A new rumour indicates that Universal Studios United Kingdom could be getting some form of Harry Potter attraction after all.
According to a report from The Sun, work has only just begun on Universal’s impending theme park in Bedford because Universal bosses have been “locked in negotiations with Warner Bros. and JK Rowling” over getting the Harry Potter IP into the parks.
Further to The Sun report, the negotiations were reportedly drawn out for several months due to the presence of the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, Watford, some 30 miles from Bedford, and have seen creative teams at Universal already putting plans into motion for a potential attraction.
Of course, this is pure hearsay, so it is best taken with a pinch of salt. Indeed, it had previously been in a BBC report that Harry Potter may not be coming to Universal UK in the immediate future because of “watertight exclusivity contracts” that made it difficult for Universal to get the rights for Harry Potter in the UK, given that Warner Bros. hold the rights themselves.
According to the insider speaking to the BBC at the time, there may potentially be room for some form of Hogwarts element in a potential park expansion alongside other notable omissions, such as Super Nintendo World – a feature in both Hollywood and in Florida, with Universal’s brand-new Epic Universe.
In addition, a recent article in Attractions Magazine highlighted that Mark Woodbury, the Chief Executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences had placed a key onus on the new UK park not “cannibalising” existing IPs in Universal parks elsewhere.
Given that Harry Potter is already featured in other Universal parks across the world, it may seem a moot point for it to come to the UK, in spite of the home location seeming an ideal opportunity.
Read on to find out everything we know about Universal Studios United Kingdom.
