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In 2018 Korean animator and illustrator Han Ji-won created a commercial for jewelry brand Stonehenge that follows a girl who dreams of going to space, just like her astronaut grandmother. The brief, beautiful animation caught the attention of Korean production company Climax Studios, who saw potential for a much bigger story about the human connections […]

The post Netflix’s Lost in Starlight: Korea Makes an Animated Sci-Fi Romance for Adults appeared first on Den of Geek.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame. 

Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series. 

This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film. 

The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026. 

The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film. 

Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy

There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.   

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers.

Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner

Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.  

Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end.

Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens. 

Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee

Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause.

Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog.

Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove

Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max. 

We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee

Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful.

Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. 

Maya Hawke as Wiress 

Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice. 

Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill. 

Lili Taylor as Mags

The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her. 

Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death. 

Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow

Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group. 

Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence. 

Ralph Fiennes as President Snow

The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor. 

Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be.

Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket

The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series. 

Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world.

Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman 

Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic. 

Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone.

Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou

Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021. 

On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

The post Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first on Den of Geek.

This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us season 2. Season 2 of The Last of Us was undeniably a huge swing, as was the video game it’s based on. The Last of Us Part II features the death of the first game’s protagonist early on and forces the player to play as his […]

The post The Last of Us Season 2 Was Never Going to Be Exactly Like the Game (and That’s Okay) appeared first on Den of Geek.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame. 

Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series. 

This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film. 

The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026. 

The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film. 

Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy

There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.   

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers.

Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner

Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.  

Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end.

Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens. 

Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee

Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause.

Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog.

Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove

Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max. 

We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee

Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful.

Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. 

Maya Hawke as Wiress 

Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice. 

Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill. 

Lili Taylor as Mags

The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her. 

Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death. 

Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow

Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group. 

Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence. 

Ralph Fiennes as President Snow

The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor. 

Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be.

Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket

The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series. 

Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world.

Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman 

Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic. 

Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone.

Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou

Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021. 

On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

The post Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first on Den of Geek.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed […]

The post Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first on Den of Geek.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame. 

Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series. 

This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film. 

The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026. 

The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film. 

Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy

There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.   

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers.

Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner

Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.  

Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end.

Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens. 

Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee

Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause.

Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog.

Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove

Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max. 

We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee

Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful.

Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. 

Maya Hawke as Wiress 

Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice. 

Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill. 

Lili Taylor as Mags

The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her. 

Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death. 

Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow

Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group. 

Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence. 

Ralph Fiennes as President Snow

The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor. 

Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be.

Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket

The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series. 

Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world.

Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman 

Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic. 

Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone.

Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou

Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021. 

On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

The post Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first on Den of Geek.

Warning: contains finale spoilers for Dept. Q See it? Blink and you won’t have, but it was there for a good half second: a smile on the face of DCI Carl Morck. It’s a rare enough occurrence across nine episodes of this Netflix crime drama to make it worthy of note. Matthew Goode’s irascible detective […]

The post Netflix’s Dept. Q Ending Explained: Merritt Lingard, the Kidnappers, the Leith Park Shooting appeared first on Den of Geek.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame. 

Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series. 

This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film. 

The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026. 

The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film. 

Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy

There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.   

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers.

Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner

Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.  

Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end.

Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens. 

Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee

Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause.

Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog.

Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove

Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max. 

We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee

Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful.

Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. 

Maya Hawke as Wiress 

Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice. 

Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill. 

Lili Taylor as Mags

The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her. 

Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death. 

Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow

Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group. 

Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence. 

Ralph Fiennes as President Snow

The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor. 

Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be.

Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket

The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series. 

Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world.

Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman 

Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic. 

Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone.

Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou

Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021. 

On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

The post Sunrise on the Reaping: Meet the Full Cast of the Hunger Games Prequel appeared first on Den of Geek.

This review is spoiler free. First of all, let’s make a deal: Matthew Goode’s DCI Carl Morck is the last brilliant-but-grumpy traumatised city detective with a messy homelife that crime TV is allowed. They can have him and his crew of misfits solving cold cases out of a Scottish police basement, but that’s the lot. […]

The post Netflix’s Dept. Q Review: Make Way For Another Bad-Tempered, Traumatised TV Detective appeared first on Den of Geek.

Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou already have two feature films under their belts, and each has made a splash in the horror and indie space. Their first, 2023’s Talk to Me, used the genre staple of demonic and spirit possessions as a metaphor about filling a void with drugs, drinks, or other damnable vices. And their second film out this Friday, Bring Her Back, uses a different form of possession altogether to examine the bottomless grief of a parent who has lost her child.

Both are visceral, ruthless horror movies, which is all the more interesting after you meet the Australian twin brothers who are not yet even 35. Gregarious, hyperactive, and a pair of charmers, there’s a reason that before making the jump to narrative film the Brothers Philippou first broke into online celebrity via amusing stunt and prank YouTube videos on their RackaRacka channel.

It also makes sense why when asked to chat about one or two of their favorite films and influences in an episode of our new video series In the Den, the pair’s first choice was a relatively obscure studio comedy from director Gore Verbinski that was both praised by some critics during its release for its visual inventiveness and dinged by many more for what they considered to be a mean-spirited kids movie. That’s right, their first choice is Mouse Hunt.

“Our uncle showed it to us, and our mom was so specific about what we couldn’t watch, and she was like ‘this is too violent to show them,’” Danny tells us. “And I was like ‘violent? It’s about hunting a mouse!’ But looking back on it, it does get savage at times.”

For instance Michael can quote verbatim, right down to the inflections, a scene where stars Nathan Lane and Lee Evans go mouse hunting by destroying their new home with a shotgun. After hitting everything excepts the mouse, Evans chastises his brother’s aim until Lane is now pointing the gun at him.

“There’s just something about the timing and the comedic beats of that I loved,” Michael says. “And I was rewatching scenes from it, and I’m like ‘I still love Mouse Hunt.’”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the darker edge some critiqued about the film in ’97 is what most appeals to younger filmmakers like the Philippous today.

“I love that film and feel like it’s in the same vein as Home Alone or something,” says Danny. “Like there’s that really violent, slapstick thing where back in the day, the kids films used to have a lot of edge. Like they’re throwing bricks at faces in Home Alone 2, and in this film they’re pointing shotguns at each other. It’s just something that doesn’t really exist today.”

Also a bit like both Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, it deals with siblings, whether biological or adopted, placed into an extreme situation. Michael and Danny both downplay any thematic overlap between Mouse Hunt and their own work, but are happy to namecheck another classic of sorts that they leaned into as an influence from the start on Bring Her Back.

“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is one of the greatest films ever made, I do believe,” Danny asserts about Robert Aldrich’s 1962 psychological chiller which starred Bette Davis as a deranged child actress well past her prime.

He continues, “The performances in this film are so incredible and I love Betty Davis to death, and it feels like her whole career was building up to this moment where it felt like she would just exercise this muscle that I feel like she was getting ready to flex her entire life. There is just something about the way [Davis and Joan Crawford] acted off each other, and there was such a build up to this movie coming out where people were saying, ‘It was going to flop. It was going to be terrible. It was going to be schlock.’ And then when it came out and had these powerful performances from both of these actors, it blew the world away.”

It was the kind of titanic turn that inspired Sally Hawkins’ role in Bring Her Back as a foster mother who lost a daughter due to tragedy before taking in the film’s central protagonists, Andy and Piper (Billy Barrett and Sora Wong).

“It was so terrifying working with one of those bigger actors because we were so afraid of egos,” Michael explains. “We had an idea in our head of what that would be like, and Sally is just so down to Earth and she read the script and loved it, and wanted to chat, and from that initial conversation she was so amazing to talk to. And straight away, two minutes into meeting her, I was like ‘oh my God! We have to fucking have her, she’s the best.’”

… For prep they even decided to have a movie night of sorts by watching Baby Jane.

“One of the most magical moments of that whole production was on one of the weekends and watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? with Sally Hawkins and talking about the performances,” Danny reveals. “She’s so good at looking at somebody, even someone in real life, and she’ll do these hilarious impersonations of different crew members. And she was able to look at those characters and mimic them and perform them, and she’s so incredible in real life and so incredible.”

Michael furthermore reveals that soon afterward, the three of them, as well as co-star Billy Barratt, decided for a gag to go ding-dong dashing at one in the morning. (Ding-dong dashing is the prank where one rings a doorbell or knocks on a front door and then runs away before the occupant answers.)

“It was in the script initially, they go ding-dong dashing,” Michael explains, “and we said to Sally one night, ‘Do you want to actually go do it?’ and She’s like ‘yeah!’” So off they went. “Imagine you’re sleeping and there’s a door knock and Sally Hawkins is running down the street.” It very well could have been an actual epiphany, because the house she did this to in the wee small hours of the morning had a doorbell camera.

“There could be an arrest warrant out right now,” Michael muses. “She’s wanted back in Australia.”

Such good vibes and fun are part and parcel for anyone who watched their older RackaRacka videos, or at least the first half hour of Talk to Me. Yet such conviviality makes the rest of that movie, or pretty much all of Bring Her Back, such interesting cinematic expressions for the pair.

“It’s a way to exorcise all those things and talk about the dark things and express them in a way that’s fun,” Danny considers. “All art is expressive and tapping into that stuff. You put them on the screen and then live nice and happy.”

It’s an interesting insight that you can see more of by watching our full conversation in the In the Den episode above. Meanwhile Bring Her Back opens in limited release on Friday, May 30 and in wide release on June 6.

The post Philippou Brothers Show ‘90s Kids Credentials Talking Mouse Hunt and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? appeared first on Den of Geek.

Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou already have two feature films under their belts, and each has made a splash in the horror and indie space. Their first, 2023’s Talk to Me, used the genre staple of demonic and spirit possessions as a metaphor about filling a void with drugs, drinks, or other damnable vices. And […]

The post Philippou Brothers Show ‘90s Kids Credentials Talking Mouse Hunt and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? appeared first on Den of Geek.

Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou already have two feature films under their belts, and each has made a splash in the horror and indie space. Their first, 2023’s Talk to Me, used the genre staple of demonic and spirit possessions as a metaphor about filling a void with drugs, drinks, or other damnable vices. And their second film out this Friday, Bring Her Back, uses a different form of possession altogether to examine the bottomless grief of a parent who has lost her child.

Both are visceral, ruthless horror movies, which is all the more interesting after you meet the Australian twin brothers who are not yet even 35. Gregarious, hyperactive, and a pair of charmers, there’s a reason that before making the jump to narrative film the Brothers Philippou first broke into online celebrity via amusing stunt and prank YouTube videos on their RackaRacka channel.

It also makes sense why when asked to chat about one or two of their favorite films and influences in an episode of our new video series In the Den, the pair’s first choice was a relatively obscure studio comedy from director Gore Verbinski that was both praised by some critics during its release for its visual inventiveness and dinged by many more for what they considered to be a mean-spirited kids movie. That’s right, their first choice is Mouse Hunt.

“Our uncle showed it to us, and our mom was so specific about what we couldn’t watch, and she was like ‘this is too violent to show them,’” Danny tells us. “And I was like ‘violent? It’s about hunting a mouse!’ But looking back on it, it does get savage at times.”

For instance Michael can quote verbatim, right down to the inflections, a scene where stars Nathan Lane and Lee Evans go mouse hunting by destroying their new home with a shotgun. After hitting everything excepts the mouse, Evans chastises his brother’s aim until Lane is now pointing the gun at him.

“There’s just something about the timing and the comedic beats of that I loved,” Michael says. “And I was rewatching scenes from it, and I’m like ‘I still love Mouse Hunt.’”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the darker edge some critiqued about the film in ’97 is what most appeals to younger filmmakers like the Philippous today.

“I love that film and feel like it’s in the same vein as Home Alone or something,” says Danny. “Like there’s that really violent, slapstick thing where back in the day, the kids films used to have a lot of edge. Like they’re throwing bricks at faces in Home Alone 2, and in this film they’re pointing shotguns at each other. It’s just something that doesn’t really exist today.”

Also a bit like both Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, it deals with siblings, whether biological or adopted, placed into an extreme situation. Michael and Danny both downplay any thematic overlap between Mouse Hunt and their own work, but are happy to namecheck another classic of sorts that they leaned into as an influence from the start on Bring Her Back.

“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is one of the greatest films ever made, I do believe,” Danny asserts about Robert Aldrich’s 1962 psychological chiller which starred Bette Davis as a deranged child actress well past her prime.

He continues, “The performances in this film are so incredible and I love Betty Davis to death, and it feels like her whole career was building up to this moment where it felt like she would just exercise this muscle that I feel like she was getting ready to flex her entire life. There is just something about the way [Davis and Joan Crawford] acted off each other, and there was such a build up to this movie coming out where people were saying, ‘It was going to flop. It was going to be terrible. It was going to be schlock.’ And then when it came out and had these powerful performances from both of these actors, it blew the world away.”

It was the kind of titanic turn that inspired Sally Hawkins’ role in Bring Her Back as a foster mother who lost a daughter due to tragedy before taking in the film’s central protagonists, Andy and Piper (Billy Barrett and Sora Wong).

“It was so terrifying working with one of those bigger actors because we were so afraid of egos,” Michael explains. “We had an idea in our head of what that would be like, and Sally is just so down to Earth and she read the script and loved it, and wanted to chat, and from that initial conversation she was so amazing to talk to. And straight away, two minutes into meeting her, I was like ‘oh my God! We have to fucking have her, she’s the best.’”

… For prep they even decided to have a movie night of sorts by watching Baby Jane.

“One of the most magical moments of that whole production was on one of the weekends and watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? with Sally Hawkins and talking about the performances,” Danny reveals. “She’s so good at looking at somebody, even someone in real life, and she’ll do these hilarious impersonations of different crew members. And she was able to look at those characters and mimic them and perform them, and she’s so incredible in real life and so incredible.”

Michael furthermore reveals that soon afterward, the three of them, as well as co-star Billy Barratt, decided for a gag to go ding-dong dashing at one in the morning. (Ding-dong dashing is the prank where one rings a doorbell or knocks on a front door and then runs away before the occupant answers.)

“It was in the script initially, they go ding-dong dashing,” Michael explains, “and we said to Sally one night, ‘Do you want to actually go do it?’ and She’s like ‘yeah!’” So off they went. “Imagine you’re sleeping and there’s a door knock and Sally Hawkins is running down the street.” It very well could have been an actual epiphany, because the house she did this to in the wee small hours of the morning had a doorbell camera.

“There could be an arrest warrant out right now,” Michael muses. “She’s wanted back in Australia.”

Such good vibes and fun are part and parcel for anyone who watched their older RackaRacka videos, or at least the first half hour of Talk to Me. Yet such conviviality makes the rest of that movie, or pretty much all of Bring Her Back, such interesting cinematic expressions for the pair.

“It’s a way to exorcise all those things and talk about the dark things and express them in a way that’s fun,” Danny considers. “All art is expressive and tapping into that stuff. You put them on the screen and then live nice and happy.”

It’s an interesting insight that you can see more of by watching our full conversation in the In the Den episode above. Meanwhile Bring Her Back opens in limited release on Friday, May 30 and in wide release on June 6.

The post Philippou Brothers Show ‘90s Kids Credentials Talking Mouse Hunt and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? appeared first on Den of Geek.

In early 2004, after defeating Krona, the Justice League and the Avengers said their goodbyes as each team returned to their proper universe. It was the last time that Marvel and DC would cross paths in any official capacity for decades. Well, unless you count the roundabout way of having them duke it out with […]

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Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou already have two feature films under their belts, and each has made a splash in the horror and indie space. Their first, 2023’s Talk to Me, used the genre staple of demonic and spirit possessions as a metaphor about filling a void with drugs, drinks, or other damnable vices. And their second film out this Friday, Bring Her Back, uses a different form of possession altogether to examine the bottomless grief of a parent who has lost her child.

Both are visceral, ruthless horror movies, which is all the more interesting after you meet the Australian twin brothers who are not yet even 35. Gregarious, hyperactive, and a pair of charmers, there’s a reason that before making the jump to narrative film the Brothers Philippou first broke into online celebrity via amusing stunt and prank YouTube videos on their RackaRacka channel.

It also makes sense why when asked to chat about one or two of their favorite films and influences in an episode of our new video series In the Den, the pair’s first choice was a relatively obscure studio comedy from director Gore Verbinski that was both praised by some critics during its release for its visual inventiveness and dinged by many more for what they considered to be a mean-spirited kids movie. That’s right, their first choice is Mouse Hunt.

“Our uncle showed it to us, and our mom was so specific about what we couldn’t watch, and she was like ‘this is too violent to show them,’” Danny tells us. “And I was like ‘violent? It’s about hunting a mouse!’ But looking back on it, it does get savage at times.”

For instance Michael can quote verbatim, right down to the inflections, a scene where stars Nathan Lane and Lee Evans go mouse hunting by destroying their new home with a shotgun. After hitting everything excepts the mouse, Evans chastises his brother’s aim until Lane is now pointing the gun at him.

“There’s just something about the timing and the comedic beats of that I loved,” Michael says. “And I was rewatching scenes from it, and I’m like ‘I still love Mouse Hunt.’”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the darker edge some critiqued about the film in ’97 is what most appeals to younger filmmakers like the Philippous today.

“I love that film and feel like it’s in the same vein as Home Alone or something,” says Danny. “Like there’s that really violent, slapstick thing where back in the day, the kids films used to have a lot of edge. Like they’re throwing bricks at faces in Home Alone 2, and in this film they’re pointing shotguns at each other. It’s just something that doesn’t really exist today.”

Also a bit like both Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, it deals with siblings, whether biological or adopted, placed into an extreme situation. Michael and Danny both downplay any thematic overlap between Mouse Hunt and their own work, but are happy to namecheck another classic of sorts that they leaned into as an influence from the start on Bring Her Back.

“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is one of the greatest films ever made, I do believe,” Danny asserts about Robert Aldrich’s 1962 psychological chiller which starred Bette Davis as a deranged child actress well past her prime.

He continues, “The performances in this film are so incredible and I love Betty Davis to death, and it feels like her whole career was building up to this moment where it felt like she would just exercise this muscle that I feel like she was getting ready to flex her entire life. There is just something about the way [Davis and Joan Crawford] acted off each other, and there was such a build up to this movie coming out where people were saying, ‘It was going to flop. It was going to be terrible. It was going to be schlock.’ And then when it came out and had these powerful performances from both of these actors, it blew the world away.”

It was the kind of titanic turn that inspired Sally Hawkins’ role in Bring Her Back as a foster mother who lost a daughter due to tragedy before taking in the film’s central protagonists, Andy and Piper (Billy Barrett and Sora Wong).

“It was so terrifying working with one of those bigger actors because we were so afraid of egos,” Michael explains. “We had an idea in our head of what that would be like, and Sally is just so down to Earth and she read the script and loved it, and wanted to chat, and from that initial conversation she was so amazing to talk to. And straight away, two minutes into meeting her, I was like ‘oh my God! We have to fucking have her, she’s the best.’”

