TheBadandUgly.com

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Transformers Ride At Universal Studios

Universal has announced that a new Transformers attraction will be taking the place of the Backdraft attraction at their Singapore location as early as late 2010, with a cloned attraction to be set up at Universal Studios Hollywood as early as 2011.

The full press release (under the cut) says that Bay, Hasbro, and Executive Producer Spielberg will be collaborating on the design of the ride. Spielberg has overseen rides based on his films before including the E.T. and Jurassic Park rides currently at Universal Studios theme parks ‘round the world. Steven was given the first ride on the Jurassic Park River Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and still is the only passenger ever allowed to exit the ride before it’s multiple-story waterfall drop between the legs of an animatronic T. Rex (the ride features a Spinosaur from Jurassic Park 3 in it’s Florida incarnation).

The Transformers ride will include track (so passengers will be moved through the attraction) 3d-HD elements and anamatronics (read: giant robots). A lot of the film requires large robots to move at speeds logically unsafe for hydraulics, so expect the fighting you see in the bottom concept art to either be 3D projections or simply robots grappling in slo-mo while you pass beneath them.

We’re a big fan of theme park attractions here at the Bad & Ugly, so we have nothing but the highest hopes for a robot-fighting ride. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.

Book your trip now.

(Full Press Release by clicking “Read More…”)

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Oct. 20 — Transformers, the electrifying blockbuster celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and special effects, will now be developed as a new theme park mega-attraction in a partnership between Universal Parks & Resorts, Hasbro, Inc. and DreamWorks Pictures.

The attraction will fuse 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system that will transform perceptions of theme park experiences. The rides are scheduled to make their debuts in early 2011, first at Universal Studios Singapore and then at Universal Studios Hollywood. In Transformers, Earth’s humans are caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between the friendly Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations.

Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts, said: “Transformers will be a jewel in our collection of world-class rides based on great movies. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Hasbro, DreamWorks, director Michael Bay and the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, who has been responsible for so many of our signature rides and attractions.” Steven Spielberg serves as creative consultant to Universal Parks & Resorts and has worked closely with the company in the creation of some of the world’s most innovative theme park attractions. Those attractions include Jurassic Park-the Ride, a featured attraction at UP&R parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Japan, the E.T. Adventure at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Japan, and the War of the Worlds sets at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Larry Kurzweil, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood, said “Transformers represents a perfect match for our theme park: an exhilarating blockbuster with a great story, clever humor, non-stop action and flawless special effects. It has all the elements necessary to become one of the world’s most exciting theme park rides and a centerpiece attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Universal Parks & Resorts and DreamWorks to create this Transformers attraction because we believe it will deliver an ultimate one of a kind immersive Transformers experience for our fans around the world!” said Brian Goldner, President and CEO of Hasbro, Inc.

Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer of Resorts World at Sentosa, the mega resort that is home to Universal Studios Singapore, said: “It is great that Asia will be the launch pad for the first Transformers attraction. Transformers was introduced in the United States in 1983 but traces its roots to Asia. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron are familiar names to Asian audiences, who grew up with the robot toys and love the movie. When Transformers opens in Universal Studios Singapore in 2010, it will be the first of its kind in the world. We may see a surge of Transformers mania.”

Director Michael Bay and Executive Producer Steve Spielberg presented Transformers in 2007. Transformers broke box office records on its way to gathering worldwide gross revenues of over $706 million — the highest non-sequel gross of any movie in 2007 — and three Academy Award nominations. The sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures in the U.S. on June 26, 2009.