Roger A. writes in to ask:
Jim,Bravo on your two recent articles on the Disney-MGM name change. After hearing the news, I was thrilled to find your very-informative articles on the subject. One thing you mentioned really intrigued me, and begs for more info: "We'll have to wait 'til "Disney's Hollywood Studios" has gone ahead with its new 'lands' scenario (i.e. Where specific areas of this theme park will then be dedicated to the celebration of the Playhouse Disney characters, Pixar's films, the Muppets and George Lucas' movies & TV shows)." Does this mean that there are MORE Lucas, Pixar, and Muppet-based attractions in the planning stages? Typically, it takes more than one (MuppetVision) or two (Star Tours and Stunt Spectacular) attractions to make a "land." Is Disney finally going to expand MGM, er -- Hollywood Studios into a full-blown park? Is there any chance we may finally get Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye? Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. / Lucasfilm, Ltd.All Rights Reserved I, for one, sure am hoping !Roger
Jim,Bravo on your two recent articles on the Disney-MGM name change. After hearing the news, I was thrilled to find your very-informative articles on the subject. One thing you mentioned really intrigued me, and begs for more info:
"We'll have to wait 'til "Disney's Hollywood Studios" has gone ahead with its new 'lands' scenario (i.e. Where specific areas of this theme park will then be dedicated to the celebration of the Playhouse Disney characters, Pixar's films, the Muppets and George Lucas' movies & TV shows)."
Does this mean that there are MORE Lucas, Pixar, and Muppet-based attractions in the planning stages? Typically, it takes more than one (MuppetVision) or two (Star Tours and Stunt Spectacular) attractions to make a "land." Is Disney finally going to expand MGM, er -- Hollywood Studios into a full-blown park? Is there any chance we may finally get Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye?
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. / Lucasfilm, Ltd.All Rights Reserved
I, for one, sure am hoping !Roger
Dear Roger A.
First things first: You can pretty much forget about Disneyland's "Indiana Jones Adventure" ever being built at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Why For? Well, for starters, "Dinosaur" makes use of the very same enhanced-motion-vehicle system that you'll find rolling through both the Anaheim & Tokyo DisneySea versions of this "Indiana Jones" -based thrill ride (And according to what several Imagineers have told me, this Animal Kingdom attraction has the exact same track layout as Disneyland's version of "Indy." So if WDI were to ever replicate Anaheim's Temple of the Forbidden Eye in Central Florida ... Well, the similarities between these two attractions would become pretty obvious fairly quickly).
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Then when you factor in all of the lawsuits that the Walt Disney Company has had to settle over the past 12 years (All because a certain number of Disneyland guests claim to have suffered brain injuries while being bounced around in those troop transports) ... I guess you can understand why Mickey's attorneys have continually put the kibosh on the Imagineers' plans to swap out "The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" for the "Indiana Jones Adventure."
That said, there are indeed plans in the works right now to significantly increase George Lucas' presence in Disney's Hollywood Studios. To -- in effect -- create a "Lucas Land" that stretches from the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost all the way to Tatooine Traders.
Right now, the engine that's driving this plan is Star Tours 2.0. Which will feature a brand-new 3D ride film as well as elements from Disney's Living Character Initiative. Look for this redo to officially be announced in 2008 and then go live in 2009. Just in time for the studio theme park's 20th anniversary.
Mind you, just about the time that "Star Tours" will be going down for its rehab, the Backlot Express is also slated to receive an extreme makeover. During which all of the generic props that currently decorate this cavernous eatery will supposedly be replaced with replicas of well-known costumes & vehicles from various Lucasfilm productions. The way I hear it, the dining room closest to "Star Tours" will (of course) be "Star Wars" themed. While the dining room that's closest to the Stunt Spectacular stadium will then feature props & costumes from the "Indiana Jones" films.
Speaking of the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" ... There has reportedly been some talk between Disney & Lucas about possibly cutting out a scene or two out of this now-18-year-old stunt show and then replacing that older material with brand-new sequences that would be based on memorable moments from the now-shooting "Indiana Jones IV."
