The World of David Walliams: General Discussion

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Doctor Who is now a severely tarnished IP though? There's no Doctor presently, they've destroyed their viewing figures and even told the crew they don't anticipate it coming back properly outside the odd special for a while.

The BBC have confirmed that Doctor Who is returning for a Christmas Special in 2026, produced by Bad Wolf and Russell The Davis. They have also commissioned a new animated series to air on CBeebies.

In late October the BBC stated:

"We can assure fans the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”

Whether it's a tarnished IP, or not, is up for debate.

 

[PhalanaxOperativeA1127]

You wouldn't even need to film something unique; depending on the storyline of the ride, of course, but im sure you could just use a clip of the doctor in his tardis, fiddling with the console, lifted straight from an episode.

Equally, you just film a quick 30s clip every time they film a new "click subscribe on this YouTube channel at the end or every DW YouTube video".

There are always ways if all parties want to make something work. However, the chances of Dr who at AT are slim

 

[AT86]

I wonder if the plan to roll out the Animal Treasure Island theme across other Merlin parks has survived the latest management changes? Could this be a contender for the Dungeons building / TWODW and or Horizon?

The original plan was:

Animal Treasure Island is part of an international roll-out project by Merlin Entertainments that will see the experience rolled out to other parks in the group following its opening at Gardaland in 2025

Gardaland to Premiere New IP Adventure “Animal Treasure Island” - EuroAmusement Professional

www.eap-magazin.de

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

You wouldn't even need to film something unique; depending on the storyline of the ride, of course, but im sure you could just use a clip of the doctor in his tardis, fiddling with the console, lifted straight from an episode.

You can't simply lift a clip from a broadcast television episode and stick it into a ride environment. The lighting will be wrong, the aspect ratio will be wrong, the audio mix will be wrong, and the context will be wrong. Unless the ride narrative is "The Doctor ignores you while having a conversation with a companion who isn't there," it breaks immersion instantly.

Equally, you just film a quick 30s clip every time they film a new "click subscribe on this YouTube channel at the end or every DW YouTube video".

There are always ways if all parties want to make something work. However, the chances of Dr who at AT are slim

Equity contracts are notoriously rigid. You can't just point a camera at an actor during a promo shoot and say "say these lines for a theme park ride" without triggering a separate negotiation for usage rights, residuals, and fees for a different medium. The unions are extremely hot on this.

I wonder if the plan to roll out the Animal Treasure Island theme across other Merlin parks has survived the latest management changes? Could this be a contender for the Dungeons building / TWODW and or Horizon?

The original plan was:

Gardaland to Premiere New IP Adventure “Animal Treasure Island” - EuroAmusement Professional

www.eap-magazin.de

I wouldn't rule it out entirely. Animal Treasure Island certainly fits the bill of the "Midway Mindset" era, creating a generic, owned IP that can be copy and pasted across the estate to avoid paying licensing fees (Lego Mythica being a good example).

Looking at Fiona Eastwood's recent strategic shifts though, she seems to be pivoting aggressively towards established global brands (Minecraft, Jumanji, Bluey). I wonder if a generic animal adventure fits into a portfolio that is trying to compete with Universal?

I could see the logic in using it as a cost effective refresh for the Dungeons building / TWODW, as you suggest. It saves paying David Walliams or the BBC. But for Project Horizon? I struggle to see them putting a £12.5m headline coaster in a shed and theming it to a knock off Madagascar. It feels a little small.

 

[PhalanaxOperativeA1127]

You can't simply lift a clip from a broadcast television episode and stick it into a ride environment. The lighting will be wrong, the aspect ratio will be wrong, the audio mix will be wrong, and the context will be wrong. Unless the ride narrative is "The Doctor ignores you while having a conversation with a companion who isn't there," it breaks immersion instantly.

Equity contracts are notoriously rigid. You can't just point a camera at an actor during a promo shoot and say "say these lines for a theme park ride" without triggering a separate negotiation for usage rights, residuals, and fees for a different medium. The unions are extremely hot on this.


I wouldn't rule it out entirely. Animal Treasure Island certainly fits the bill of the "Midway Mindset" era, creating a generic, owned IP that can be copy and pasted across the estate to avoid paying licensing fees (Lego Mythica being a good example).

Looking at Fiona Eastwood's recent strategic shifts though, she seems to be pivoting aggressively towards established global brands (Minecraft, Jumanji, Bluey). I wonder if a generic animal adventure fits into a portfolio that is trying to compete with Universal?

I could see the logic in using it as a cost effective refresh for the Dungeons building / TWODW, as you suggest. It saves paying David Walliams or the BBC. But for Project Horizon? I struggle to see them putting a £12.5m headline coaster in a shed and theming it to a knock off Madagascar. It feels a little small.

You can't simply lift a clip from a broadcast television episode and stick it into a ride environment. The lighting will be wrong, the aspect ratio will be wrong, the audio mix will be wrong, and the context will be wrong. Unless the ride narrative is "The Doctor ignores you while having a conversation with a companion who isn't there," it breaks immersion instantly.

Equity contracts are notoriously rigid. You can't just point a camera at an actor during a promo shoot and say "say these lines for a theme park ride" without triggering a separate negotiation for usage rights, residuals, and fees for a different medium. The unions are extremely hot on this.

Like I said in my post; if there is a will from all parties, there's nothing there that can no be overcome.

Again, though, its a non starter.

 

[Hid]

I wonder if the plan to roll out the Animal Treasure Island theme across other Merlin parks has survived the latest management changes? Could this be a contender for the Dungeons building / TWODW and or Horizon?

The original plan was:

Gardaland to Premiere New IP Adventure “Animal Treasure Island” - EuroAmusement Professional

www.eap-magazin.de

Wouldn't be against this Animal Treasure Island at Gardaland is awesome really well done dark ride with a lot of animitronics

 

[Ash]

Wouldn't be against this Animal Treasure Island at Gardaland is awesome really well done dark ride with a lot of animitronics

Although better than nothing, imo it would be an awful addition, particularly in that location.

At a push it might of worked in Mutiny Bay behind Eastern Express or behind the Wickerman gas tanks.

But that location has much potential, particularly thematically. If not something original/victorian/“algenony”, then I still have this gut feeling something Lego orientated.

 

[Dave]

Doctor Who is now a severely tarnished IP though? There's no Doctor presently, they've destroyed their viewing figures and even told the crew they don't anticipate it coming back properly outside the odd special for a while.

The viewing figures were fine, the haters compared streaming era figures against linear tv figures of 2025 to make a point about “woke”.

I personally didn’t like the last season, the doctor was fine and the Wokeness was lovely but I felt RTD story arc was weak, but the IP is still a lot stronger than the right wing would like to suggest.

Certainly stronger than most other IP’s Merlin have.