The Office (2005) might be the most binge-watched show during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s probably the last property that you’d ever think would make it into a theme park setting such as Disney World, Disneyland, or Universal Studios. However, given its popularity, it’s entirely possible that one day, The Office could end up becoming an attraction or at the very least, an experience of some kind, so never say never.
With that said, there’s no denying that The Office lacks the translatability of properties like Marvel, Star Wars, Jurassic World, and so on. After all, it’s a mockumentary sitcom, and to the best of our knowledge, no such show, or movie, has ever had a major presence in a theme park setting, if any sort of presence at all. But what if it did? What if Universal, for example, recognized the theme park-potential of The Office?
Though it might seem a little out there, could The Office work in Universal Studios? What attractions would it have? Would there be any character greetings? What other kinds of experiences and entertainment would there be on offer? Well, you’d be surprised, because we’ve figured out a way it could actually work!
Take note, Universal – here’s exactly how The Office could absolutely work in Universal Studios…
5. Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch
You can’t introduce The Office into Universal Studios without an actual office. Enter the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch. Who wouldn’t recognize that iconic facade? Okay, sure, it’s possible that some guests might wonder whether one of the Universal Studios offices has been relocated, but hear us out.
It would help to have something along the lines of “The Home of The Office” on the front of the building, along with pictures of the show’s characters – or at least the park’s versions – and other such things, such as the iconic intro song on loop. Inside? Well, the office itself, of course, in the exact same layout as you see in the show!
4. Photo Opportunities
Guests wouldn’t want to just walk around an “American workplace” during their time at Universal Studios – after all, part of the reason why people flock to theme parks in the first place is to get away from work. So, why not give guests the opportunity to re-create iconic moments from The Office while they’re in the office!
It would take us all day to list all the memorable scenes from the show, but if you’re a fan, you’ll know there are many, from Michael’s proposal to Holly, to Jim and Pam’s Wedding (which would of course need to be re-created in a green-screen room of some kind). Or, you know, you could just have a conference room meeting!
3. Restaurants and Other Eateries
The Office is one of those shows that almost always leaves you feeling hungry, whether it’s one of the many characters talking about “ice cream cake” to all the goodies on offer at one of the many Christmas parties throughout all nine seasons. And then, of course, there’s Michael Scott’s sweet tooth!
So having The Office-themed eateries inside the Scranton branch makes perfect sense. Get in line at Stanley’s “Pretzel Day” Shack (no cutting in line, though), try out Kevin’s Famous Chili (don’t get it on the floor), or Meredith’s Sirloin Steak House! Grab-and-go snacks? Jello with inedible staplers inside, of course.
2. Character Interactions
This would probably be the most appealing aspect of The Office-themed attraction, as the show is filled with larger-than-life characters, such as Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner), Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), to name a few.
While of course the actors who play all of these characters wouldn’t be playing the Universal Studios-versions, we like to think that the Dunder Mifflin employees can exist without their real-life counterparts (at least in a theme park setting). So, if you’re in the mood to play some pranks on a real-life Dwight, you got it!
1. Attractions & Entertainment
There are many moments throughout The Office that could easily be translated into an attraction or an experience. For starters, there’s Dwight Schrute’s Hay Maze, Andy Bernard’s Sweeney Todd The Musical, and Michael Scott’s hilarious independent movie Threat Level Midnight.
Threat Level Midnight would undoubtedly be one of the main selling points, but what form could it take in a theme park setting? Well, the sky was the limit for Michael when it came to making his movie, so why not a walk-through attraction in which Michael Scarn rushes to save the world from Golden Face!
Would you like The Office to come to a Universal theme park in the future? What attractions and experiences would you like to see? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