… For prep they even decided to have a movie night of sorts by watching Baby Jane.

“One of the most magical moments of that whole production was on one of the weekends and watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? with Sally Hawkins and talking about the performances,” Danny reveals. “She’s so good at looking at somebody, even someone in real life, and she’ll do these hilarious impersonations of different crew members. And she was able to look at those characters and mimic them and perform them, and she’s so incredible in real life and so incredible.”

Michael furthermore reveals that soon afterward, the three of them, as well as co-star Billy Barratt, decided for a gag to go ding-dong dashing at one in the morning. (Ding-dong dashing is the prank where one rings a doorbell or knocks on a front door and then runs away before the occupant answers.)

“It was in the script initially, they go ding-dong dashing,” Michael explains, “and we said to Sally one night, ‘Do you want to actually go do it?’ and She’s like ‘yeah!’” So off they went. “Imagine you’re sleeping and there’s a door knock and Sally Hawkins is running down the street.” It very well could have been an actual epiphany, because the house she did this to in the wee small hours of the morning had a doorbell camera.

“There could be an arrest warrant out right now,” Michael muses. “She’s wanted back in Australia.”

Such good vibes and fun are part and parcel for anyone who watched their older RackaRacka videos, or at least the first half hour of Talk to Me. Yet such conviviality makes the rest of that movie, or pretty much all of Bring Her Back, such interesting cinematic expressions for the pair.

“It’s a way to exorcise all those things and talk about the dark things and express them in a way that’s fun,” Danny considers. “All art is expressive and tapping into that stuff. You put them on the screen and then live nice and happy.”

It’s an interesting insight that you can see more of by watching our full conversation in the In the Den episode above. Meanwhile Bring Her Back opens in limited release on Friday, May 30 and in wide release on June 6.

The post Philippou Brothers Show ‘90s Kids Credentials Talking Mouse Hunt and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? appeared first on Den of Geek.

This article contains spoilers for Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning. “Good evening, Jim. Your mission, should you choose to accept it is…” Long before Tom Cruise became a Hollywood icon, these words would open many episodes of the television series Mission: Impossible. They were addressed to Jim Phelps, one of the show’s two main protagonists, alongside […]

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When Universal Epic Universe opened in Orlando, Florida, last week, it was not only the first major theme park to debut in the United States in 24 years, it marked a major shift forward in what a grand scale in-person entertainment experience can be. Spanning five new “lands” across 750 acres — the Universal Monsters’ themed Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and the Celestial Park entry point — this isn’t just a big park, it lives up to its moniker of epic with its level of immersion, interactivity, and yes, rides. 

For context, I grew up a theme park kid in Orlando. Raised pretty much in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World, I remember being a youngster in 1990 seeing eye popping billboards of Ghostbusters, King Kong, and E.T. promising the arrival of Universal Studios Florida where guests were invited to not only ride the movies, but to live them. I have remained a theme park kid, and theme park professional, covering the development and openings of new attractions throughout the years. 

In addition to chasing the newest advancement in rollercoasters or 3D technology, I’ve always pursued that idea of living the movies. Even as I grew older, I craved the ability to play pretend, and disappear for a stretch within these worlds of make-believe. 

Epic has come the closest to achieving this of anything I’ve experienced thus far. After attending the media preview and grand opening celebration, logging about 20 hours in the park—riding every attraction, meeting-and-greeting as many characters as possible, trying all the food and drinks, and spending about a week processing the experience—here are a few arenas where Epic Universe has taken the crown on the American theme park scene. 

Revamped Worldbuilding

What converts a one-time theme park visitor to a devotee who never quite gets enough? It’s the experience beyond the attractions alone, and the dedication to worldbuilding. 

For instance, I love going to Walt Disney World, even though I’ve been a thousand times, and I’m content just to walk around, grab a drink and bite, and soak it all in. I am a roller coaster and attraction nut, but what keeps me engaged is the overall energy of the place. 

Disney has, for me, traditionally been more of the theme park destination where I can show up and enjoy a day regardless of wait times for attractions. Honestly, Disney has just felt … nicer, and more fully realized. Whereas Universal Orlando, encompassing the parks Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, has been the place I go to, rather than hang around at. It has always been the spot for great thrill rides, but I’ve never really wanted to “live” there.

There was a glimmer of hope when The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter lands opened, first with the Hogsmeade area at Islands in 2010, then Diagon Alley in 2014 at Studios. It was close to the idea of a theme park world where I could lose myself in a story. But it still wasn’t quite there. 

As a response to the challenge thrown down by Wizarding World, Disney promised immersiveness at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. 

The experiment started strong, with cast members dedicated to greetings of “Bright Suns!”; the rowdy vibe within Oga’s Cantina; the in-world merchandise. Over time things have been watered down. These days, the bartenders aren’t even allowed to cheer to the “Una Duey Dee” drinking song, and the “story” of Blackspire Outpost on the planet of Batuu has been all but abandoned. It has remained my favorite themed land, but some of the magic is gone. (In fact, the best example thus far where I felt lost in a fictional world was my two days aboard the tragically short-lived Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. RIP.)

Epic Universe has now upped the stakes. 

There is electricity in the air at Epic, or perhaps more appropriately: It’s alive. 

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From the moment I passed through each of the land’s elaborate portals, everything on the other side (and in the rest of the theme park) seemed to fade away. They all struck me as independent with their own special vibe.

Within Dark Universe, I believed I entered an eerie old monster movie, but with a soundtrack by Danny Elfman. In Super Nintendo World, I was surrounded by colors and the sensation of being sucked Jumanji-style into a video game. Then I traveled back in time to a world I never knew, filled with magic in 1920s Paris. My colleague summed up Isle of Berk best by saying it was like they were dropped into someone’s vibrant D&D campaign.

There seems to be a new level of world building on display, and assuming it’s kept up, Epic commits to the bit of a lively universe and exciting playground. 

Character Interactions

Dark Universe

The exceptional level of character interactivity within these lands adds such an unquantifiable amount of fun, and repeatability, to Epic. And the figures I encountered weren’t just posing for a photo or walking by, but pausing to actively engage.

In Dark Universe, I had extended conversations with the Invisible Man, Ygor, a few of the monster-hunting Hounds, and a mysterious violin player. You can also meet Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride. (This Frank is not the original one, and the Bride is more his friend, according to an updated, cohesive canon at Dark Universe. But I digress.) 

The back-and-forth was jaw dropping as these characters offered clues about the secrets of the Darkmoor, the village setting. They were also quick-witted, funny, and importantly, never broke character. Talk to Griffin the Invisible Man, and heap compliments on him, and he’ll eat it up. But if you act snarky, or get demanding, he might become snappy, or ask if you’re done requesting him to perform. He even dismissed me at one point for cracking too many invisible puns. 

Meanwhile, one of the Hounds I encountered was Gregor the Guardian. At the Burning Blade Tavern, he regaled me with stories of slaying a werewolf. He told me about how monster-hunting has terrible benefits, unless the rest of the hunting party doesn’t survive, and he didn’t need to split the reward. Next he showed off his facial battle scars from a monster attack, and I showed him my own — caused when Mary Ellen Moffit broke my heart. He also expressed concern about my colleague rocking a werewolf hat/mask until I allayed his fears that she was just undercover. Actually, every experience I had at the Burning Blade was phenomenal. It is a lived-in tavern, decorated with monster trophies and old paintings of battles with supernatural forces, and I just didn’t want to leave it. Truly, next time I visit, I’ll be spending two hours here just hanging out.

Then there’s Ygor, the true heart of Dark Universe (though Frankenstein’s Monster might be the abby-normal brain of the place). Following my transformation at the Monster Makeup Experience, I ran into Victoria Frankenstein’s assistant, where he wondered who had done my monster stitches. He suggested he could have done better with less obvious wounds. He then launched himself into the bushes because it looked like a branch was attacking my camera person. Ygor is not only the heart of Dark Universe, he might be a burgeoning rockstar based on the social media love he’s been generating. 

Ministry of Magic

The aurors (a.k.a. wizard cops) at the Ministry of Magic, set in 1920s Paris during the Fantastic Beasts films, are similarly a treat to speak with as they look for shady characters up to magical misdeeds. Jazz performers take to the streets (with an interactable cuddly puffskein creature). A trio of students — from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and exchange students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry — carry the Monster Book of Monsters. Ask the right questions, and they might let you take a peek inside it. And the coolest new interaction experience in the Ministry of Magic is the ability to personally interact with talking portraits, which is a first for any of the Wizarding Worlds.

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Plus, aspiring sorcerers can test out their spellcasting, using an interactive Wizarding World wand — and they can pick up a new one at wandmaker’s Cosme Acajor rather fancy Baguettes Magique — to discover magical mysteries and even stir up activity with fantastic beasts, like a thieving niffler. 

Isle of Berk

Over at Isle of Berk, guests might be teased and roasted by the snotty viking characters Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and can pick up some Dragon-training history by Gobber the Belch. But there are literal dragons all around the land. These are not only of the animatronic variety, but interactive, robotic dragons. There are two wee little dragon pups, which are in reality Boston Dynamics’ robo-dogs transformed into the fantastical creatures, as well as the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with a very large Toothless.

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The lines to meet the famous Dragon were long, but worthwhile because guests can approach him, slowly, and allow him to have a sniff before they are allowed to pet and scritch the cuddly guy as he purrs. It is a joy-inducing encounter where you don’t even question the special effects behind the moment — because you’re friggin’ petting a dragon!

