Something curious is brewing at Universal Orlando Resort, and fans of Wicked and the world of Oz are starting to wonder if the yellow brick road might be winding its way into Universal Epic Universe.
Ever since Epic Universe opened, speculation has swirled around what could eventually fill its remaining expansion pads. One of the most persistent rumors is a land themed to Wicked, or more broadly, The Wizard of Oz. And now, that rumor might have just gotten its biggest nudge yet.
NBC and Peacock are set to air a new special, Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe, on Wednesday, August 20 at 9 PM. Among the celebrity guests announced are Jon M. Chu, director of both Wicked films, and Michelle Yeoh, who stars as Madame Morrible. Their inclusion is raising eyebrows, and not just because of star power. With no confirmed connection to any of Epic Universe’s current lands, their appearance feels like it might be setting the stage for something new.
According to Deadline, the special will also feature Bryce Dallas Howard, Vin Diesel, Steven Spielberg, Warwick Davis, Nico Parker, Mason Thames, Bowen Yang, and Matt Rogers. At first glance, it’s an eclectic list, but most of those names already have strong ties to Universal park IP. Spielberg is tied to E.T., Howard to Jurassic World, Diesel to Fast & Furious, and both Parker and Thames appeared in How to Train Your Dragon, one of the centerpiece worlds of Epic Universe.
Yang and Rogers have each recently served as hosts or comedic foils for promotional specials tied to the new park. It’s also worth noting that Yang appeared in Wicked: Part One, giving him a second, unexpected link to the property in question.
That makes Chu, Yeoh, and Yang a trio to watch, especially if a Wicked-themed land is on the verge of being announced.
Adding more intrigue, theme park aerial photographer Bioreconstruct recently shared images from July 26 showing green steel beams being installed in one of the park’s unused expansion areas. Green beams alone don’t confirm an Oz theme, but when paired with surprise Wicked-related appearances in a major park special, the timing feels more than coincidental.
Universal hasn’t made any official announcements, and this could still be clever misdirection. But it certainly feels like the smoke around Wicked is thickening, and we may soon see the fire.
So if you’re a fan of Elphaba, Glinda, and the magic of Oz, make sure to tune in on August 20th. Epic Universe might be about to defy gravity once again.
