With immersive themed lands becoming the norm in popular theme parks, discussions have surfaced about some of the IPs that would make the best additions to park rosters. With Harry Potter, Star Wars, Avatar, and Marvel comics receiving their own themed areas, as well as the interest of park goers in these places, there is plenty of speculation about what other popular IPs could find their way into theme parks in the future.
Today we’ll be taking a look at five IPs that deserve their own themed lands. As of right now, none of these are confirmed for a place in the theme parks and this list is just for fun.
Dungeons and Dragons
The iconic tabletop roleplaying game that has taken the world by storm since the late 70s has no shortage of fantastical elements to bring to the table. Dungeons and Dragons (or D&D) has only continued to climb in pop culture recognition over the years with the help the Netflix show Stranger Things, the theatrical release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in March of 2023, and most recently, the popularity of the Larian-created game Baldur’s Gate 3 that won Game of the Year for 2023.
With the growing recognition of this iconic RPG paired with the seemingly limitless creative opportunities that come with a game like this, Dungeons & Dragons could make for an easily updatable, consistently fluctuating fantasy-themed land.
Game of Thrones
With the recent release of House of the Dragon season 2, the Game of Thrones franchise is back in the ring for another go at the dark fantasy genre after the series finale of Game of Thrones left much of the fan base dissatisfied back in 2019.
Based on the series A Song of Ice and Fire by author George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones has amassed quite the following after five books, eight seasons, and a spin-off series. Despite how much content has been released from this series, the land of Westeros is still full of mysterious creatures and places that have remained largely unexplored.
Unfortunately it’s unlikely we’d see a real-life Westeros in Disney World anytime soon, but the idea of setting foot in a theme park to see recreations of iconic locations like Dragonstone, King’s Landing, or the looming Wall of solid ice in the north is enough to earn this series a spot on this list.
The Lord of the Rings
Another fantastical icon that has gone largely ignored by the theme park industry is The Lord of the Rings, a series created by J.R.R. Tolkien. For a man responsible for shaping a lot of the fantasy genre as we know it today, Tolkien has an astoundingly small presence in theme parks today.
For long-time fans of Middle Earth, a themed land is long overdue, and as of 2024 there are some comments circulating that hint at a possible Lord of the Rings expansion coming to Epic Universe, thought to be placed between the Wizarding World and How to Train Your Dragon. This is still rumor only at this point of course, and there are currently no announced plans for a project like this.
Legend of Zelda
With the incredible popularity of Super Nintendo World taking up residence in Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Epic Universe before too long, it’s understandable why fans would speculate on possible additions to the Nintendo lineup. One of the most popular options is a Legend of Zelda expansion.
Fans of the series hold onto the hope that the recent closure of Poseidon’s Fury at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2023 could open up a new opportunity for the kingdom of Hyrule to join the roster sooner rather than later, but with Super Nintendo World opening in a different park entirely, it may be more likely a Legend of Zelda expansion could come in Epic Universe.
Pokémon
Another Nintendo entry rounds out this list with Pokémon. This creature- catching series has solidified itself in pop culture after numerous main series and spin-off video games, tv shows, movies, and merchandise of every kind. After the so-called ‘Summer of Pokémon GO’ back in 2016 that boosted the franchise even more in the public eye, Pokémon has become something of a household name. With as sprawling of a fan base as this series has, it would be understandable for Universal to keep an eye on its expansion potential in Super Nintendo World.
If you had the chance, what IPs would you add to one of the theme parks and what attractions would you like to see there? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
