Universal Creative has shared a behind-the-scenes video following a Senior Show Coordinator’s day in the life working on Dark Universe, the new Universal Monsters land opening with Epic Universe.
Preview of Dark Universe
Senior Show Coordinator Brooke Elliott takes viewers inside Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the land’s main attraction featuring several Universal Monsters. The ride features Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, who continues the work of her ancestors deep below Frankenstein Manor. A demonstration of her experiments goes awry when Dracula leads a revolt of enraged monsters.
Though the video (embedded below) doesn’t show any of the technologically advanced monster animatronics, it does feature some of the manor’s sets. Several clips showcase a grand staircase. White statues flank the stairs and though, at first glance, they may appear to be classical Roman or Grecian statues, a closer look reveals they have monstrous and technological features. The walls of the staircase are painted with murals of monsters whose eyes are glowing with blue electricity. A shelf of skulls appears to be at the bottom of the stairs.
The staircase is straight out of concept art. The artwork shows Victoria at the top of the stairs, holding something glowing blue.
Possibly at the top of the stairs, Elliott talks to Art Director Eric Gordon as they adjust a light strand on a railing. Elliott and Gordon are also shown in a room with a large blue-glowing element chained to the wall.
A different scene features a family tree — maybe that of the Frankenstein family. There are some cardboard boxes atop a crate. Though they may appear to be construction materials at first, the crate at least is actually a prop. It has an orange glowing strip around its lid and yellow caution tape down its side.
Another clip shows the ride’s queue, with a portrait of a figure between Tesla coils. Does this depict the creation of the first-ever Frankenstein’s Monster?
The portrait resembles this concept art of the ride, suggesting it will act as foreshadowing.
Elliott meets up with Production Designer Frances Franceschi in a stony area. The two make sure to hold space for the creative intent of the attraction.
Associate Manager of Ride & Show Jim Napoli points something out in a scene crackling with blue lightning. Though Napoli and Elliott appear to be standing on a backstage catwalk, there are cylinders hanging nearby that create blue lightning above the scene below. A giant blue-glowing tesla coil juts out of the ground. It also appears similar to the concept art above.
A smaller tesla coil appears in a stone room, perhaps Victoria’s lab. It looks like the scene’s floor may turn. Elliott’s also pictured in front of large cables attached to a stone wall. There’s an ominous red glow around the corner.
Elliott gives us our first look at the ride’s over-the-shoulder restraints as she prepares for a test ride. And the end of the video may show the exit queue, as Elliott walks through a set of doors into a stone hallway with electric lightbulbs and chains.
There are also some glimpses of the land’s outdoor areas, which we have seen in aerial photos but rarely from ground level. Behind Elliott, the Curse of the Werewolf coaster is testing. Above her is part of the track, crossing over a walkway, with a black scrim beneath it preventing items from falling on guests. In the distance is Frankenstein Manor.
Elliott also pauses in an upright coffin, the perfect photo-op for guests. Nearby is a cage around a grave that someone — or something — has broken out of.
Watch the full video below or on Instagram.
The Monsters Unchained queue will contain jumpscares akin to Halloween Horror Nights house. The height requirement is 48 inches / 122 centimeters. It will offer single rider.
Check out everything we know about Epic Universe.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.