Easter Eggs, Secrets, and Details Galore

Beyond the character interactions, what lends to Epic’s immersiveness is the attention to detail. 

Although it is present in Super Nintendo World, where I felt lost within a video game, this is especially true for Dark Universe, Berk, and Potter. In Dark Universe, there are endless nods to the Universal Monster movies. There’s the portrait of mad scientist Dr. Pretorius within his descendants’ Scientific Oddities shop, where homunculi hide in the rafters. Footprints on the ground document the horrifying change from man into werewolf. 

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There’s even graveyard statues that pay homage to the monster films, including one honoring the little girl Maria — killed by Frankenstein’s creation in the 1931 movie. And there’s an emerging trend to leave a flower at her grave. The fact that the statue itself was found by Creative Director Brandon Kleyla, and he said on social media he always hoped guests would bring flowers, highlights that there appears to be a lot of love from fellow fans in the creation of this park.

Along with the tall, seemingly true-to-scale buildings populating the Parisian landscape in the Ministry of Magic, artwork, shops, and signage all make one feel embedded in this realm while also paying dividends to eagle-eyed fans. 

Overall, the intrepid explorer’s curiosity, and patience, is rewarded at every turn in Epic. Pause to listen to an argument between competing voices behind the doors of Dr. H. Jekyll Apotheker at Dark Universe, and one might learn of a secret drink order for the tavern. Fans who recall that the Sorcerer’s Stone was hidden in Paris in the 1920s might be able to discover it in the Ministry of Magic (maybe around, say, the Le Gobelet Noir). 

The theming extends to the restaurant options, where, for instance, Dracula’s familiars operate Das Stakehaus, surrounded by vampire artwork and slain vampiric ancestors — and serve up food that never contains garlic. 

Even Epic’s lavatories are something to behold. Super Nintendo World’s are themed with plumber pipes, underwater imagery and music; Isle of Berk’s has artistic viking murals; Ministry of Magic’s is old-timey with classy Parisian decor; Dark Universe’s “toiletten” begins with splattered blood silhouettes at the entrance, and is gothic-inspired inside with black toilets, moody lighting, and a dearth of mirrors (because Dracula doesn’t need to be outed as a vamp while counting to number two).

The Rides

Monsters Unchained

With 11 rides throughout Epic, there’s plenty of thrills to occupy two days of a visit. But the highlight is, without a doubt, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe land. 

The storyline of Monsters Unchained revolves around Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the great-great-granddaughter of Henry. In a pre-show we get more of the story as we encounter a Victoria animatronic with a very convincing projected face, and a towering (and walking?!) Frankenstein’s Monster animatronic — which is a groundbreaking piece of tech.  

Though she’s our protagonist, that Frankenstein family obsession runs in her blood, and Victoria sounds slightly unhinged as she boasts she’s learned how to capture, control, and even tame the Universal Classic Monsters. Or so she thinks. While her studies into the original monster Frank appears successful, with the new version appearing tame and friendly, her hubris gets the best of her as she attempts to do the same with Wolfman, Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and monster boss Dracula, and his brides. Drac escapes and unleashes the other baddies. As all hell breaks loose, Victoria, Frank, and assistant Ygor attempt to stop the rampage. And the visitor to Darkmoor is unfortunate enough to be a willing attendee to the experiment when it goes horribly awry. 

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The queue of Monsters is loaded with Easter eggs as one walks through the glorious gothic environs of Frankenstein Manor — complete with grand staircase adorned with large statues — and then descend into its catacombs. There are call outs to the original Universal Monster films, such as photos of the original Frankenstein and his fiancee Elizabeth (actors Colin Clive and Mae Clarke from the 1931 film), or a portrait of Clive-as-Henry opposite the new character Victoria. There’s also an encased body of the original Frankenstein creature that’s scanned by Victoria’s modern-day tech. And throughout the mansion, we visit her fireplace den, see boxes of mysterious cargo, and watch found footage of her and her trusty Ygor hunting monsters. There’s also this really cool vampire bat containment unit scene that looks physical despite being a 3D animation. As I went deeper into the catacombs — actually teased at the entrance of the land in the form of a stone structure with a gated entrance — I encountered coffins and crypts, teeing up the monsters we’ll be encountering, and the vibe is definitely eerie.

The best part of this dark ride is getting up-close-and-personal encounters with updated designs of the classic monsters (including appearances by Lon Chaney-era Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame). The attraction utilizes a variety of effects, including incredible audio-animatronics, practical sets, and animated action sequences as the rider is propelled on a KUKA coaster arm. As opposed to, for instance, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which also uses a KUKA arm, the ride on Monsters is unobstructed, has more motion, and got me close enough to smell the Wolfman’s breath, while tipped on my back (thanks to the arm being attached to the bottom of the vehicle, rather than behind). Another notable element is the escape of Dracula’s brides. There’s a very cool transition between physical animatronics and screens that blew me away. 

As just an added little note here which made me grin: According to the attraction’s story, Ygor is operating the ride vehicle, called the Catacombs Navigation Unit. When he switches on his controls, the vehicle transitions from moving fluidly to getting a bit janky, as if he’s still figuring out how to drive the thing. 

This is more of an adventure ride than scary, but the setup is indeed creepy. There were plenty of moments I saw “behind the curtain” and witnessed the mechanical arms on the animatronics in-ride, but it wasn’t a terrible distraction. There is so much happening on Monsters Unchained that it demands repeat rides (far more than the several times I did it) in order to take it all in. It’s a feast of senses for all the monster kids out there. 

Battle at the Ministry

Then there is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction that zoomed me through London’s Ministry of Magic on an enchanted elevator. Though the land is set in 1920s Paris (during the Fantastic Beasts films), this attraction takes place in the 1990s, right after the Harry Potter films. On the day her trial is to take place, Voldemort lieutenant Dolores Umbridge escapes, necessitating the arrival of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the house-elf Higgledy to save the day.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the pre-existing Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley lands at Universal. But admittedly, I wasn’t needing another Potter-themed attraction. However, Battle more than delivers. The queue itself is, ironically, worth the wait alone as guests enter the Ministry offices. What struck me as the largest, tallest, deepest indoor area I’ve seen at a theme park (yes, even bigger than the Star Destroyer reveal on Rise of the Resistance at Disney). It would be insulting to say this is like a movie set; rather, it is real, down to the marble tiles, as well as nearly infinite stretching into a sky of realistic clouds. The entire experience is expansive in scale. 

On the actual ride, we zoomed through the labyrinthine depths of the Ministry where a feast of visuals endlessly flashed by. More visually engaging than the other Potter attractions, Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts at Universal Orlando, this is also a smoother attraction while remaining exciting. The ride elevator — a 14-seater, two-row vehicle with safety belt restraint —  is bumpy, but not in a jarring way, with a few big drops that avoid any intense stomach sensations. And the action on large-scale (and intensely vibrant) screens blends seamlessly with the huge physical sets. 

The whole affair is magical. Plus, I love the new character of Higgledy, and the massive Erumpent let loose from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is a most impressive animatronic.

I suspect Battle at the Ministry might be one of the best theme park attractions I’ve yet seen. It’s a study in immersion, and though Monsters Unchained is my personal favorite at Epic, this is nonetheless stunning. My only minor quibble is a nerdy continuity one, as the plot point on how we went from the 1920s to 1990s is a tad wishy-washy. I like a tight story timeline with my themed lands, but I’ll just chalk up the time travel to MetroFloo shenanigans, as well as Time Turners and a Ministry Time Room.

Stardust Racers

While Monsters Unchained was my overall favorite attraction at Epic, the Stardust Racers dueling coasters in Celestial Park may have been my biggest surprise. Maybe because it’s not associated with any classic Universal IP (even though the ride cars are “powered” by Doc Brown’s flux capacitor), and I wasn’t particularly excited about the central land within the hub-and-spoke layout. But Stardust Racers has now earned my top spot for favorite roller coaster(s). 

The story behind this one is that the cosmic Celestians have captured two comets, and they have allowed us to hitch a ride on them to see which is faster. But the story really doesn’t matter so much because the focus is on the top speed of 62 mph, and the rising, falling (up to 133 feet), criss-crossing inversions and exhilarating launch of this baby. I rode both the green and yellow sides of the attraction a few times, and I can’t determine which is better, but I think yellow has a better view. Although the Jurassic Park VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure might previously be considered the best of the bunch at Universal, Stardust has a stellar edge to it. 

Mine-Cart Madness

For my second favorite coaster at Epic, I was leaning towards Hiccup’s Wing Gliders at the How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk land. The attraction, on par in my opinion with Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure at Islands, is an adrenaline rush but not overly intense for the more coaster-wary crowd. I rode four times in a row, and it remains fun, even without flipping or spinning. What struck me as a concern with this one was the restraint, which got increasingly, and uncomfortably tight, throughout the ride. It became straight-up painful at one point. It should be noted that I don’t really have a big frame, and this was not due to the coaster attendants making the restraint too tight (although that has happened way too frequently in the past). I mentioned this to the operators, and they said they had heard this complaint enough to call it a known issue. 

That aside, I think the real runner-up for best coaster at Epic is Mine-Cart Madness at the Donkey Kong Country zone in Super Nintendo World. What makes this coaster so noteworthy is the “boom coaster” technology that allows for the illusion of a vehicle on a track system, while the “real” track is underneath, and the vehicle is attached to a hidden arm on the side.

