Wizarding World of ‘Harry Potter’ Team Looks to “Explore and Expand”

in Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan

universal orlando

Credit: Universal

Universal has created immersive and detailed attractions and lands at the theme parks all around the world, but none can quite compare to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley that can be found in either Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort, as well as the lands at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, give Harry Potter fans the chance to step into the books crafted by J.K. Rowling and the 8 movie film franchise. Thankfully, it seems that Universal is not putting down the sorting hat anytime soon.

Wizarding World
Credit: Universal Studios

According to Deadline, Warner Bros. has just appointed Warner Bros. Studios’ Kids, Young Adult, and Classics President Tom Ascheim to manage the Wizarding World and Harry Potter franchise, and Ascheim is not done innovating.

When it comes to discussing what the future holds for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter franchise, Ascheim had this to say:

“I’ve been an avid Harry Potter fan for years and an admiring observer of how the Wizarding World franchise has been managed. I’m honored to now be leading the very talented individuals and teams who have done such a great job in growing this brand and its meaning and value to fans everywhere. I look forward to going even further in exploring and expanding all of the opportunities we have in this incredible world.”

Hogsmeade, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Islands of Adventure
Credit: TJ Muscaro

Related: OpEd: Daniel Radcliffe Should Still Return as Harry Potter

Previously, we reported that Thierry Coup, chief creative officer and senior vice president for Universal Creative confirmed that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is only going to get bigger.

Coup stated, We’re not done. You think about what has happened with Harry Potter in the past 10 years beyond our theme parks — The Cursed Child, the eight movies, Fantastic Beasts, the mobile game Wizards Unite. The Wizarding World is not resting. It keeps building.”

So now, we know that the head of the Harry Potter and Wizarding World franchise is looking to explore and expand (hinting at the future looking bright for the theme park lands), and Universal’s chief creative officer and senior VP stated that the Wizarding World is set to keep building. This leads us to believe that it should give Harry Potter fans hope for growth within the Universal theme parks around the world and their inclusion and expansion of the Wizarding World.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure
Credit: Universal Orlando Resort

Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s third gate, has been rumored to showcase a new Wizarding World land that would include both the Franchise Beasts franchise as well as Harry Potter. Although not confirmed, the excitement and determination to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are quite apparent. It is because of this that it would not be surprising to see the Harry Potter IP make a return within Epic Universe, though we’ll still have to wait and see what the future holds for the third major theme park at Universal Orlando.

wizarding world of harry potter
Credit: Universal

Related: Everything We Know About Universal’s Epic Universe

At the moment, rumors have reported that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe will have two attractions: one representing the British Ministry of Magic as we see in the Harry Potter films, and the other representing the French Ministry of Magic from Fantastic Beasts. Universal has recently released a new patent for what looks to possibly be a VR broomstick attraction for the Fantastic Beasts side of the land.

Universal
Holidays at Universal Orlando

Related: Ride Patent Rumored To Be a New Harry Potter Attraction at Universal’s Epic Universe

Having both Ministries of Magic to compare and contrast at the Florida theme park destination would be a very interesting way to weave both aspects of the Wizarding World franchise together, even though they have yet to exist in the same reality. Whatever Universal does decide to do with the IP, after riding Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure, it is quite clear that Universal has the magic potion to creating innovative and jaw-dropping lands and attractions at all of their theme park resorts around the world.

Stay tuned to Inside the Magic as we continue to explore everything going on within Epic Universe and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

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