NBCUniversal last year acquired the animation studio, which long has had an association with Universal's theme parks via the Shrek franchise. Today, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that it will open a redesigned DreamWorks Theatre attraction for 2018, which will feature a new Kung Fu Panda show.
So what happens to the Shrek 4-D show, you might ask? It's going away, as the DreamWorks Theatre will be replacing that experience. A Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson said, "We continually evaluate our entertainment options. The ‘Shrek 4D’ attraction enjoyed a successful run since 2003 and we look forward to offering our guests this new multi-sensory experience next year."
USH also will feature DreamWorks Animation characters in expanded meet and greets in Universal Plaza, starting this summer. The line up will include: Kung Fu Panda’s Po and Tigress; Madagascar’s Alex the Lion, The Penguins—Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private, and King Julian; Trolls’ Poppy and Branch; plus Shrek’s Puss ‘n Boots as joining currently appearing characters Shrek and Fiona.
The park also announced today that it also will be getting the new Christmas show at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, previously announced for Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. IOA's getting the food that Hollywood had last year, too, so it looks like we will have twin holiday celebrations in Hogsmeade at the Wizarding Worlds on each coast.
USH now is soft-open testing the non-holiday version of the castle projection light show, which debuts officially on June 23.
Finally, Universal Orlando today committed to a Spring 2018 opening date for its upcoming Fast & Furious – Supercharged attraction, which is replacing the old Disaster! ride. A stand-alone version of the encounter on Hollywood's Studio Tour of the same name, Fast & Furious – Supercharged will feature a simulated 120-mph race through the streets of Los Angeles, as the crew from the popular Universal street racing franchise tries to take down the bad guys.
The Orlando version will feature Universal's new Virtual Line system, recently introduced on Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. That means no stand-by queues for the attraction, which will feature show car exhibits in a waiting area before guests board ride vehicles for the 3D encounter.
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I'm guessing Universal might be reserving the bigger, singular attractions for it's own illumination Animation. The Despicable Me / Minions franchise is strong & Secret Life of Pets outearned all of the Dispicable / Me films (and is getting it's own sequel). Even Sing did well (it made more than all the dreamworks films except Shrek 2 & 3)
It seems like, at least recently, Illumination Animation is making more money than Dreamworks Animation, so I'm thinking that having the theater / characters means they can possibly put a bigger focus on their own animation company.
Great choice. And a theater can always house a new show.
Regardless, as we have always said, it isn't as much about the IP as it is about the quality of the attraction. So as long as Universal does a good job, and there is no reason to expect anything other than a good job, the attraction will have its fans.
Kung Fu Panda is easily one of their biggest movie properties in China (behind only Fast and the Furious and Jurassic World), so don't underestimate that.
After Universal Beijing is finished in 2020, that's when we're likely to see a refresh on Kung Fu Panda/Shrek.
The DreamWorks Theatre attraction won't just be for Kung Fu Panda in the long run; I assume that attraction will end up covering all of the various groups of characters in that brand. It sounds like they're just starting with Kung Fu Panda and will rotate through Madagascar, Shrek, Trolls, etc.
As far as including it in a US attraction, I guess that's just as mostly a test run to see what works.
From what it sounds like, the Chinese parks will mostly be copying from the best elements of the US parks (like how Disney approached Shanghai).
I assume they're just testing things here to see which DreamWorks characters work best in a theater like setting. Universal Beijing will likely get a similar theater based off it.
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