That said, I guess I should mention that -- back when George Lucas & Steven Spielberg were taking part in a press conference for the opening of Disney-MGM Studios theme park -- these two said that they hoped that the Imagineers would eventually fold material from the then-just-about-be-released "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" into the Epic Stunt Spectacular. But that never happened. So just because Disney & Lucas are now reportedly talking about possibly dropping scenes from "Indiana Jones IV" into the studio theme park's stunt show doesn't mean that this is actually going to happen this time around.
Copyright 1989 Paramount Pictures / Lucasfilm, Ltd.All Rights Reserved
And speaking of things that may not happen ... Remember that live action "Star Wars" television series that Lucas has in the works? You know, the one that's supposed to start shooting in 2008? Well, guess who's reportedly in talks with George about possibly acquiring the broadcast rights to this program?
You guessed it. Disney.
Let me stress here that these talks are allegedly at a very preliminary stage. More importantly, that no decisions -- pro or con -- have been made at this point. But what's kind of intriguing about these negotiations is that Lucas is supposedly looking to avoid what happened with his last foray into television, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
For those of you who don't remember: This high profile project originally debuted on ABC back in March of 1992. And while "Young Indy" was recognized for its outstanding production values, this edutainment program didn't exactly wow viewers. Which is why it ended production after only 44 shows were shot. Which wasn't really enough episodes to syndicate. Which made it next to impossible for George to recover the tens of millions of dollars he'd allegedly plowed into production of this program.
Copyright 1992 ABC / Lucasfilm, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
So this time around, Lucas reportedly want to shoot 100 episodes of his new "Star Wars" -based television series. With a deliberate eye toward getting a massive return on his investment through DVD sales as well as digital downloads of individual episodes. Mind you, in order to make as big a splash as possible with this program, George is going to need a network that's really willing to get behind this new "Star Wars" show.
And this (of course) is where Mickey comes in. The way I hear it, Disney has offered to throw all of its marketing might behind the launch of this live action "Star Wars" television series. Key components of their plan reportedly include introducing the show's cast at next year's "Star Wars Weekends" as well as agreeing to give up primo timeslots on both ABC & ABC Family. Just so this live action program can then reach as wide an audience as possible right from the get-go.
Mind you, the Mouse isn't the only media giant that's supposedly currently wooing George. My understanding is that News Corp reps have also met with Lucas and mapped out a similarly ambitious marketing campaign. With both Fox and FX being offered up as possible distribution channels for this new "Star Wars" show.
Copyright 1977 20th Century Fox / Lucasfilm, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
"So who's going to ultimately come out on top here?," you ask. At this point, I'm not even sure that Lucas knows. From what ILM insiders tell me, George is still months away from making a final decision about who gets to air his show. What with production of "Indiana Jones IV" taking up much of his time these days. Not to mention getting all of those teleplays ready for the start of shooting next year.
But Disney officials ... Well, they hope that -- if the Imagineers do a really good job with "Star Tours 2.0" -- this will somehow put Mickey back in George's good graces. Which is why you see the company making a real effort these days to "plus" the area around Disney's Hollywood Studios' "Star Tours" -themed attraction. Like by building that permanent version of the "Jedi Academy" stage.
Anyway ... That's a brief overview of what the Walt Disney Company reportedly has in the works regarding a significant expansion of George Lucas's presence at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Please keep in mind that -- over time -- these plans can change. More importantly, depending on whether or not Disney lands the broadcast rights to this new "Star Wars" television, these plans could be significantly built up or scaled down.
Copyright 2007 Lucasfilm, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
But would any of the stuff I've mentioned in today's article make it that much more likely that you'd visit Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in the future? And if not ... Why For?
Your thoughts?
STAR WARS 2 is being filmed. That much is fairly known. And, the general gist of things as I can tell is that the cabin is being re-tooled as well to allow special effects interface - think Stormrider in Port Discovery at Tokyo DisneySea...on a smaller vehicle basis.
Jim gave two good points of why Indy (the EMV based attraction) won't show up in Florida. Here's a resounding third...cost of installation. However, with the coming realm of Harry Potter due to open in two years at Universal's IOA, Disney World had best be ready to counter with some serious drawing force in order to compete with the number loss they stand to face...first operational season of Potter World, at least. Depending upon the quality of the final install at IOA that first season may continue on for several years. So, Disney has got to get a plan in position (which they probably already have) to counter the coming "theme park war" in their near future.
