Potential New Universal UK Park

[AltonLover123]

I think after the success of Wicked we'd see a land devoted to the film(s) as well. Infact I wouldn't be surprised if that because our Wizarding World

The musical is pretty much destined to run for a very long time, but the next film comes out this year in 2025..by the time this park opens the second film will be 4/5 years old.

I’d LOVE a wicked area but unless they adapt the other books (which is unlikely seeing as the musical is so different from the first book anyway.) I can’t see this happening.

 

[RoyalFool]

If we're getting a Wicked-themed land, this duelling coaster would definitely defy the gravity of industry expectations for Universal!

Not sure how common knowledge it is, but Disney imagineered a wizard of oz land very early on in eurodisney planning; from what I recall the entire land was underground (but themed and lit to give the appearance of being outside) and would incorporate a world first, bonkers, lift system which was not only huge, but had some special effects to make it feel like a real transition to another world, wasn't built for all sorts of very obvious reasons!

Then on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum of "maybe it was too ambitious" scale, Movie World Australia just opened their Wizard of Oz land which is pretty awful and just pre-fab buildings painted yellow and green.

Heck, a lot of the Oz stories are public domain, so maybe I'll open a Oz land in my garden!

 

[benpicko]

Interestingly enough box office wise the UK had the highest gross for the film internationally outside the US IIRC as well as quite the fanbase in this country so it is possible that might have been a suggestion made in the higher ups.

Plus my nieces love Wicked and if we got that here then they'd be there in a heartbeat.

It was also filmed here so all of the large scale sets were built here. Would be cool to see an area of the park with recreations of Oz from the film.

 

[tayspru]

Regardless of the fact that the park will be opening 5 years after the next Wicked film, it’s not one to rule out. The characters are instantly recognisable thanks to its basis in the Oz stories, and will succeed based on the overall vibe of the land rather than any specific movie ( although Wicked does appear to be an all timer in terms of box office numbers)

I view it as similar to the upcoming Universal Monsters land. That isn’t being built based on the success of Woflman (2025) or The Mummy (2017), but the overall recognition of the characters and the franchise

The don’t make these decisions based on the recency or success of specific movies anyway, even the last Harry Potter film was released in 2011, and the last Fantastic Beasts in 2022, and yet many clamour for this to be added. Personally, I think a land based on any version of Oz would stand the test of time just as well

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

It doesn't really say that at all, it says the aviation proposals are part of a wider push to advance planning proposals, and that some or all of the planning decisions are to be announced:

Which doesn't necessarily include the Universal decision but if the speech is about the wider push for advancing planning decisions, Universal is certainly a big one that people would celebrate. Bloomberg is focusing on the aviation decisions because Bloomberg is interested in business news and an expansion of Heathrow would be far bigger news than a theme park, or expansions of smaller airports which are also footnotes in the article.

She’ll announce it but will universal also announce they’re giving the official green light their side? That’s still technically not something they’ve done due to these negotiations etc.

Future capacity for Luton is good seeing as it’s just up the road.

The journalists here (Alibhe Rea and Alex Wickham) are incredibly well-sourced; this will be correct.

Rachel Reeves has finished her growth speech this morning, where she was definitely 100% guaranteed going to announce the government's support and approval to Universal's proposed Bedford project.

As predicted, she made no mention of the project.

 

[dave___]

Perhaps no surprise that there wasn’t anything included in today’s statement. The comment about planning reform and how long planning applications take is probably the most pertinent really.

 

[Matt N]

Rachel Reeves has finished her growth speech this morning, where she was definitely 100% guaranteed going to announce the government's support and approval to Universal's proposed Bedford project.

As predicted, she made no mention of the project.

To be fair, the article itself never said about Reeves mentioning Universal in her speech. It merely included it among “other projects she had signed off on”.

From what I ascertain, the growth speech mainly discussed Heathrow and aviation, did it not?

Everything that that article said she would announce was announced, from memory, so that is a promising sign that the article could also be correct about Universal, is it not?

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

To be fair, the article itself never said about Reeves mentioning Universal in her speech. It merely included it among “other projects she had signed off on”.

I'm aware, I was the one to point that out here, only to be told that nope she was definitely going to announce it.

It's important to note that the article doesn't state that Rachel Reeves is to announce the proposed Universal development. It states that it's "poised to be signed off after being delayed". The only projects which are rumoured to be announced, in a rumoured speech, are aviation expansion.

Don't be shifting goal posts on me!

 

[Blackrock]

Universal clearly want to announce it, and just because the government have agreed to X,Y,Z that doesn’t mean they’ve finalised conversations with their parent company Comcast and being given the full go ahead their end.