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The result is a fun adventure where I was navigating the Golden Temple to help DK protect the golden banana — all as the mine cart launches, lifts, drops, skims across water, and jumps across seemingly broken tracks. It’s a really fun coaster; I just couldn’t get enough of it. Plus, I love how perfect it is for this particular land as I was able to live within a DK game, but in the real-world.

Final Takeaway

There is more to be said about Epic Universe than can be contained in one article write-up (and I will be discussing it further in my Talking Strange show, as well as sharing videos from the preview on the Den of Geek socials). But throughout the course of my excursion in Epic Universe, I was witness to something special, and new. 

In an era where it’s a challenge to get audiences out the door and into cinemas for the latest blockbuster — because they have a pretty excellent, and customizable, viewing situation at home, with the treats they like, and only chattering loved ones to contend with — a theme park offers a unique experience that can only be fully enjoyed in person. Epic is the way forward. It’s not a success just for theme parks, but for entertainment, where a visitor can become lost within a world they love, and interact with characters from those worlds, while experiencing top-notch technology displayed right in front of them. 

To put it simply, it serves up wonder in epic fashion. Or, to paraphrase that old mad scientist Dr. Pretorius from Bride of Frankenstein, welcome to a new world of gods, monsters, wizards, dragons, and Bowser-battling plumbers.

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With a character as popular and enduring as Indiana Jones, it’s an inevitability that the iconic adventurer would be adapted into video games at one time or another. Indiana Jones games have in fact been present for nearly as long as the movies themselves, starting with 1982’s Raiders of the Lost Ark on the Atari […]

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When Universal Epic Universe opened in Orlando, Florida, last week, it was not only the first major theme park to debut in the United States in 24 years, it marked a major shift forward in what a grand scale in-person entertainment experience can be. Spanning five new “lands” across 750 acres — the Universal Monsters’ themed Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and the Celestial Park entry point — this isn’t just a big park, it lives up to its moniker of epic with its level of immersion, interactivity, and yes, rides. 

For context, I grew up a theme park kid in Orlando. Raised pretty much in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World, I remember being a youngster in 1990 seeing eye popping billboards of Ghostbusters, King Kong, and E.T. promising the arrival of Universal Studios Florida where guests were invited to not only ride the movies, but to live them. I have remained a theme park kid, and theme park professional, covering the development and openings of new attractions throughout the years. 

In addition to chasing the newest advancement in rollercoasters or 3D technology, I’ve always pursued that idea of living the movies. Even as I grew older, I craved the ability to play pretend, and disappear for a stretch within these worlds of make-believe. 

Epic has come the closest to achieving this of anything I’ve experienced thus far. After attending the media preview and grand opening celebration, logging about 20 hours in the park—riding every attraction, meeting-and-greeting as many characters as possible, trying all the food and drinks, and spending about a week processing the experience—here are a few arenas where Epic Universe has taken the crown on the American theme park scene. 

Revamped Worldbuilding

What converts a one-time theme park visitor to a devotee who never quite gets enough? It’s the experience beyond the attractions alone, and the dedication to worldbuilding. 

For instance, I love going to Walt Disney World, even though I’ve been a thousand times, and I’m content just to walk around, grab a drink and bite, and soak it all in. I am a roller coaster and attraction nut, but what keeps me engaged is the overall energy of the place. 

Disney has, for me, traditionally been more of the theme park destination where I can show up and enjoy a day regardless of wait times for attractions. Honestly, Disney has just felt … nicer, and more fully realized. Whereas Universal Orlando, encompassing the parks Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, has been the place I go to, rather than hang around at. It has always been the spot for great thrill rides, but I’ve never really wanted to “live” there.

There was a glimmer of hope when The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter lands opened, first with the Hogsmeade area at Islands in 2010, then Diagon Alley in 2014 at Studios. It was close to the idea of a theme park world where I could lose myself in a story. But it still wasn’t quite there. 

As a response to the challenge thrown down by Wizarding World, Disney promised immersiveness at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. 

The experiment started strong, with cast members dedicated to greetings of “Bright Suns!”; the rowdy vibe within Oga’s Cantina; the in-world merchandise. Over time things have been watered down. These days, the bartenders aren’t even allowed to cheer to the “Una Duey Dee” drinking song, and the “story” of Blackspire Outpost on the planet of Batuu has been all but abandoned. It has remained my favorite themed land, but some of the magic is gone. (In fact, the best example thus far where I felt lost in a fictional world was my two days aboard the tragically short-lived Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. RIP.)

Epic Universe has now upped the stakes. 

There is electricity in the air at Epic, or perhaps more appropriately: It’s alive. 

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From the moment I passed through each of the land’s elaborate portals, everything on the other side (and in the rest of the theme park) seemed to fade away. They all struck me as independent with their own special vibe.

Within Dark Universe, I believed I entered an eerie old monster movie, but with a soundtrack by Danny Elfman. In Super Nintendo World, I was surrounded by colors and the sensation of being sucked Jumanji-style into a video game. Then I traveled back in time to a world I never knew, filled with magic in 1920s Paris. My colleague summed up Isle of Berk best by saying it was like they were dropped into someone’s vibrant D&D campaign.

There seems to be a new level of world building on display, and assuming it’s kept up, Epic commits to the bit of a lively universe and exciting playground. 

Character Interactions

Dark Universe

The exceptional level of character interactivity within these lands adds such an unquantifiable amount of fun, and repeatability, to Epic. And the figures I encountered weren’t just posing for a photo or walking by, but pausing to actively engage.

In Dark Universe, I had extended conversations with the Invisible Man, Ygor, a few of the monster-hunting Hounds, and a mysterious violin player. You can also meet Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride. (This Frank is not the original one, and the Bride is more his friend, according to an updated, cohesive canon at Dark Universe. But I digress.) 

The back-and-forth was jaw dropping as these characters offered clues about the secrets of the Darkmoor, the village setting. They were also quick-witted, funny, and importantly, never broke character. Talk to Griffin the Invisible Man, and heap compliments on him, and he’ll eat it up. But if you act snarky, or get demanding, he might become snappy, or ask if you’re done requesting him to perform. He even dismissed me at one point for cracking too many invisible puns. 

Meanwhile, one of the Hounds I encountered was Gregor the Guardian. At the Burning Blade Tavern, he regaled me with stories of slaying a werewolf. He told me about how monster-hunting has terrible benefits, unless the rest of the hunting party doesn’t survive, and he didn’t need to split the reward. Next he showed off his facial battle scars from a monster attack, and I showed him my own — caused when Mary Ellen Moffit broke my heart. He also expressed concern about my colleague rocking a werewolf hat/mask until I allayed his fears that she was just undercover. Actually, every experience I had at the Burning Blade was phenomenal. It is a lived-in tavern, decorated with monster trophies and old paintings of battles with supernatural forces, and I just didn’t want to leave it. Truly, next time I visit, I’ll be spending two hours here just hanging out.

Then there’s Ygor, the true heart of Dark Universe (though Frankenstein’s Monster might be the abby-normal brain of the place). Following my transformation at the Monster Makeup Experience, I ran into Victoria Frankenstein’s assistant, where he wondered who had done my monster stitches. He suggested he could have done better with less obvious wounds. He then launched himself into the bushes because it looked like a branch was attacking my camera person. Ygor is not only the heart of Dark Universe, he might be a burgeoning rockstar based on the social media love he’s been generating. 

Ministry of Magic

The aurors (a.k.a. wizard cops) at the Ministry of Magic, set in 1920s Paris during the Fantastic Beasts films, are similarly a treat to speak with as they look for shady characters up to magical misdeeds. Jazz performers take to the streets (with an interactable cuddly puffskein creature). A trio of students — from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and exchange students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry — carry the Monster Book of Monsters. Ask the right questions, and they might let you take a peek inside it. And the coolest new interaction experience in the Ministry of Magic is the ability to personally interact with talking portraits, which is a first for any of the Wizarding Worlds.

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Plus, aspiring sorcerers can test out their spellcasting, using an interactive Wizarding World wand — and they can pick up a new one at wandmaker’s Cosme Acajor rather fancy Baguettes Magique — to discover magical mysteries and even stir up activity with fantastic beasts, like a thieving niffler. 

Isle of Berk

Over at Isle of Berk, guests might be teased and roasted by the snotty viking characters Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and can pick up some Dragon-training history by Gobber the Belch. But there are literal dragons all around the land. These are not only of the animatronic variety, but interactive, robotic dragons. There are two wee little dragon pups, which are in reality Boston Dynamics’ robo-dogs transformed into the fantastical creatures, as well as the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with a very large Toothless.

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The lines to meet the famous Dragon were long, but worthwhile because guests can approach him, slowly, and allow him to have a sniff before they are allowed to pet and scritch the cuddly guy as he purrs. It is a joy-inducing encounter where you don’t even question the special effects behind the moment — because you’re friggin’ petting a dragon!

Easter Eggs, Secrets, and Details Galore

Beyond the character interactions, what lends to Epic’s immersiveness is the attention to detail. 

Although it is present in Super Nintendo World, where I felt lost within a video game, this is especially true for Dark Universe, Berk, and Potter. In Dark Universe, there are endless nods to the Universal Monster movies. There’s the portrait of mad scientist Dr. Pretorius within his descendants’ Scientific Oddities shop, where homunculi hide in the rafters. Footprints on the ground document the horrifying change from man into werewolf. 

