NBCUniversal’s parent company Comcast has revealed that Epic Universe, the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, is expected to open by summer 2025.
During an investors call on Thursday (January 27), NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said: “Epic is full steam ahead. I was down there a few weeks ago and the construction is going really well.”
“We expect that park to open in 2025 and certainly in time for the summer of 2025,” Shell added.
Epic Universe was originally set to launch in 2023, but work was paused in spring 2020 due to Covid-19. Construction resumed in March last year.
In an earnings report, also released on Thursday, Comcast said its theme parks posted their most profitable fourth quarter on record. This was down to an increase in attendance and visitor spending at its attractions in the US and Japan.
Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s fourth gate
Revenue for the theme parks segment increased $1.2bn to $1.9bn in the fourth quarter of 2021, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, revenue from the theme parks segment rose by $3bn to $5.1bn compared to 2020.
Comcast attributed both increases to improved operating conditions compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 and prior year, and noted the opening of Universal Beijing Resort.
In a statement, Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation, said the company is “ramping construction of Epic Universe and welcoming even more guests to our theme parks”.
Epic Universe will be Universal’s largest theme park in the US. It will feature lands and attractions based on DreamWorks and Illumination content, as well as a Super Nintendo World.
Shell previously teased Epic Universe, revealing that it will be “anchored by a lot of our strong IP, including some of the Illumination and DreamWorks content, but especially Nintendo”.
Epic Universe is located close to Universal Orlando’s three other theme parks, on a plot of land near the Orange County Convention Center. “I think we have a unique opportunity to tap into the convention business,” Shell said.
Images: NBCUniversal