 

[Quantum]

The last thing Universal want is for thier big announcement to be made by Rachel Reeves with all the fan fair and enthusiasm of a wet fart.

Not surprised it wasn't announced today, fingers crossed we hear from Universal soon.

 

[rob666]

Universal clearly want to announce it,

Says who?

Enquiries are being made, ground clearance has started, broad outlines are being drawn.
Long way to go.

 

[Squiggs]

Says who?

Enquiries are being made, ground clearance has started, broad outlines are being drawn.
Long way to go.

If you were being sceptical, one might almost say that what has been announced today is the big stick with which Universal can start bashing government departments (both local and national) during negotiations.

 

[Blackrock]

Says who?

Enquiries are being made, ground clearance has started, broad outlines are being drawn.
Long way to go.

I mean as in if it’s going ahead they’d want to announce it.

But announcing it like other people have pointed out previously doesn’t mean spades are put in the ground. Announcing it starts another process.

 

[Bowser]

Everything that that article said she would announce was announced, from memory, so that is a promising sign that the article could also be correct about Universal, is it not?

Someone agrees with you...


From: https://x.com/USGBUpdates/status/1884556305156714988

 

[KolonelKlink]

Rachel Reeves has finished her growth speech this morning, where she was definitely 100% guaranteed going to announce the government's support and approval to Universal's proposed Bedford project.

As predicted, she made no mention of the project.

Don’t misquote me, please - five pages ago on this very thread, we literally had someone post the tweet from one of the journalists confirming that Universal wouldn’t be in the speech but was poised to be signed off:


From: https://x.com/pronouncedalva/status/1881414110811963680?s=46&t=OuG-53CJRHzzDVEPmDXGSg


That does not detract from Bloomberg’s information being correct and as far as I can see, only one poster here suggested (with no proof) it was nailed on for an announcement today.

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make but there is no contradiction!

 

[Night Watchman]

I think a lot of this has stemmed from Facebook groups seeing the Bloomberg tweets but only paying attention to the information they want to see.

 

[benpicko]

I'm aware, I was the one to point that out here, only to be told that nope she was definitely going to announce it.

I mean, you've included me in your back-patting post but all I said was that you're wrong that the 'only projects which are rumoured to be announced, in a rumoured speech, are aviation expansion' -- as per the article, that was wrong (and in fact, every other project mentioned in the article except for Universal was announced).

I initially thought that the park would be included in the speech because it was in a list of projects due to be given the green light as per the article, until the authors of the article tweeted that Universal specifically wouldn't be included in the speech which I also posted and which steered the conversation away from assuming Universal would be mentioned.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I mean, you've included me in your back-patting post but all I said was that you're wrong that the 'only projects which are rumoured to be announced, in a rumoured speech, are aviation expansion' -- as per the article, that was wrong (and in fact, every other project mentioned in the article except for Universal was announced).

The only projects which were rumoured to be announced in the, at the time, rumoured speech, in an article titled "UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth", were around aviation expansion.

All of the other projects were designated "expected to be signed off", and weren't included in the section of the article talking about the contents of the speech.

 

[Bowser]

Little article on BBC today:

Government says Universal UK Bedfordshire resort talks continue

An update on the development will come in "due course", a minister says.

www.bbc.co.uk

Negotiations for a Universal Studios theme park in the UK are ongoing, the government has told MPs.
There was speculation the proposed 700-acre (283-hectare) development in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire, could be mentioned in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' speech about growth.
Blake Stephenson, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, the constituency in which the park could be built, told the Commons people may be surprised not to hear the government back the project and asked when negotiations would conclude.
Treasury minister Darren Jones declined to give a date and said negotiations were ongoing, adding: "I hope to come back shortly with updates."
Earlier in Parliament, Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston, asked for reassurance that progress was being made on the project.
Jones responded: "The government is in negotiations with partners for this development and unfortunately I can't update the house at this stage but I look forward to doing so in due course".

​

Universal Destinations and Experiences bought a 476-acre (193-hectare) site in Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford, but explained during public consultation the final size of the site could cover about 700 acres.
It has yet to make a decision on whether the theme park will go ahead.
The firm said if its plans moved forward, it would "help facilitate" a number of upgrades to the area, such as the construction of new railway stations, new slip roads from the A421 and upgrades to Manor Road.
Universal claims about 8,000 jobs would be created in the area once the resort became operational.
After two decades, that number would rise to 10,000, it says.

 

[jon81uk]

Universal claims about 8,000 jobs would be created in the area once the resort became operational.
After two decades, that number would rise to 10,000, it says.

Merlin apparently only employeers 30,000 people worldwide, so even considering the indirect employment of independant hotels etc that number seems huge.