Something is stirring in the darkness behind Dark Universe. Recent aerial footage from Bioreconstruct shows quite a bit of activity taking place on the expansion area behind Darkmoor at Universal Epic Universe. Land has been cleared, heavy equipment is on site, and the area certainly looks a lot different than it did before. Does that tell us exactly what Universal is planning? Absolutely not. But when you’re a theme park fan and a large patch of land suddenly starts changing behind one of the newest themed lands in Orlando, it’s pretty hard not to wonder what could eventually be coming.
Before we go any further, I want to make one thing clear: I’m not trying to turn this into another rumor article claiming that I know what’s going back there. I don’t. Instead, consider this a little construction watching mixed with my own Dark Universe wishlist. Because if Universal is preparing to give its monsters another attraction someday, there is one classic monster I would absolutely love to see get the spotlight.
Something Is Happening Behind Darkmoor
Dark Universe currently revolves around the village of Darkmoor, anchored by Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Curse of the Werewolf. Monsters Unchained already brings together several of Universal’s legendary monsters, including Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. That means the Creature already exists within the world Universal has created — he just doesn’t have an attraction of his own.
That’s what makes the construction behind Dark Universe so interesting to watch. Bioreconstruct’s recent aerial footage gives us a much better look at the land behind the existing area and just how much space Universal has available to work with.
Recent aerial footage from Bioreconstruct provides a look at the construction activity taking place behind Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe.
The footage shows land being cleared and worked on behind Darkmoor, but until Universal makes an announcement, we simply don’t know what the final plan is. It could eventually become an attraction, infrastructure, something completely unexpected or a combination of several projects.
But if we’re allowed to dream for a moment, I know exactly where I want to go next.
Take Us to the Black Lagoon
I’ve seen speculation before about the possibility of the Creature from the Black Lagoon eventually receiving his own attraction. Again, I’m not presenting that as something Universal is actually building. I’m looking at this entirely from the perspective of what I would personally love to see added to Dark Universe.
Give me a full-blown Creature from the Black Lagoon adventure.
One concept that immediately comes to mind is something inspired by the type of multi-element experience Dollywood is creating with NightFlight Expedition. I’m not saying Universal should copy that attraction, but the basic idea of combining different ride sensations and immersive environments could be incredible when applied to the Creature.
Imagine boarding an expedition vehicle and heading deep into a heavily themed lagoon environment. Parts of the experience could take riders through dense vegetation, caves, waterfalls and murky water before transitioning into darker indoor environments. At first, you’re simply exploring the lagoon. Then you catch a glimpse of something moving beneath the surface. Another encounter gets a little closer. Eventually, the expedition goes horribly wrong and you’re trying to escape the Creature’s territory.
Universal could play with water effects, sudden acceleration, physical sets, darkness, environmental storytelling and massive animatronics without necessarily turning it into another extreme thrill ride. It could be an adventure attraction with some genuinely creepy moments while giving Dark Universe something completely different from Monsters Unchained and Curse of the Werewolf.
And Universal, if you’re going to do it, please give us a massive Creature animatronic. If I’m traveling into the Black Lagoon, I want that final encounter to be something people are still talking about when they walk out of the attraction.
Come On, Universal. Show Some Love to the Horror!
I’ll admit that I still haven’t visited Epic Universe yet, so I’m not going to pretend that I can give a firsthand assessment of how Dark Universe compares with the other portals. However, I’ve been told by people who have visited that Dark Universe feels like one of the smaller areas of Epic Universe.
My response is pretty simple: come on, Universal. Show some love to the horror!
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Darkmoor serves as the home of Universal Monsters inside Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe. Photo credit: Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Monsters are such an important part of the company’s history. Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon helped establish Universal as one of the defining names in cinematic horror. Dark Universe finally gives those characters a permanent modern theme park home, and there’s so much material available that Universal could continue expanding this world for years without running out of monsters or stories to explore.
That’s another reason why I love the idea of the Creature being next. It wouldn’t simply add another ride to Dark Universe; it could introduce an entirely different environment. Darkmoor gives us Gothic architecture, Frankenstein’s experiments, graveyards and foggy European horror. A Black Lagoon expansion could slowly transition away from the village into something wetter, darker and much more overgrown.
Imagine walking away from Darkmoor as the Gothic buildings gradually disappear behind you. Vegetation becomes thicker, the pathways become darker, and you begin hearing insects, running water and strange noises coming from somewhere beyond the trees. Eventually, the landscape opens up and there it is: the Black Lagoon.
That could be an attraction and a mini-land experience all wrapped together.
For Now, We Watch the Construction
For now, all we can really do is watch the construction behind Dark Universe and see what develops. Universal hasn’t announced a Creature from the Black Lagoon attraction, and I’m perfectly fine keeping this one firmly in the wishlist category until we hear otherwise.
Honestly, that’s part of the fun of following theme park construction. An empty patch of land starts changing, equipment arrives, foundations begin appearing and suddenly every theme park fan has their own idea of what should go there. Sometimes we’re completely wrong. Sometimes an idea ends up surprisingly close. Either way, watching something new slowly take shape is part of the experience.
So I’ll leave the hard rumor chasing to others. I’m just going to put my vote out into the universe.
Take us into the Black Lagoon. Give the Creature his moment.
Dark Universe already has some of horror’s greatest icons. Now let’s see just how much darker — and bigger — this universe can become.
