What Is Going On With The Terminator 2: 3D Replacement?

Back on October 8, 2017, Universal Studios Florida closed its long-running stunt show Terminator 2: 3D. Following its closure, the park announced in a press release that the show would be replaced by a new live-action experience based on a “high energy” Universal franchise in 2019. We discussed the closing of the attraction in a previous article.

2019 is nearly halfway through, yet there has not been any update from the park on what this new experience will be, and there is no official opening date as of the time this article was published. So what is the deal? Much of this project has been under wraps, leaving only rumors and speculation as the only form of talk for the new experience. Based on some evidence, talk within the theme park community, and other projects taking place at Universal Orlando, we may be able to piece together the plan for this new live-action show.

The general consensus everyone has reached is that the new attraction will be based on Jason Bourne as it fits the criteria of “high energy” and is a Universal-owned property.

Evidence

Unlike many other construction projects at Universal Orlando, which have several areas where guests can get a glimpse at the site, this new experience is entirely indoors and behind the Hollywood Boulevard facade, making it nearly impossible to see any visual updates or track the overall progress of construction. The only clear vantage point is in the air.

Twitter user Bioreconstruct has taken several aerial shots of the show building once home to Terminator 2: 3D. Aerial images show that there have been several areas where the theater has been expanding its overall footprint. However, the expansion is not the only change to the structure as the interior has reportedly been gutted and redesigned for the new show.

According to Orlando ParkStop, the new show will not use 3D technology and will rely more on live-action and stunt performers. Perhaps the biggest piece of evidence that has come out is the news that a company known as TAIT is helping to develop the new show. TAIT is an entertainment company that focuses on the production of complex stage shows, such as The Emmys; concerts for Drake, Lady Gaga and others; the Broadway production of King Kong; and Blue Man Group for Universal Orlando. Below is an example of some of the work they have done in the past:

This evidence came to light from the theme park website Amusement Insider. Recently, photos taken from the backside of the Hard Rock Hotel show crews loading crates and boxes into the theater of the new show with TAIT logos on them.

Rumors

As previously mentioned, much of this new show has been left to the rumor stream in the theme park community. Sites such as Theme Park University, Orlando ParkStop, and others have all speculated on the possibility of Bourne coming to Universal. While there has not been a new movie in the series since 2016, it is a property that would lend itself well to a stunt show experience. One should not look too hard into how relevant an intellectual property for a theme park show as WaterWorld has continued to be a massive success for Universal parks around the globe, despite being based on a film that many would not consider a rousing box office success.

Perhaps gritty and intense fight scenes, like the one in 2007’s Bourne Ultimatum, can make its way to the stunt show.

One other rumor that has been linked to this show is the development of a television series based on the events from the Bourne films. Treadstone has been green-lit for production at NBCUniversal-owned USA Network. According to a Yahoo article regarding the upcoming series, “The covert program uses behavior modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins. The first season follows sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously ‘awakened’ to resume their deadly missions.” The continued use of the Bourne franchise and the slated debut date for the series of 2020 may tie in synergistically with the parks.

Timeline

In recent news, Universal redecorated the interior of the merchandise store that the Terminator show previously exited into. The store is now themed after the Universal Classic Monsters. While this obviously does not feature Bourne-related material, the sudden addition of this store might tie into the overall timeline for the new show. The props could be a placeholder until the show is ready and operational.

Although Terminator 2: 3D closed in 2017, work didn’t begin on the theater expansion and interior work until much later. Universal could still open the new show this year, as intended, and could simply be waiting until after the opening of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The opening date for this new experience could also be delayed. It is not unprecedented for parks to delay an announced opening as Universal was originally expected to open Fast & Furious: Supercharged in 2017, but they delayed the opening to the following year. If we had to guess, we believe the show will still open in late 2019, perhaps sometime around Fall, but this is simply our belief.

While most of this project remains a mystery, Universal will reveal more information sooner than later.

DISCLAIMER: This article is tagged as a rumor. Please be aware that the information in this report can change or may not have been planned at all. Attraction Insight shall not be held accountable for the accuracy of any rumors.