It is a given that there are two full scale stunt shows at Disney's Hollywood Park there in Florida. It also makes sense to either close the Indy one entirely, or, re-theme it to another "Action-Adventure Extravaganza" to keep it current with contemporary audiences. The footprint of that area (Indy Stunt show) is huge. And, although I am with the voters who wish to see the EMV Temple attraction built and developed there (albeit that I am pushing for the Tokyo DisneySea 'Lost Delta' style and setting to go in), unless a miracle descends from on high, I'm not holding my breath. What I can see is a smaller high action-adventure stunt show on a current Disney winner theme (Pirates of the Caribbean is a no-brainer here), and, retaining the tropical motif that would blend into a jungle, adding in the run-a-way mine car coaster concept used in Paris as the Indiana Jones Temple, with the show and special effect elements of said Temple as it appears in Tokyo DisneySea being brought to play with it.
In fact, Disney could allow the Imagineers a good budget (okay, that's a blue-sky wish!) and have them develop a really great temple show building for the coaster to run in and through - more so than the scaffolding framework the current incarnations are given to work upon now....and, really develop a blow-out Indy show around that. Just a thought.
SW
"Do you folks like bad jokes? I love 'em. Tell 'em all the time. Keeps my mind off the malaria and other tropical diseases that float in the air out here......"
My bad - that should be STAR TOURS 2 being filmed - and, the runaway coaster has also been installed in Tokyo DisneySea in the Lost Delta region as well. Thus the reference to the temple in Tokyo in the last two paragraphs...Jim, you may want the board to get an edit feature for us gumbos that oopsie.... ;)
Forgot to ask - Jim, perhaps you know...the long announced and even longer desired release of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on DVD - does your inner network have any concept on when that may happen? Rumors keep abounding out here and inquiring minds were curious as to your take on the situation.....
What happened to the CW getting the Star Wars show?
I hope the Indy Stunt Show doesn't go away....it's a classic that's always fun to watch...
Wait...why does Florida get the new Star Tours? We were promised a new Star Tours here in Cali months ago (to coincide with some 20th anniversary) and that fell through (guess they were too busy with Nemo).
Oh well....great reporting Jim! Thanks for keeping us in the loop on all things related to the Disney Empire!
Skipperwest - looks like October 23rd is the date that you are looking for. Follow this link for an article on the Young Indy DVDs.
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7862
Just out of curiousity, where are the sources for this article?
"Skipperwest - looks like October 23rd is the date that you are looking for. Follow this link for an article on the Young Indy DVDs."
Thisis sort of off topic, but a heck of a lotta stuff seems to be coming out on my birthday... all stuff that I want. Meet The Robinsons, the new Ratchet and Clank for PS3, and now this Young Indy DVD.
Back on topic. As long as they don't retheme Pizza Planet, new restaurants are ok with me. I want an Indiana Jones ride alongside with the stunt show.... Just think, they could MAKE A WHOLE NEW RIDE WITH A WHOLE NEW STORY. It'd be awesome. Much better than 'Temple of the Forbidden Eye'. And if they did it the right way, they might not get sued so much.
On a closing note, in coming years, people are going to want more Indy than Star Wars. By 2010, the most Star Wars will be is a nice memory and a TV show. By that time, Indy 4 will have been on Blu-Ray (I'm guessing Blu-Ray wins the format wars) and yet ANOTHER Indy movie may be filming. So I think maybe Disney should focus a bit more on the Indy factor when they begin retheming. Maybe expand back past the stunt show and have an Indy mini-land? Just suggestions.
-Imagine
Forget about LucasLand! I want to know what new Muppet attractions would be in Disney's Hollywood.
I love the Ewok Village and the AT-AT at MGM and would love to see more life-size themed props. I would spend the cash to go to florida right now if they announced a life-size Millinium Falcon walk through. The themed restaurant sounds cool but I hope they dont retheme the Sci-Fi Cafe-its great the way it is.
ok thats great and all about Star Wars and Indiana Jones... i could honestly care less about either one... but what about the Muppet world... is that ever going to happen? The whole "Muppet Movie-type" of ride which was *supposed* to be at MGM Studios and the Muppet-style restaurant that never saw the light of day because of the Disney/Henson merger gone bad after Jim's death... lets bring those ideas back to the park.