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There’s even graveyard statues that pay homage to the monster films, including one honoring the little girl Maria — killed by Frankenstein’s creation in the 1931 movie. And there’s an emerging trend to leave a flower at her grave. The fact that the statue itself was found by Creative Director Brandon Kleyla, and he said on social media he always hoped guests would bring flowers, highlights that there appears to be a lot of love from fellow fans in the creation of this park.

Along with the tall, seemingly true-to-scale buildings populating the Parisian landscape in the Ministry of Magic, artwork, shops, and signage all make one feel embedded in this realm while also paying dividends to eagle-eyed fans. 

Overall, the intrepid explorer’s curiosity, and patience, is rewarded at every turn in Epic. Pause to listen to an argument between competing voices behind the doors of Dr. H. Jekyll Apotheker at Dark Universe, and one might learn of a secret drink order for the tavern. Fans who recall that the Sorcerer’s Stone was hidden in Paris in the 1920s might be able to discover it in the Ministry of Magic (maybe around, say, the Le Gobelet Noir). 

The theming extends to the restaurant options, where, for instance, Dracula’s familiars operate Das Stakehaus, surrounded by vampire artwork and slain vampiric ancestors — and serve up food that never contains garlic. 

Even Epic’s lavatories are something to behold. Super Nintendo World’s are themed with plumber pipes, underwater imagery and music; Isle of Berk’s has artistic viking murals; Ministry of Magic’s is old-timey with classy Parisian decor; Dark Universe’s “toiletten” begins with splattered blood silhouettes at the entrance, and is gothic-inspired inside with black toilets, moody lighting, and a dearth of mirrors (because Dracula doesn’t need to be outed as a vamp while counting to number two).

The Rides

Monsters Unchained

With 11 rides throughout Epic, there’s plenty of thrills to occupy two days of a visit. But the highlight is, without a doubt, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe land. 

The storyline of Monsters Unchained revolves around Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the great-great-granddaughter of Henry. In a pre-show we get more of the story as we encounter a Victoria animatronic with a very convincing projected face, and a towering (and walking?!) Frankenstein’s Monster animatronic — which is a groundbreaking piece of tech.  

Though she’s our protagonist, that Frankenstein family obsession runs in her blood, and Victoria sounds slightly unhinged as she boasts she’s learned how to capture, control, and even tame the Universal Classic Monsters. Or so she thinks. While her studies into the original monster Frank appears successful, with the new version appearing tame and friendly, her hubris gets the best of her as she attempts to do the same with Wolfman, Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and monster boss Dracula, and his brides. Drac escapes and unleashes the other baddies. As all hell breaks loose, Victoria, Frank, and assistant Ygor attempt to stop the rampage. And the visitor to Darkmoor is unfortunate enough to be a willing attendee to the experiment when it goes horribly awry. 

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The queue of Monsters is loaded with Easter eggs as one walks through the glorious gothic environs of Frankenstein Manor — complete with grand staircase adorned with large statues — and then descend into its catacombs. There are call outs to the original Universal Monster films, such as photos of the original Frankenstein and his fiancee Elizabeth (actors Colin Clive and Mae Clarke from the 1931 film), or a portrait of Clive-as-Henry opposite the new character Victoria. There’s also an encased body of the original Frankenstein creature that’s scanned by Victoria’s modern-day tech. And throughout the mansion, we visit her fireplace den, see boxes of mysterious cargo, and watch found footage of her and her trusty Ygor hunting monsters. There’s also this really cool vampire bat containment unit scene that looks physical despite being a 3D animation. As I went deeper into the catacombs — actually teased at the entrance of the land in the form of a stone structure with a gated entrance — I encountered coffins and crypts, teeing up the monsters we’ll be encountering, and the vibe is definitely eerie.

The best part of this dark ride is getting up-close-and-personal encounters with updated designs of the classic monsters (including appearances by Lon Chaney-era Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame). The attraction utilizes a variety of effects, including incredible audio-animatronics, practical sets, and animated action sequences as the rider is propelled on a KUKA coaster arm. As opposed to, for instance, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which also uses a KUKA arm, the ride on Monsters is unobstructed, has more motion, and got me close enough to smell the Wolfman’s breath, while tipped on my back (thanks to the arm being attached to the bottom of the vehicle, rather than behind). Another notable element is the escape of Dracula’s brides. There’s a very cool transition between physical animatronics and screens that blew me away. 

As just an added little note here which made me grin: According to the attraction’s story, Ygor is operating the ride vehicle, called the Catacombs Navigation Unit. When he switches on his controls, the vehicle transitions from moving fluidly to getting a bit janky, as if he’s still figuring out how to drive the thing. 

This is more of an adventure ride than scary, but the setup is indeed creepy. There were plenty of moments I saw “behind the curtain” and witnessed the mechanical arms on the animatronics in-ride, but it wasn’t a terrible distraction. There is so much happening on Monsters Unchained that it demands repeat rides (far more than the several times I did it) in order to take it all in. It’s a feast of senses for all the monster kids out there. 

Battle at the Ministry

Then there is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction that zoomed me through London’s Ministry of Magic on an enchanted elevator. Though the land is set in 1920s Paris (during the Fantastic Beasts films), this attraction takes place in the 1990s, right after the Harry Potter films. On the day her trial is to take place, Voldemort lieutenant Dolores Umbridge escapes, necessitating the arrival of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the house-elf Higgledy to save the day.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the pre-existing Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley lands at Universal. But admittedly, I wasn’t needing another Potter-themed attraction. However, Battle more than delivers. The queue itself is, ironically, worth the wait alone as guests enter the Ministry offices. What struck me as the largest, tallest, deepest indoor area I’ve seen at a theme park (yes, even bigger than the Star Destroyer reveal on Rise of the Resistance at Disney). It would be insulting to say this is like a movie set; rather, it is real, down to the marble tiles, as well as nearly infinite stretching into a sky of realistic clouds. The entire experience is expansive in scale. 

On the actual ride, we zoomed through the labyrinthine depths of the Ministry where a feast of visuals endlessly flashed by. More visually engaging than the other Potter attractions, Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts at Universal Orlando, this is also a smoother attraction while remaining exciting. The ride elevator — a 14-seater, two-row vehicle with safety belt restraint —  is bumpy, but not in a jarring way, with a few big drops that avoid any intense stomach sensations. And the action on large-scale (and intensely vibrant) screens blends seamlessly with the huge physical sets. 

The whole affair is magical. Plus, I love the new character of Higgledy, and the massive Erumpent let loose from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is a most impressive animatronic.

I suspect Battle at the Ministry might be one of the best theme park attractions I’ve yet seen. It’s a study in immersion, and though Monsters Unchained is my personal favorite at Epic, this is nonetheless stunning. My only minor quibble is a nerdy continuity one, as the plot point on how we went from the 1920s to 1990s is a tad wishy-washy. I like a tight story timeline with my themed lands, but I’ll just chalk up the time travel to MetroFloo shenanigans, as well as Time Turners and a Ministry Time Room.

Stardust Racers

While Monsters Unchained was my overall favorite attraction at Epic, the Stardust Racers dueling coasters in Celestial Park may have been my biggest surprise. Maybe because it’s not associated with any classic Universal IP (even though the ride cars are “powered” by Doc Brown’s flux capacitor), and I wasn’t particularly excited about the central land within the hub-and-spoke layout. But Stardust Racers has now earned my top spot for favorite roller coaster(s). 

The story behind this one is that the cosmic Celestians have captured two comets, and they have allowed us to hitch a ride on them to see which is faster. But the story really doesn’t matter so much because the focus is on the top speed of 62 mph, and the rising, falling (up to 133 feet), criss-crossing inversions and exhilarating launch of this baby. I rode both the green and yellow sides of the attraction a few times, and I can’t determine which is better, but I think yellow has a better view. Although the Jurassic Park VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure might previously be considered the best of the bunch at Universal, Stardust has a stellar edge to it. 

Mine-Cart Madness

For my second favorite coaster at Epic, I was leaning towards Hiccup’s Wing Gliders at the How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk land. The attraction, on par in my opinion with Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure at Islands, is an adrenaline rush but not overly intense for the more coaster-wary crowd. I rode four times in a row, and it remains fun, even without flipping or spinning. What struck me as a concern with this one was the restraint, which got increasingly, and uncomfortably tight, throughout the ride. It became straight-up painful at one point. It should be noted that I don’t really have a big frame, and this was not due to the coaster attendants making the restraint too tight (although that has happened way too frequently in the past). I mentioned this to the operators, and they said they had heard this complaint enough to call it a known issue. 

That aside, I think the real runner-up for best coaster at Epic is Mine-Cart Madness at the Donkey Kong Country zone in Super Nintendo World. What makes this coaster so noteworthy is the “boom coaster” technology that allows for the illusion of a vehicle on a track system, while the “real” track is underneath, and the vehicle is attached to a hidden arm on the side.

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The result is a fun adventure where I was navigating the Golden Temple to help DK protect the golden banana — all as the mine cart launches, lifts, drops, skims across water, and jumps across seemingly broken tracks. It’s a really fun coaster; I just couldn’t get enough of it. Plus, I love how perfect it is for this particular land as I was able to live within a DK game, but in the real-world.

Final Takeaway

There is more to be said about Epic Universe than can be contained in one article write-up (and I will be discussing it further in my Talking Strange show, as well as sharing videos from the preview on the Den of Geek socials). But throughout the course of my excursion in Epic Universe, I was witness to something special, and new. 

