Jon M. Chu's Role in Epic Universe TV Special Ignites 'Wicked' Rumors
The acclaimed director's appearance in an NBC special dedicated to the park's current worlds has sent fan speculation into overdrive, despite no official plans for a 'Wicked' land.
ORLANDO, FL – Universal is pulling back the curtain on its new theme park with a star-studded television event, but it’s the inclusion of one specific name that has sent the theme park fan community into a frenzy of speculation. NBC has announced a one-hour special, “Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe,” and among the lineup of celebrities is Jon M. Chu, the acclaimed director of the upcoming Wicked and Wicked: For Good films. His involvement in a program dedicated to the park's launch-day worlds has reignited long-standing, fervent rumors that a land themed to the witches of Oz is destined for Epic Universe.
The special, hosted by actor Joe Manganiello, is set to air on Wednesday, August 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock. According to the official press release, the program will celebrate the debut of Epic Universe and explore the "imagination, innovation and storytelling" behind its five immersive worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
The broadcast will feature a host of celebrities with direct ties to the park's properties. Mason Thames and Nico Parker from the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon film will explore the Isle of Berk, and Warwick Davis from the Harry Potter series will tour the new Ministry of Magic. The special will also include interviews with franchise stars like Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Michelle Yeoh, and Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious Saga), as well as an extensive interview with legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
However, it is the name Jon M. Chu that stands out. Unlike the other featured talent, Chu has no creative connection to any of the five worlds currently open at Epic Universe. His entire creative focus for the past several years has been on bringing the blockbuster musical Wicked to the screen. For theme park fans who parse every corporate announcement for clues, his inclusion in this special is not a coincidence; it's a signal.
His appearance is being seen as a "soft confirmation" by many in the fan community that a Wicked-themed land is a top contender for one of the park's future expansion plots. The logic is that Universal would not feature the director so prominently in a major promotional event for Epic Universe unless they were actively developing, or at least strongly considering, a project with him.
Despite the hype, it is crucial to note that Universal has made no official announcements regarding a Wicked land. The park was built with several expansion plots for future development, and while Wicked has always been a leading fan theory alongside properties like The Legend of Zelda and Lord of the Rings, nothing has been confirmed.
The special will also feature on-the-ground appearances from Wicked and Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang and his Las Culturistas podcast co-host Matt Rogers, further strengthening the crossover promotion between the park and the upcoming films.
This event is part of a larger promotional push by Universal. Following the special, a three-part docuseries titled “Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks” will stream exclusively on Peacock later this year, offering a deep dive into the history of the parks and a behind-the-scenes countdown to the opening of Epic Universe.
While the "Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe" special is officially about celebrating the park that exists today, Universal is masterfully using it to build excitement for what might come tomorrow. By placing the director of one of their most anticipated future film franchises front and center, they have ensured that even as audiences marvel at the worlds of today, they will be dreaming of a trip to the Emerald City tomorrow.