Universal Set to Acquire Another Successful Franchise?

[DizneyFreak2002]

Happy New Year Intercotees... Want a New Year present?

Rumors have been circulating on several different sites that Universal is currently in negotiations to acquire the theme park rights to Lord of the Rings... Story goes as follows:

Universal turned to Warner Brothers to begin negotiations with the Tolkiens for the rights to LOTR... WB explained how Universal worked with WB and JK Rowling while creating Wizarding World and how they made sure Universal created Rowling's vision of the Wizarding World she created... In turn, the Tolkiens may have spoken with JK regarding working with Universal... After WB (and possible JK) spoke with the estate, the Tolkiens agreed to meet with Universal where Universal presented a "grand" plan for a LOTR area in their theme parks...

Now, no agreement has been made as of yet, but the fire has been stoked... Details are being hammered out...

I can only imagine how awesome a land based on LOTR would be... One problem Universal would have to figure out is: one does not simply walk into Modor!

[Strmchsr]

That would be incredible but the Tolkien estate has been notoriously difficult about these kinds of things. I'll remain skeptical until something is actually announced, but I would love to see it.

[Tink1]

but do they have the land for it? I know they bought more land, but if I remember correctly it is not connected to any of the current parks.

Nanc

[buzznwoodysmom]

I am sure Universal will do a terrific job with anything they acquire. That said, I am not a fan of LOTR so this project doesn't really interest me at all.

[DizneyFreak2002]

That would be incredible but the Tolkien estate has been notoriously difficult about these kinds of things. I'll remain skeptical until something is actually announced, but I would love to see it.

They are extremely protective of the IP... I read somewhere, and no I don't know if it is true, that they were even disappointed in Peter Jackson's hugely successful movies... With that said, there was no way they would ever agree to LOTR in Disney... JRR didn't like Walt and refused to ever work with him and the company... The estate is holding firm on JRR's feelings...

but do they have the land for it? I know they bought more land, but if I remember correctly it is not connected to any of the current parks.

Nanc

Yes, they have the land... And they can always retheme certain areas of the existing parks... Lost Continent is pretty much, well, lost, and Toon Lagoon wouldn't be missed...

There is a franchise they should pursue to take care of the sci-fi genre, Star Trek, which would fit perfectly by MIB... They could even use the Fear Factor stage for a live Star Trek show...

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Very cool I would love to take a stroll through The Shire. A stop at the Green Dragon would be fun.

[DisneyGlutton]

If they acquired LOTR, Universal would start to rival my beloved Disney. Or at least I would make time for it more than once a decade!

[DizneyFreak2002]

If they acquired LOTR, Universal would start to rival my beloved Disney. Or at least I would make time for it more than once a decade!

Start to? They already do...

[DisneyGlutton]

Start to? They already do...

Hehe, if you say so. I can't make too much of an informed critique as I haven't been to Universal Orlando in over a decade. I'm still dying to see Harry Potter World, but other than that, it looks rather blah to me. Old favorites like King Kong, Earthquake, and Jaws are gone (but not stupid E.T.). I made a side trip to Universal Hollywood on my Disneyland trip some years ago, and while it was nice, I wasn't blown away. If nothing else, it is lacking nostalgia for me.

[NJGIRL]

Hehe, if you say so. I can't make too much of an informed critique as I haven't been to Universal Orlando in over a decade. I'm still dying to see Harry Potter World, but other than that, it looks rather blah to me. Old favorites like King Kong, Earthquake, and Jaws are gone (but not stupid E.T.). I made a side trip to Universal Hollywood on my Disneyland trip some years ago, and while it was nice, I wasn't blown away. If nothing else, it is lacking nostalgia for me.

Universal, IMO, is anything but blah. Attraction for attraction Universal beats Disney everytime and most who have been there agree on this point. The main compliant I hear from Disney fans is that Universal doesn't have the atmosphere that Disney does. Well, with the addition of HP they showed everyone that they can exceed Disney in that area too. Now, if they start to re-theme IOA section by section and do the same great job they did with HP, there should not be any more to criticize about that park.

