Proposal: Universal and Warner Bros. Strategic Expansion
This proposal outlines a strategic plan for Comcast and Universal Destinations & Experiences to acquire Warner Bros. Studios.
By removing traditional backlot tram tours at both properties,
Universal will convert its current footprint into a massive, single-gate theme park called Universal Studios L.A.
Concurrently, the acquired Warner Bros. property will be reimagined as a highly immersive second-gate theme park and studio complex called Universal's Warnerversal Studios.
Phase 1: Property Re-branding and Infrastructure Overhaul
Universal Studios L.A.
Universal Studios Hollywood will be renamed to reflect a grander regional identity.
The historic Studio Tour, backlot sets, and soundstages will be permanently retired and demolished.
This newly available land will be used exclusively to build massive, immersive new lands and rides.
Tram Fleet Relocation
The iconic Universal Studio Tour trams will be removed from ride service.
They will be permanently repurposed as parking lot shuttles to transport guests between the main parking structures, Universal Studios L.A., and the new second gate.
The Warner Bros. Acquisition
Universal and Comcast will secure a contract to acquire the nearby Warner Bros. Studios lot.
This merger will combine intellectual properties (IP) from both corporate libraries into one premier destination.
Phase 2: Universal's Warnerversal Studios (The Second Gate)
The former Warner Bros. studio lot will be completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground up as a secondary theme park.
The traditional Warner Bros. tram tour will be retired.
Instead, guests will board a state-of-the-art Flying Cabin Simulation Vehicle—a multi-car motion simulator
similar to a StarSpeeder—that drives through highly advanced, enclosed soundstages.
This ride-through experience will feature a mix of co-branded Universal and Warner Bros. properties, utilizing classic physical effects, giant animatronics, and live scare actors.
Soundstage 1: The Universal Classics Revivals
King Kong Encounter
A recreation of the original New York City set, featuring a shaking suspension bridge and a giant, roaring King Kong animatronic with glowing red eyes and banana-scented breath.
JAWS: Amity Island
A reworked version of the classic shark encounter.
It removes the confusing fire special effects to focus entirely on tension.
The ride features the classic scene where the fisherman, George, is pulled from his rowboat, culminating in a dramatic water-splat effect.
Soundstage 2: The Psycho Indoor Experience
The Bates Motel Exterior
A massive indoor set designed to look like a dark, scary night.
A live scare actor playing Norman Bates will brandish a replica prop knife and simulate an attack against the passing vehicles.
The Window Glimpse
Guests will look up at the Psycho House window to see a terrifying silhouette of Mother peering out as the window opens and closes.
The Rocking Chair Room
The vehicles will fly into an upstairs bedroom set.
An animatronic Corpse Mother sits in a rocking chair that slowly rotates toward the audience. A live scare actor will then jump out to startle guests without making physical contact.
The Bathroom Scene
The vehicles move into a motel bathroom set. The shower curtain flies open, and a scare actor playing Mother attempts a jump-scare attack with a prop knife.
Soundstage 3: Universal & Warner Bros. Horror Monsters
This mega-soundstage operates similarly to the Universal Horror Unleashed attraction in Las Vegas. It uses dark portals, theatrical sets, and live scare actors to bring classic horror cinema to life:
Dracula’s Catacombs
Guests enter a gothic castle portal where Count Dracula and his vampire brides surround all four cars of the simulation vehicle.
Nosferatu’s Lair
A drive-through experience featuring a creepy, live-actor interpretation of Nosferatu stalking the vehicle.
Notre Dame Torture Chamber
Set inside a simulated Parisian bell tower, where the Hunchback of Notre Dame swings down toward the flying cabin.
The Phantom’s Opera House
Based on Carl Laemmle’s 1925 silent film classic. Guests encounter Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, roaring and hanging a victim from the ceiling.
The vehicle temporarily stops so guests can take photos and videos before the Phantom descends to haunt them.
The vehicle then ascends a ramp into a "Masquerade" ballroom scene, where the Phantom appears in his Red Death cloak as the vehicles narrowly escape.
The Lagoon Swamp
A deep, misty swamp set where the Creature from the Black Lagoon emerges from the water to terrorize the vehicle.
The Egyptian Tomb
A dark tomb where a live-action Mummy leaps from a sarcophagus.
The Dark Forest
A foggy woodland set where the Wolfman stalks the passing vehicle.
Frankenstein’s Laboratory
A chaotic castle lab where Igor and Frankenstein’s Monster attempt to sabotage the flying cabin.
The Modern Horror Sewers
The final room takes guests beneath the streets into dark, wet tunnels.
Here, modern horror icons collide as Pennywise the Clown (from Warner Bros.' IT), Freddy Fazbear (from Universal's Five Nights at Freddy's),
and the vampires from Sinners launch a final, coordinated assault on the vehicle before the soundstage exit doors open.
Phase 3: Seasonal Halloween Horror Nights Operations
To optimize park capacity and event logistics, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) will be permanently moved away from the first gate (Universal Studios L.A.)
and hosted exclusively at the new second gate (Universal's Warnerversal Studios).
During this nighttime event, the daytime Flying Cabin Simulation vehicles will close and park in a separate area.
The extensive, highly detailed movie sets and horror soundstages built for the ride will then be seamlessly converted into massive, walkable haunted mazes for guests to explore on foot.