MUMMY FRANCHISE CONTINUES
The next chapter in the Universal Studios/Stephen Sommers Mummy franchise is not quite what you’d expect.
While writer/director Stephen Sommers is busy turning Van Helsing into a new franchise character, the saga that put him on the map is about to expand even further, but it’s not happening on the movie screen.
Universal Studios has just unveiled the official announcement for Revenge of the Mummy, a state-of-the-art hybrid theme park attraction set to debut at its Hollywood and Orlando theme parks next year. Check out the official press release below:
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
AND UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
TO BRING PHENOMENALLY POPULAR
MUMMY MOVIES
ROARING TO LIFE VIA MOST ADVANCED
THRILL RIDE EVER CONCEIVED:
REVENGE OF THE MUMMY
Over Ten Years In Development,
Mummy Will Be First Indoor Ride In History
To Fuse Roller Coaster Technology, Space Age Robotics
And Live Pyrotechnic Special Effects
Guests Will Hurtle Through Authenticated Egyptian Sets,
Chambers, Passageways And Tombs In
Psychological Thrill Ride
Serving As Latest Sequel In Mummy Franchise
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, UNIVERSAL ORLANDO, FLORIDA (May 19, 2003) — Based on the phenomenally popular Mummy films that have grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and heralding a new era in thrill rides, Universal Studios ride designers have unveiled plans for Revenge Of The Mummy the first attraction in history to feature an unprecedented fusion of threshold technology, high-speed roller coaster engineering and space age robotics to propel guests through authenticated ancient Egyptian catacombs and live pyrotechnic effects.
Ten years in research and development, the indoor thrill ride, that will debut simultaneously next year at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando, will also integrate design concepts by visionary Stephen Sommers, who reinvigorated the classic Universal monster film The Mummy in 1999s worldwide smash and its even more popular sequel in 2001, both of which he wrote and directed.
This really is the latest evolution for the entire ride industry, said Scott Trowbridge, vice president of design and creative development for Universal Parks & Resorts. The Revenge Of The Mummy ride is the next threshold attraction in our industry there is no other ride like it anywhere.
Indeed, the design and construction of the ride marks an unparalleled collaboration between a director and producers from the worlds of moviemaking and theme park design. Sommers longtime creative partner, Bob Ducsay, also applied extensive creative input into the ride.
Unique methodology in theming and technical elements for the ride have been conceived by the combined team resulting in a unique High Velocity Show Immersion System that completely engulfs the riders senses in the eerily-haunted world of Revenge Of The Mummy.
The ride will also possess the most advanced animatronics ever engineered, elaborately staged dark ride scenes and a revolutionary new ride track employing new linear induction motors to create a series of visual, visceral and motion-based effects that will continually surprise guests while drawing them into Sommers immersive storylines that have thrilled hundreds of millions of movie-goers worldwide.
This is really a thrill for me, Sommers said. I am really energized to have the world of The Mummy films turned into a thrilling, scary, scream-worthy ride. This is in many ways, the next sequel of The Mummy, and one that I personally cant wait to experience firsthand.
I am especially happy that it extends my successful partnership with Universal into a new and exciting area.
In two of the worlds largest sound stages, unsuspecting guests will be swept into a terrifying underworld of ancient Egypt awash in deadly curses, powerful forces of nature and vengeful creatures intent on wreaking havoc. Adding to the terror will be the mystery of two of the rides scenes, which will not be made public until the attraction debuts.
The same technology employed in futuristic magnetic levitation trains now being unveiled will be utilized in the ride launch system. Among the rides many unprecedented design elements, magnetic propulsion launch wave systems will be employed throughout the experience, thrusting riders forward, backward and forward again.
In the midst of such dynamic motion, the riders will also be subjected to a one-of-a-kind ceiling of flame with undulating flames akin to a brain fire that will hover only inches above them at temperatures soaring to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Revenge Of The Mummy themed elements will be the most elaborate ever created for a thrill ride experience. Universals ride producers have traveled to Egypt and The British Museum to assure the authenticity of the rides shadowy, curse-ridden interior environment that will range from glistening golden amulets to dusty Canopic Jars containing the grisly remains of the haunted long-deceased royalty portrayed in the ride.
Other dramatic elements will include objects and figures that startlingly materialize. Contrasting lighting effects will alter light levels from daytime ambience to total darkness. The number and quality of the rides fast-paced scenic effects will be unparalleled in theme park history and the experience from inside each of the rides cars will vary. Riders may experience different scenic elements each time they ride.
Utilizing engineering techniques gleaned from the Mars robotic range vehicle, the attraction will include a skeleton warrior who, in the midst of defending the twilight world of his netherworld tomb, literally leaps into the riders vehicle.
When we conceived of attractions like Back To The Future T2-3D and The Adventures of Spiderman, Trowbridge said, we envisioned that there was yet another level to enthrall our guests. We researched and integrated technology from a multitude of areas and then searched for the right story to make this ride leap to life. Revenge Of The Mummy accomplishes that.
This new ride continues Universal Studios successful tradition of creating attractions from its own library of hit films, including E.T., Back To The Future and Backdraft, all of which have become popular attractions at its theme parks.
Courtesy of Diabolical Dominion
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