In an era where it’s a challenge to get audiences out the door and into cinemas for the latest blockbuster — because they have a pretty excellent, and customizable, viewing situation at home, with the treats they like, and only chattering loved ones to contend with — a theme park offers a unique experience that can only be fully enjoyed in person. Epic is the way forward. It’s not a success just for theme parks, but for entertainment, where a visitor can become lost within a world they love, and interact with characters from those worlds, while experiencing top-notch technology displayed right in front of them. 

To put it simply, it serves up wonder in epic fashion. Or, to paraphrase that old mad scientist Dr. Pretorius from Bride of Frankenstein, welcome to a new world of gods, monsters, wizards, dragons, and Bowser-battling plumbers.

The post Universal Epic Universe: A Giant Leap Forward for Theme Parks appeared first on Den of Geek.

When Universal Epic Universe opened in Orlando, Florida, last week, it was not only the first major theme park to debut in the United States in 24 years, it marked a major shift forward in what a grand scale in-person entertainment experience can be. Spanning five new “lands” across 750 acres — the Universal Monsters’ […]

The post Universal Epic Universe: A Giant Leap Forward for Theme Parks appeared first on Den of Geek.

When Universal Epic Universe opened in Orlando, Florida, last week, it was not only the first major theme park to debut in the United States in 24 years, it marked a major shift forward in what a grand scale in-person entertainment experience can be. Spanning five new “lands” across 750 acres — the Universal Monsters’ themed Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and the Celestial Park entry point — this isn’t just a big park, it lives up to its moniker of epic with its level of immersion, interactivity, and yes, rides. 

For context, I grew up a theme park kid in Orlando. Raised pretty much in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World, I remember being a youngster in 1990 seeing eye popping billboards of Ghostbusters, King Kong, and E.T. promising the arrival of Universal Studios Florida where guests were invited to not only ride the movies, but to live them. I have remained a theme park kid, and theme park professional, covering the development and openings of new attractions throughout the years. 

In addition to chasing the newest advancement in rollercoasters or 3D technology, I’ve always pursued that idea of living the movies. Even as I grew older, I craved the ability to play pretend, and disappear for a stretch within these worlds of make-believe. 

Epic has come the closest to achieving this of anything I’ve experienced thus far. After attending the media preview and grand opening celebration, logging about 20 hours in the park—riding every attraction, meeting-and-greeting as many characters as possible, trying all the food and drinks, and spending about a week processing the experience—here are a few arenas where Epic Universe has taken the crown on the American theme park scene. 

Revamped Worldbuilding

What converts a one-time theme park visitor to a devotee who never quite gets enough? It’s the experience beyond the attractions alone, and the dedication to worldbuilding. 

For instance, I love going to Walt Disney World, even though I’ve been a thousand times, and I’m content just to walk around, grab a drink and bite, and soak it all in. I am a roller coaster and attraction nut, but what keeps me engaged is the overall energy of the place. 

Disney has, for me, traditionally been more of the theme park destination where I can show up and enjoy a day regardless of wait times for attractions. Honestly, Disney has just felt … nicer, and more fully realized. Whereas Universal Orlando, encompassing the parks Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, has been the place I go to, rather than hang around at. It has always been the spot for great thrill rides, but I’ve never really wanted to “live” there.

There was a glimmer of hope when The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter lands opened, first with the Hogsmeade area at Islands in 2010, then Diagon Alley in 2014 at Studios. It was close to the idea of a theme park world where I could lose myself in a story. But it still wasn’t quite there. 

As a response to the challenge thrown down by Wizarding World, Disney promised immersiveness at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Walt Disney World, and Disneyland. 

The experiment started strong, with cast members dedicated to greetings of “Bright Suns!”; the rowdy vibe within Oga’s Cantina; the in-world merchandise. Over time things have been watered down. These days, the bartenders aren’t even allowed to cheer to the “Una Duey Dee” drinking song, and the “story” of Blackspire Outpost on the planet of Batuu has been all but abandoned. It has remained my favorite themed land, but some of the magic is gone. (In fact, the best example thus far where I felt lost in a fictional world was my two days aboard the tragically short-lived Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. RIP.)

Epic Universe has now upped the stakes. 

There is electricity in the air at Epic, or perhaps more appropriately: It’s alive. 

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From the moment I passed through each of the land’s elaborate portals, everything on the other side (and in the rest of the theme park) seemed to fade away. They all struck me as independent with their own special vibe.

Within Dark Universe, I believed I entered an eerie old monster movie, but with a soundtrack by Danny Elfman. In Super Nintendo World, I was surrounded by colors and the sensation of being sucked Jumanji-style into a video game. Then I traveled back in time to a world I never knew, filled with magic in 1920s Paris. My colleague summed up Isle of Berk best by saying it was like they were dropped into someone’s vibrant D&D campaign.

There seems to be a new level of world building on display, and assuming it’s kept up, Epic commits to the bit of a lively universe and exciting playground. 

Character Interactions

Dark Universe

The exceptional level of character interactivity within these lands adds such an unquantifiable amount of fun, and repeatability, to Epic. And the figures I encountered weren’t just posing for a photo or walking by, but pausing to actively engage.

In Dark Universe, I had extended conversations with the Invisible Man, Ygor, a few of the monster-hunting Hounds, and a mysterious violin player. You can also meet Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride. (This Frank is not the original one, and the Bride is more his friend, according to an updated, cohesive canon at Dark Universe. But I digress.) 

The back-and-forth was jaw dropping as these characters offered clues about the secrets of the Darkmoor, the village setting. They were also quick-witted, funny, and importantly, never broke character. Talk to Griffin the Invisible Man, and heap compliments on him, and he’ll eat it up. But if you act snarky, or get demanding, he might become snappy, or ask if you’re done requesting him to perform. He even dismissed me at one point for cracking too many invisible puns. 

Meanwhile, one of the Hounds I encountered was Gregor the Guardian. At the Burning Blade Tavern, he regaled me with stories of slaying a werewolf. He told me about how monster-hunting has terrible benefits, unless the rest of the hunting party doesn’t survive, and he didn’t need to split the reward. Next he showed off his facial battle scars from a monster attack, and I showed him my own — caused when Mary Ellen Moffit broke my heart. He also expressed concern about my colleague rocking a werewolf hat/mask until I allayed his fears that she was just undercover. Actually, every experience I had at the Burning Blade was phenomenal. It is a lived-in tavern, decorated with monster trophies and old paintings of battles with supernatural forces, and I just didn’t want to leave it. Truly, next time I visit, I’ll be spending two hours here just hanging out.

Then there’s Ygor, the true heart of Dark Universe (though Frankenstein’s Monster might be the abby-normal brain of the place). Following my transformation at the Monster Makeup Experience, I ran into Victoria Frankenstein’s assistant, where he wondered who had done my monster stitches. He suggested he could have done better with less obvious wounds. He then launched himself into the bushes because it looked like a branch was attacking my camera person. Ygor is not only the heart of Dark Universe, he might be a burgeoning rockstar based on the social media love he’s been generating. 

Ministry of Magic

The aurors (a.k.a. wizard cops) at the Ministry of Magic, set in 1920s Paris during the Fantastic Beasts films, are similarly a treat to speak with as they look for shady characters up to magical misdeeds. Jazz performers take to the streets (with an interactable cuddly puffskein creature). A trio of students — from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and exchange students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry — carry the Monster Book of Monsters. Ask the right questions, and they might let you take a peek inside it. And the coolest new interaction experience in the Ministry of Magic is the ability to personally interact with talking portraits, which is a first for any of the Wizarding Worlds.

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Plus, aspiring sorcerers can test out their spellcasting, using an interactive Wizarding World wand — and they can pick up a new one at wandmaker’s Cosme Acajor rather fancy Baguettes Magique — to discover magical mysteries and even stir up activity with fantastic beasts, like a thieving niffler. 

Isle of Berk

Over at Isle of Berk, guests might be teased and roasted by the snotty viking characters Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and can pick up some Dragon-training history by Gobber the Belch. But there are literal dragons all around the land. These are not only of the animatronic variety, but interactive, robotic dragons. There are two wee little dragon pups, which are in reality Boston Dynamics’ robo-dogs transformed into the fantastical creatures, as well as the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with a very large Toothless.

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The lines to meet the famous Dragon were long, but worthwhile because guests can approach him, slowly, and allow him to have a sniff before they are allowed to pet and scritch the cuddly guy as he purrs. It is a joy-inducing encounter where you don’t even question the special effects behind the moment — because you’re friggin’ petting a dragon!

Easter Eggs, Secrets, and Details Galore

Beyond the character interactions, what lends to Epic’s immersiveness is the attention to detail. 

Although it is present in Super Nintendo World, where I felt lost within a video game, this is especially true for Dark Universe, Berk, and Potter. In Dark Universe, there are endless nods to the Universal Monster movies. There’s the portrait of mad scientist Dr. Pretorius within his descendants’ Scientific Oddities shop, where homunculi hide in the rafters. Footprints on the ground document the horrifying change from man into werewolf. 

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There’s even graveyard statues that pay homage to the monster films, including one honoring the little girl Maria — killed by Frankenstein’s creation in the 1931 movie. And there’s an emerging trend to leave a flower at her grave. The fact that the statue itself was found by Creative Director Brandon Kleyla, and he said on social media he always hoped guests would bring flowers, highlights that there appears to be a lot of love from fellow fans in the creation of this park.

Along with the tall, seemingly true-to-scale buildings populating the Parisian landscape in the Ministry of Magic, artwork, shops, and signage all make one feel embedded in this realm while also paying dividends to eagle-eyed fans. 

