Did anyone catch a confirmed name for this park now it’s official?

Is it “Universal Studios Great Britain” for certain?

Still no confirmed name. And they registered a new website for UniversalStudiosResort.co.uk so not so sure about the GB ones anymore tbh

 

[tielo]

Old ideas never die at Universal.
The Bond ip is owned by Amazon.

 

[CoasterFan247]

The area slightly up-right of the Shrek building looks a bit swampy, so could be a whole Shrek area including dark ride at the back.

 

[quinnmac000]

I agree with you that the final park layout will likely drastically change, and Wicked could very well be a part of it, I just hope it isn't too dominant. IDK how big the IP really is over here, from my POV it seems more popular in America. As well as that, currently it's literally just a 1-film series (excluding the stage show which is not part of the movie timeline), and even though we'll be getting a sequel, and maybe even more films based on the Wicked novels, I don't feel like this IP has strong staying power, nor should be built beside global enduring hits like Jurassic Park / World.

Wicked has two parts in regards to prevalence. Its based on the Wizard of Oz which is public domain and known for over 100 years. Wicked has also been a part of the UK theatre seen since 2006 showcasing the IP to over 8.5 million people since that time. So in terms of staying power, i would argue its also showcased it.

But in terms of solely Wicked and UK popularity using numbers. Wicked Part One grossed more at the UK box office than the last Jurassic World movie did by a decent amount. Wicked Part One also was the highest grossing film released in 2024 in the UK market and the tenth longest running show on the West End. Arguably, this IP is stronger in the UK than it is in the states. Lastly, Universal and co have actively reached out to the team to potentially work on a third film in the series.

We do know the Mark Woodbury (Universal Parks CEO) has stated they have been working on a Wicked theme park attraction (s) meaning Universal does see it as an option.

In a new feature in The New York Times, Univeral's theme park chief Mark Woodbury revealed that the highly successful Wicked movie is serving as the inspiration for secret "significant attractions" that may come to the company's theme parks in the future. "When I saw [the movie], my first reaction was, ‘This is a theme park waiting to happen,’” Woodbury told the Times.

 

[Ludus]

I can't help but feel the central lake takes up a unnecessarily significant amount of space

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I can't help but feel the central lake takes up a unnecessarily significant amount of space

I have bad news.

 

[Steeb]

James Bond and Paddington could star at Universal UK

Lord of the Rings and 007 – but not Harry Potter – are expected at the Bedfordshire theme park.

www.bbc.com

 

[xtpower]

I feel confident BBC are on the money, they aren't ones to post unsourced info. So with that being said I'm guessing the 'Shrek' bit is just a placeholder to obscure things. Which makes sense as that corner is by far the vaguest and least detailed of the areas. I'm also of a mind that we won't get an exact copy of the Minions area from Beijing, because that is by far the weakest themed are in Beijing and I'm thinking Universal won't want any weak-link areas.

 

[bedfordmassive]

A triviality, but I love the bizarre Englishness of Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Coincil welcoming Universal Studios Universal Studios – Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council

 

[quinnmac000]

THis line of the BBC article has me curious. So could the concept art be exactly what we are getting?

Rides have already been designed, with the majority planned as indoor attractions. The source insisted "contracts have been signed" and it would be unlikely things would change.

 

[yepthatguy]

THis line of the BBC article has me curious. So could the concept art be exactly what we are getting?

Last night I looked at the very first Epic Universe concept art, then looked at the UK park concept art released, and based on how Epic looks now it’s finished, I suspect it will be very close.

This is just my own opinion.

By all counts and reports though…

No Super Nintendo World
No Harry Potter

And also the official project website no longer contains any wording relating to an SDO that I can see…

 

[Altonsky]

I feel confident BBC are on the money, they aren't ones to post unsourced info. So with that being said I'm guessing the 'Shrek' bit is just a placeholder to obscure things. Which makes sense as that corner is by far the vaguest and least detailed of the areas. I'm also of a mind that we won't get an exact copy of the Minions area from Beijing, because that is by far the weakest themed are in Beijing and I'm thinking Universal won't want any weak-link areas.

If LoTR is going where people think Shrek is going to be located do people not think the area is a little small for an IP that large?

I think it’s personally Shrek. Is it not possible LoTR could be a later addition a few years after the park has opened in one of those huge expansion pads?

I assume over the first decade of the park being open they’ll be pumping stuff out.

 

[quinnmac000]

If LoTR is going where people think Shrek is going to be located do people not think the area is a little small for an IP that large?

I think it’s personally Shrek. Is it not possible LoTR could be a later addition a few years after the park has opened in one of those huge expansion pads?

I assume over the first decade of the park being open they’ll be pumping stuff out.

The area is bigger than you expect depending on which version of the concept art you see. The super HI Res one has a huge show building in the back

 

[Altonsky]

The area is bigger than you expect depending on which version of the concept art you see. The super HI Res one has a huge show building in the back

But for a landmark IP like LoTR it’s tiny which is why I’m leaning toward that area actually being Shrek.

It just seems daft putting it in that location when there’s arguably better locations where they could actually do it just and then expand at a later date