Since the Fox acquisition, Disney’s sci-fi library has grown and is no longer limited to family-friendly material. The House of Mouse has inherited several new properties, including classics such as Planet of the Apes, The X-Files, Independence Day, Alien and Predator. Disney is no stranger to science fiction, but do any of the characters from these franchises have a future at the parks, and if so, how might Disney handle those which are more adult-themed?
1. Alien
The Alien franchise already has a history with Disney Parks, having appeared on The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and inspiring former Tomorrowland attraction ExtraTERRORestrial. Now, with a new movie in the works, could a ‘reappropriated’ version of Alien appear in the parks one day? In the ‘80s, R-rated sequel Aliens spawned child-friendly action figures (a trend that’s making a comeback) and 2004’s AvP gave us a somewhat ‘PG-13’ version of the Xenomorph. Or perhaps Disney should simply embrace the nightmarish creature, just like it did with The Great Movie Ride. Either way, direct interaction with the iconic creature would be unlikely (in all fairness, they do prefer face-hugs over the more traditional kind). Seeing Ripley, however, in her yellow loader outside a new Alien-themed attraction, interacting with guests and warning them about her nemesis, would be far more engaging.
2. Planet of the Apes
Perhaps the most adaptable of these properties is Planet of the Apes, and Disney already has sequels to the critically acclaimed reboot trilogy in the works – which may increase the chances of seeing the apes at the parks. Having actors in ape masks like in the original ‘60s movie would feel outdated, but there are other options. For starters, while a critical failure, Tim Burton’s 2001 adaptation utilized prosthetic make-up like no other film before it. And where the ground-breaking reboot trilogy’s apes are concerned, just look at Walt Disney World’s Avatar-themed ride, Na’vi River Journey, whose state-of-the-art animatronic (also based off a motion-capture creation) is so realistic, it’s hard to imagine that there’s something Disney Imagineers can’t do. Either way, there’s no doubt that Caesar and Maurice would fit right in at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
3. Predator
It’s reasonable to suggest that, as a character, Predator is far more adaptable to Disney Parks than his less agreeable alien foe, the Xenomorph. After all, anyone who’s visited comic conventions can testify that this extra-terrestrial hunter is among the most popular and incredibly convincing cosplay. And Disney could always opt for the ‘armored’ Predator; the more photogenic version that sees those hideous mandibles concealed behind a sleek helmet.
A fifth film is currently in the works, and though it will no doubt carry an R-rating, last-minute efforts were made in the 2018 movie to push the franchise into ‘superhero’ territory, with the introduction of the “Predator Killer” armor. We’re not suggesting the alien warrior is the next Iron Man in the making, but that this somewhat anti-hero character may also be getting a makeover on screen might help make him more palatable where theme parks are concerned.
4. Independence Day
If you were lucky enough to experience the Armageddon-themed attraction at Disneyland Paris, you might agree that an even cheesier ‘90s sci-fi disaster would be welcome in a Disney theme park. And the aliens – those grey, beetle-eyed beings encased in large, organic, tentacle-wielding exoskeletons – weren’t that scary. Maybe a character greeting would see you observing the ETs in their Area 51 ‘tanks’, with Jeff Goldblum’s David Levinson providing hair-raising narration, followed by a flight tutorial hosted by Will Smith’s wise-cracking Captain Hiller. While the 2016 sequel gave new meaning to the term ‘disaster movie’, the original 1996 film grossed over $817.4 million worldwide. Provided Disney plays down the global disaster element, having a resurgence of the franchise at the parks might be a smart move.
5. The X-Files
Known for its eerie investigations into extra-terrestrial activity, The X-Files might just work at a Disney Park, though it would be a far cry from the likes of Men in Black: Alien Attack at Universal Studios. A dark, spine-chilling walk-through more along the lines of The Walking Dead experience (now closed), could work, and would create an opportunity for a meet and greet with the show’s infamous lead duo, Mulder and Scully. Some repurposing would be required, though – The X-Files is hardly family-friendly like Men in Black, so if Disney does wish to bring this popular sci-fi hit into its parks, leaving the show’s grizzlier content in its basement archives would be wise.
Whether Disney plans to introduce characters from its newly acquired properties into the parks or not remains to be seen. After all, some aren’t as ‘park-ready’ like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Marvel were before they were purchased. One thing’s certain, though – with the likes of the super-violent, potty mouthed Deadpool now officially part of the MCU, anything is possible.