Overall, the intrepid explorer’s curiosity, and patience, is rewarded at every turn in Epic. Pause to listen to an argument between competing voices behind the doors of Dr. H. Jekyll Apotheker at Dark Universe, and one might learn of a secret drink order for the tavern. Fans who recall that the Sorcerer’s Stone was hidden in Paris in the 1920s might be able to discover it in the Ministry of Magic (maybe around, say, the Le Gobelet Noir). 

The theming extends to the restaurant options, where, for instance, Dracula’s familiars operate Das Stakehaus, surrounded by vampire artwork and slain vampiric ancestors — and serve up food that never contains garlic. 

Even Epic’s lavatories are something to behold. Super Nintendo World’s are themed with plumber pipes, underwater imagery and music; Isle of Berk’s has artistic viking murals; Ministry of Magic’s is old-timey with classy Parisian decor; Dark Universe’s “toiletten” begins with splattered blood silhouettes at the entrance, and is gothic-inspired inside with black toilets, moody lighting, and a dearth of mirrors (because Dracula doesn’t need to be outed as a vamp while counting to number two).

The Rides

Monsters Unchained

With 11 rides throughout Epic, there’s plenty of thrills to occupy two days of a visit. But the highlight is, without a doubt, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe land. 

The storyline of Monsters Unchained revolves around Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the great-great-granddaughter of Henry. In a pre-show we get more of the story as we encounter a Victoria animatronic with a very convincing projected face, and a towering (and walking?!) Frankenstein’s Monster animatronic — which is a groundbreaking piece of tech.  

Though she’s our protagonist, that Frankenstein family obsession runs in her blood, and Victoria sounds slightly unhinged as she boasts she’s learned how to capture, control, and even tame the Universal Classic Monsters. Or so she thinks. While her studies into the original monster Frank appears successful, with the new version appearing tame and friendly, her hubris gets the best of her as she attempts to do the same with Wolfman, Mummy, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and monster boss Dracula, and his brides. Drac escapes and unleashes the other baddies. As all hell breaks loose, Victoria, Frank, and assistant Ygor attempt to stop the rampage. And the visitor to Darkmoor is unfortunate enough to be a willing attendee to the experiment when it goes horribly awry. 

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The queue of Monsters is loaded with Easter eggs as one walks through the glorious gothic environs of Frankenstein Manor — complete with grand staircase adorned with large statues — and then descend into its catacombs. There are call outs to the original Universal Monster films, such as photos of the original Frankenstein and his fiancee Elizabeth (actors Colin Clive and Mae Clarke from the 1931 film), or a portrait of Clive-as-Henry opposite the new character Victoria. There’s also an encased body of the original Frankenstein creature that’s scanned by Victoria’s modern-day tech. And throughout the mansion, we visit her fireplace den, see boxes of mysterious cargo, and watch found footage of her and her trusty Ygor hunting monsters. There’s also this really cool vampire bat containment unit scene that looks physical despite being a 3D animation. As I went deeper into the catacombs — actually teased at the entrance of the land in the form of a stone structure with a gated entrance — I encountered coffins and crypts, teeing up the monsters we’ll be encountering, and the vibe is definitely eerie.

The best part of this dark ride is getting up-close-and-personal encounters with updated designs of the classic monsters (including appearances by Lon Chaney-era Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame). The attraction utilizes a variety of effects, including incredible audio-animatronics, practical sets, and animated action sequences as the rider is propelled on a KUKA coaster arm. As opposed to, for instance, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which also uses a KUKA arm, the ride on Monsters is unobstructed, has more motion, and got me close enough to smell the Wolfman’s breath, while tipped on my back (thanks to the arm being attached to the bottom of the vehicle, rather than behind). Another notable element is the escape of Dracula’s brides. There’s a very cool transition between physical animatronics and screens that blew me away. 

As just an added little note here which made me grin: According to the attraction’s story, Ygor is operating the ride vehicle, called the Catacombs Navigation Unit. When he switches on his controls, the vehicle transitions from moving fluidly to getting a bit janky, as if he’s still figuring out how to drive the thing. 

This is more of an adventure ride than scary, but the setup is indeed creepy. There were plenty of moments I saw “behind the curtain” and witnessed the mechanical arms on the animatronics in-ride, but it wasn’t a terrible distraction. There is so much happening on Monsters Unchained that it demands repeat rides (far more than the several times I did it) in order to take it all in. It’s a feast of senses for all the monster kids out there. 

Battle at the Ministry

Then there is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction that zoomed me through London’s Ministry of Magic on an enchanted elevator. Though the land is set in 1920s Paris (during the Fantastic Beasts films), this attraction takes place in the 1990s, right after the Harry Potter films. On the day her trial is to take place, Voldemort lieutenant Dolores Umbridge escapes, necessitating the arrival of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the house-elf Higgledy to save the day.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the pre-existing Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley lands at Universal. But admittedly, I wasn’t needing another Potter-themed attraction. However, Battle more than delivers. The queue itself is, ironically, worth the wait alone as guests enter the Ministry offices. What struck me as the largest, tallest, deepest indoor area I’ve seen at a theme park (yes, even bigger than the Star Destroyer reveal on Rise of the Resistance at Disney). It would be insulting to say this is like a movie set; rather, it is real, down to the marble tiles, as well as nearly infinite stretching into a sky of realistic clouds. The entire experience is expansive in scale. 

On the actual ride, we zoomed through the labyrinthine depths of the Ministry where a feast of visuals endlessly flashed by. More visually engaging than the other Potter attractions, Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts at Universal Orlando, this is also a smoother attraction while remaining exciting. The ride elevator — a 14-seater, two-row vehicle with safety belt restraint —  is bumpy, but not in a jarring way, with a few big drops that avoid any intense stomach sensations. And the action on large-scale (and intensely vibrant) screens blends seamlessly with the huge physical sets. 

The whole affair is magical. Plus, I love the new character of Higgledy, and the massive Erumpent let loose from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is a most impressive animatronic.

I suspect Battle at the Ministry might be one of the best theme park attractions I’ve yet seen. It’s a study in immersion, and though Monsters Unchained is my personal favorite at Epic, this is nonetheless stunning. My only minor quibble is a nerdy continuity one, as the plot point on how we went from the 1920s to 1990s is a tad wishy-washy. I like a tight story timeline with my themed lands, but I’ll just chalk up the time travel to MetroFloo shenanigans, as well as Time Turners and a Ministry Time Room.

Stardust Racers

While Monsters Unchained was my overall favorite attraction at Epic, the Stardust Racers dueling coasters in Celestial Park may have been my biggest surprise. Maybe because it’s not associated with any classic Universal IP (even though the ride cars are “powered” by Doc Brown’s flux capacitor), and I wasn’t particularly excited about the central land within the hub-and-spoke layout. But Stardust Racers has now earned my top spot for favorite roller coaster(s). 

The story behind this one is that the cosmic Celestians have captured two comets, and they have allowed us to hitch a ride on them to see which is faster. But the story really doesn’t matter so much because the focus is on the top speed of 62 mph, and the rising, falling (up to 133 feet), criss-crossing inversions and exhilarating launch of this baby. I rode both the green and yellow sides of the attraction a few times, and I can’t determine which is better, but I think yellow has a better view. Although the Jurassic Park VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure might previously be considered the best of the bunch at Universal, Stardust has a stellar edge to it. 

Mine-Cart Madness

For my second favorite coaster at Epic, I was leaning towards Hiccup’s Wing Gliders at the How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk land. The attraction, on par in my opinion with Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure at Islands, is an adrenaline rush but not overly intense for the more coaster-wary crowd. I rode four times in a row, and it remains fun, even without flipping or spinning. What struck me as a concern with this one was the restraint, which got increasingly, and uncomfortably tight, throughout the ride. It became straight-up painful at one point. It should be noted that I don’t really have a big frame, and this was not due to the coaster attendants making the restraint too tight (although that has happened way too frequently in the past). I mentioned this to the operators, and they said they had heard this complaint enough to call it a known issue. 

That aside, I think the real runner-up for best coaster at Epic is Mine-Cart Madness at the Donkey Kong Country zone in Super Nintendo World. What makes this coaster so noteworthy is the “boom coaster” technology that allows for the illusion of a vehicle on a track system, while the “real” track is underneath, and the vehicle is attached to a hidden arm on the side.

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The result is a fun adventure where I was navigating the Golden Temple to help DK protect the golden banana — all as the mine cart launches, lifts, drops, skims across water, and jumps across seemingly broken tracks. It’s a really fun coaster; I just couldn’t get enough of it. Plus, I love how perfect it is for this particular land as I was able to live within a DK game, but in the real-world.

Final Takeaway

There is more to be said about Epic Universe than can be contained in one article write-up (and I will be discussing it further in my Talking Strange show, as well as sharing videos from the preview on the Den of Geek socials). But throughout the course of my excursion in Epic Universe, I was witness to something special, and new. 

In an era where it’s a challenge to get audiences out the door and into cinemas for the latest blockbuster — because they have a pretty excellent, and customizable, viewing situation at home, with the treats they like, and only chattering loved ones to contend with — a theme park offers a unique experience that can only be fully enjoyed in person. Epic is the way forward. It’s not a success just for theme parks, but for entertainment, where a visitor can become lost within a world they love, and interact with characters from those worlds, while experiencing top-notch technology displayed right in front of them. 

To put it simply, it serves up wonder in epic fashion. Or, to paraphrase that old mad scientist Dr. Pretorius from Bride of Frankenstein, welcome to a new world of gods, monsters, wizards, dragons, and Bowser-battling plumbers.

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