Everything We Learned From the Epic Universe Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025
From new music release dates and themed food to behind-the-scenes ride details, here’s a breakdown of everything Universal revealed about its new park.
SAN DIEGO, CA – Universal Destinations & Experiences offered thousands of fans at San Diego Comic-Con an in-depth look at the creative process behind its new theme park, Epic Universe, which opened in Orlando earlier this year. The panel, titled "Creating the Immersion of Epic Universe," took place this morning before a packed audience in Hall 6DE and featured the key creative leaders who brought the park to life.
The event was part of a larger promotional effort by Universal at the convention, which also includes a pop-up shop themed to Le Cirque Arcanus from the park's Wizarding World land and a booth offering Dark Universe-themed face painting. Fans lined up as early as 8:10 a.m. for the 10:00 a.m. panel, with the queue wrapping around the outside of the hall. Attendees received a complimentary wall poster depicting the worlds of the new park.
Hosted by Fandom’s Emma Fyffe, the panel focused on the park's core philosophy of deep, immersive storytelling. Executive Creative Director Greg Hall explained that the team’s goal was to "raise the bar" with both form and function. He described the principle of balancing high-energy attractions with areas of "serene calm," citing the park’s central hub, Celestial Park, as the primary example of this concept in action. The panel revealed that Celestial Park utilizes seven million individual lights to create its cosmic atmosphere.
Panelists provided specific behind-the-scenes details on the park's various worlds. Discussing Dark Universe, the team spoke about the challenge of making the land feel ancient while being powered by new technology. Describing the classic monsters as the "bread and butter" for Universal, they explained how they ensured each monster had a signature moment within the land. This philosophy extends to every medium, including unique queues designed to capture the individuality of each character. For the land's main attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the creative team utilized binaural audio and haptics to create the deeply immersive and physically engaging environment guests now experience.
Regarding the Isle of Berk, the land based on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, the team shared that the area features more than 100 dragons in total, from the flying ride system and advanced animatronics to the many static figures carved throughout the environment.
A significant portion of the panel was dedicated to the crucial role of music and sound in the park's design. Senior Media Producer Camille Coladonato, who was responsible for the park's entire soundscape, spoke about the power of audio in creating immersion. "Music is so powerful for theme parks," she said. "Can add and shape a world." She explained that each world in Epic Universe has its own unique sonic identity that guests experience.
Building on the park's existing soundscapes, several music-related announcements were made. Coladonato revealed that "a sample and a teaser of Celestial Park music will be released tomorrow, 7/27, ahead of the full album release in 2026." It was also announced that Danny Elfman's score for Dark Universe will be available to stream "soon," and that a "five-piece Viking music" score from composer John Powell for the Isle of Berk will follow.
The culinary program was also highlighted as a key component of the guest experience. Sueann, a Universal creative team member of over thirty years, noted that food was often a "piece missing in theme parks" and that at Epic Universe, it is treated as part of the story. She announced a new seasonal food item coming to the Isle of Berk this fall: a Turkey Mac and Cheese Cone, which will be available at the Hooligans food stand.
The presentation was highlighted by a surprise appearance from the in-park performers for Hiccup and Astrid, who took to the stage in full costume. They were joined by a massive, intricately detailed "storm dragon" puppet, giving the Comic-Con audience a live demonstration of the entertainment found daily in the Isle of Berk.
The panel concluded with a final thought on the park's creation. The team reiterated the importance of their "super important" and "collaborative" relationships with the intellectual property holders like Nintendo and Warner Bros. Tatham described the process as a marriage of expertise, with the IP holders being experts in their stories and Universal being experts in how those stories are experienced by guests in the "21st Century, next-gen" theme park that is now open to the public.