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Universal’s Epic Universe Sparks Zelda Expansion Rumors Amid Park Mysteries

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On May 22nd, Universal Orlando debuted its first new theme park in a quarter century – Universal Epic Universe. This innovative park boasts five unique themed areas, one of which is an enlarged iteration of the Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo World, centered around Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong. However, subtle hints to another popular Nintendo series, The Legend of Zelda, can be found nearby. With whispers of future expansion plans circulating, the creative director of Epic Universe addressed the not-so-subtle in-park tributes to this cherished Nintendo franchise and potential upcoming theme park developments.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I found myself standing at the entrance to Super Nintendo World within Epic Universe. Nearby, the Nintendo Super Star Store stood like a beacon for gaming fans, filled with memorabilia and souvenirs inspired by beloved franchises scattered throughout the land. The merchandise ranged from Donkey Kong, Mario, and Luigi t-shirts, key chains, and store decorations. However, what caught my eye was an exception to the usual: a collection dedicated to Nintendo’s timeless masterpiece, “The Legend of Zelda.

Beyond just merchandise, you’ll find something even more captivating at the Nintendo Super Star Store: towering above the entrance are intricate stained glass windows depicting the images of Princess Zelda and Link.

As you delve deeper into the store, keep an eye on your steps to spot emblems that might seem familiar – the Hylian Crest, Triforce, and even Sage Medallions are part of the floor design. Plus, if you glance upwards, tapestries adorned with 8-bit character designs from the original Legend of Zelda series hang on the walls.

Indeed, incorporating Zelda into the store’s design, along with related merchandise, sparked curiosity among gaming enthusiasts and theme park aficionados. During an exclusive interview with TopMob at the Epic Universe media event, Steve Tatham, the Executive Creative Director, declined to comment on Zelda’s presence in the park and the rumors of a Zelda ride or expansion, simply stating, “I have no comment:

Regarding your question, I don’t have anything specific to say about it. Given that this place is known as Super Nintendo World, which encompasses everything related to Nintendo, it’s not surprising that we’ve incorporated such a beloved character into our world.

As per Tatham, it’s their choice if they wish to speculate, but the director emphasized that there is more than enough to engage with and concentrate on at Epic Universe right now.

Don’t make too big a deal out of it. If others want to guess or speculate, that’s their prerogative. But let’s keep our attention fixed on the present and enjoy what we have at hand. We’ve got a whole week filled with excitement and amusement across four theme parks and 11 resort hotels, so there’s more than enough to engage us without fretting about the future.

The creative director elaborated on the significant and cooperative bond between Universal Orlando and Nintendo. He explained that they pooled their specialized skills to materialize Super Nintendo World.

We collaborate closely with the original rights owners such as Warner Bros. for Harry Potter, Dreamworks for Berk, and our in-house studio for Universal Monsters. Additionally, we work side by side with Nintendo. These partnerships are crucial, highly collaborative, and educational, as they possess deep knowledge of these stories. Meanwhile, our expertise lies in creating theme parks and delivering immersive experiences to guests. By combining our skills, we’ve managed to create the impressive 21st-century, cutting-edge, fully-immersive theme park environment you see today.

In Universal Epic Universe, there are five distinct areas: The Dark Universe, modeled after classic Universal monster lore; How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, inspired by the beloved animated series; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Battle at the Ministry, a fusion of both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films; Celestial Park, the central hub; and Super Nintendo World. However, unlike its West Coast counterpart at Universal Studios, this Super Nintendo World offers unique attractions such as Yoshi’s Adventure ride and the Donkey Kong Country Mine Cart Madness roller coaster.

Why Epic Universe’s Zelda Rumors Aren’t Going Away

In his role as Executive Creative Director at Epic Universe, Steve Tatham’s response was appropriate given that Universal creatives have spent years meticulously crafting the park, which has only recently been unveiled to the public. At this point in time, it’s fitting that the attention should be focused on Super Nintendo World, as it stands at the forefront of the park’s offerings.

Although The Legend of Zelda is a Nintendo brand, as the director mentioned, it’s one of the few series displayed in the park alongside Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong that doesn’t have its dedicated area or attraction. Moreover, popular Nintendo franchises like Pokémon and Animal Crossing were absent from the store layout and don’t offer related merchandise for purchase.

Thus, these hints towards Link and Princess Zelda suggest a possible sneak peek into the plans or future projects of Universal Creatives. This is particularly intriguing given the excitement surrounding the upcoming expansions to Epic Universe and the forthcoming live-action Legend of Zelda film (discover what the Legend of Zelda director has promised here).

It’s quite possible that we won’t hear about a Zelda expansion for Epic Universe until several months have passed, given that the project is still in its early stages. Factors such as Universal’s ongoing projects, the current state of the economy, and tourism demands all play significant roles in determining the next steps for this expansion.

Yet, it’s quite likely that visitors exploring Epic Universe will frequently wonder why Link is present within the park, yet lacks his own designated land or experience.

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2025-06-04 21:38

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