Well, some folk may feel the same way about the Muppets, too...If you want to discuss Mppets, talk about it in a Muppet thread. ;) This is a Star Wars/Indiana Jones/George Lucas thread.
But, on the point of bringing things back...How about a dang full scale NAUTILUS walk through from 20,000 LEAGUES...better yet, bring back the 20K Adventure to WDW!
Geesh...now I'm off topic, too! ;)
Here are some Star Wars attractions that I'd like to see:
- Some sort of main-attraction "Star Wars Saga" dark ride along the lines of Spaceship Earth or the Great Movie Ride that tells the story of the Skywalkers in successive scenes as the audience rides in continuously-moving cars
- Phantom Menace: (Star Tours 2.0 - The Pod Race simulator ride)
- Attack of the Clones: A Geonosis simulator that is some combination of Soarin' & Buzz Lightyear, where you score points for shooting Jango Fett as you chase him through through asteroid rings
- Clone Wars: "Jedi Stunt Show" - Enacts live-action battle scenes between Jedi knights and Sith lords throughout the trilogies, in the mold of the Indy Stunt Show
- Revenge of the Sith: Mission:Space clone where the audience are members of the army of the Republic flying with Obi-Wan and Anakin in an attack on General Grievous's ship
- A New Hope: Anchorhead Speeder Tours - Riding in chained Landspeeders, riders start out taking a wide-view tour of Lucasland much like the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, but the ride gets sidetracked into the Jundland Wastes where they narrowly escape an hijack attempt by marauding Sand People
- A New Hope: Escape-Pod Spin - Dumbo, except with escape pods...
- A New Hope: Starship Hangar - climb-in/walk-through replicas of major Star Wars ships like the Millennium Falcon, X-Wing Fighter, and Tie Fighter in a hangar bay theme, arranged like Swiss Family Robinson to queue visitors in and out of vehicles
- Empire Strikes Back: Dagobah flume attraction in the mold of Splash Mountain
- Empire Strikes Back: A Hoth Snowspeeder roller-coaster that goes through Wampa caves (like the Matterhorn) but also goes over & under Snow Walkers as they are being destroyed
- Return of the Jedi: 3-D movie with performance from Jabba's palace, where audience barely escapes being fed to the Rancor
and of course...
- "its a small galaxy" - boat ride where audio-animatronic Gungans and Ewoks dress in international clothing and sing a song celebrating inter-species unity (in celebration of "Life Day")...
Almost forgot - they also need a Princess Leia metal bikini character greeting area...
Great Ideas BWSmith! I love it!
As to Disney getting the SW live action show - not a snowball's chance on Mustafar.
Let's keep in mind folks that the series will take place between Ep III and IV. One of the principal plot points will be the Jedi Purge at the hands of Darth Vader. Nothing says Disney than a little genocide, eh?
Lucas himself said on the Conan O'Brien show that it *won't* be for kids, not for network TV or primetime TV. I'd say the safe bet is HBO, Showtime, or Cinemax (Cinemax did an HD broadcast of all 6 films recently). I can't help but think that it will be violent and depressing. But as a SW fanboy, I will watch every episode.
Disney can pine all they want, but they will have to content themselves with the great rip-off licensing deal they conned out of Lucas.
I may be in the minority here, but I like Disney-MGM studios. It's one of my favorite parks because it is a little smaller and I can take my family there and have a fun day in less than 12 hours.
But to the adult Disney fan I am, it also represents a LOT of wasted potential. One Indy attraction? One Star Wars attraction? One Muppets attraction? NO Power Ranger attractions. Magic of Disney Animation a practically empty shell? The wasted space of Sounds Dangerous. . .It all seems such a terrible waste of awesome ride and show opportunities.
ANY extra use of Indy, Star Wars, Muppets, or Power Rangers would be a massive improvement.
Any of the above properties, used properly would be more than a match for Universal's Harry Potter.