And BTW Earthquake is still there, it has just been renamed. They changed the show before the ride around a little, but IMO it's better now.

King Kong, loved the ride and wish it was still there, but the Mummy is the best themed rollercoaster I have ever been on.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Universal, IMO, is anything but blah. Attraction for attraction Universal beats Disney everytime and most who have been there agree on this point. The main compliant I hear from Disney fans is that Universal doesn't have the atmosphere that Disney themeddoes. Well, with the addition of HP they showed everyone that they can exceed Disney in that area too. Now, if they start to re-theme IOA section by section and do the same great job they did with HP, there should not be any more to criticize about that park.

And BTW Earthquake is still there, it has just been renamed. They changed the show before the ride around a little, but IMO it's better now.

King Kong, loved the ride and wish it was still there, but the Mummy is the best themed rollercoaster I have ever been on.

You forgot to mention, ET beats many of Disney's dark rides when polled by guests who visit both parks and many theme park industry insiders... My personal opinion, ET is better than any of WDW's dark rides, except for maybe Haunted Mansion...

[NJGIRL]

You forgot to mention, ET beats many of Disney's dark rides when polled by guests who visit both parks and many theme park industry insiders... My personal opinion, ET is better than any of WDW's dark rides, except for maybe Haunted Mansion...

I do love ET....when compared to Peter Pan (which I think is fair) I feel ET is better. I do not feel it is better than the Haunted Mansion or Pirates, but those two attractions, IMO anyway, are not similar to ET.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I do love ET....when compared to Peter Pan (which I think is fair) I feel ET is better. I do not feel it is better than the Haunted Mansion or Pirates, but those two attractions, IMO anyway, are not similar to ET.

If we compare it simply to Pan, ET blows Pan out of the water... I try to compare it to all dark rides despite the ride mechanism... I put ET above almost all of the traditional Disney dark rides except Mansion... Yes, I have to put it above Pirates too... I feel Pirates lost a lot of the "magic" that made it a classic... But Mansion still has it...

[NJGIRL]

Yes, I have to put it above Pirates too... I feel Pirates lost a lot of the "magic" that made it a classic... But Mansion still has it...

I will have to disagree with you there. While I don't care for them throwing J Depp into the ride (but have to say I love the waterfall effect), I still love the attraction and it's still one of my favorites.

[barnaby]

Seems like its happenend, pulled this off another site:
Universal has acquired the rights to build Middle Earth themed lands and attractions in their parks.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Seems like its happenend, pulled this off another site:
Universal has acquired the rights to build Middle Earth themed lands and attractions in their parks.

I know the site you got that from... Don't listen to them, trust me on that... Especially the guy who reported it.. He is wrong... The negotiations are still on going... Nothing is close to an agreement...

[barnaby]

I know the site you got that from... Don't listen to them, trust me on that... Especially the guy who reported it.. He is wrong... The negotiations are still on going... Nothing is close to an agreement...

That was at 5 this AM, they seemed to have backed off that statement now and are saying negotiations are ongoing.

[DizneyFreak2002]

That was at 5 this AM, they seemed to have backed off that statement now and are saying negotiations are ongoing.

There is a back story about the guy who wrote the article.. I won't bring it here since it has nothing to do with Intercot... But, he isn't trustworthy based on his actions elsewhere...

[Crow]

not stupid ET..i love the movie..ride isnt bad.
Universal seems to have stepped it up a lot.
Spiderman is great.Harry Potter village is pretty nice.
competition is good here
i did go to Universal Hollywood in Feb. the tram ride was interesting. and i liked that it was a working studio
now if WDW and Universal Florida could have working studios more...

[DizneyFreak2002]

not stupid ET..i love the movie..ride isnt bad.
Universal seems to have stepped it up a lot.
Spiderman is great.Harry Potter village is pretty nice.
competition is good here
i did go to Universal Hollywood in Feb. the tram ride was interesting. and i liked that it was a working studio
now if WDW and Universal Florida could have working studios more...

If what some people elsewhere are saying is true, Orlando has been deemed ground zero for a new theme park war!!!!!