Common and the Pokémon Corporate introduced a world plan to construct new cutting edge, immersive, and world-class Pokémon stories. The primary of those blockbuster sights that includes the fan-favorite Nintendo franchise might be constructed at Common Studios Japan (USJ), with the US parks and past coming thereafter. Right here’s the newest.
Consistent with Common and Pokémon, this mission is a part of Common Studios Japan’s ongoing effort to beef up its choices and convey fan-first, trip-driving characters to the park. USJ is proud to construct on its prior good fortune and convey to lifestyles the sector of Pokémon in new and enriching techniques for the primary time.
Following its debut in Osaka, Common Locations & Stories has showed that the 2 firms will proceed participating to “ship distinctive Pokémon stories around the corporate’s world footprint.” Additional information about the initiatives, each in Japan and the US, might be introduced at a later date. Right here’s what key executives at Common and Pokémon needed to say in regards to the announcement, adopted by way of our feedback…
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO, Common Locations & Stories:
“Participating with imaginative and artistic storytellers fuels our talent to create and ship mind-blowing sights and stories that shatter visitor expectancies. The Pokémon Corporate is among the maximum liked interactive franchises on the planet, and thru our ongoing partnership, we will be able to proceed bringing its colourful global to lifestyles in new and cutting edge techniques for years yet to come.”
Tak Murayama, Government Vice President & Normal Supervisor, USJ LLC:
“Since October 2021, Common Studios Japan has been handing over Pokémon stories equivalent to parades and displays to visitors from world wide. A daring new world mission is ready to Thursday, 22, January 2026 start at Common Studios Japan, growing exceptional and cutting edge stories in collaboration with Pokémon—a liked franchise born in Japan and loved international. We’re proud to release this adventure from Japan, handing over atypical moments stuffed with wonder and pleasure that can a long way exceed our visitors’ expectancies. We consider this world mission will go beyond conventional leisure and give a contribution meaningfully to society, embodying the very spirit of ‘NO LIMIT!’”
Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO, The Pokémon Corporate:
“Since pronouncing our long-term alliance in 2021, we’ve collaborated with Common Studios Japan to supply original Pokémon stories such because the NO LIMIT! Parade and Halloween displays. As Pokémon celebrates its thirtieth anniversary this 12 months, we’re overjoyed to release this new mission at this kind of vital milestone. Our challenge is to complement each the actual and digital worlds thru Pokémon, and with this mission, we purpose to create theme park leisure that surprises and delights lovers all over the world.”
To be very transparent, the one substantive announcement right here considerations Common Studios Japan. But it surely was once all the time anticipated {that a} Pokémon enchantment could be constructed first in Osaka earlier than Orlando and Hollywood (or past), as a result of there’s an current partnership between the 2 firms.
Nowadays’s announcement is however vital as a result of there was once prior to now no such partnership out of doors of USJ, and the clicking unencumber strongly signifies that’s not the case. This was once a important prerequisite to getting the Pokeball rolling on sights in Orlando and in other places, along with the mission (presumed) to already be in growth in Japan.
See Common’s remark about handing over “distinctive Pokémon stories around the corporate’s world footprint” and Pokémon Corporate’s about growing new “theme park leisure that surprises and delights lovers all over the world.” (Emphasis added.)
Some related background that may let you make sense of this information is that The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy: The Experience at Common Studios Japan closed precisely two years in the past to the day, on January 22, 2024. That model of Common’s groundbreaking Spider-Guy enchantment opened on January 23, 2004, a couple of years after the unique debuted at Islands of Journey in Florida.
As opposed to a couple of minor variations, Japan’s Spider-Guy trip was once a clone of the Common Islands of Journey incarnation of the enchantment. It was once the primary main enlargement of Common Studios Japan after the park’s 2001 opening, because the massively standard park scrambled so as to add capability as temporarily as imaginable.
There was once no pressing want to shut The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy: The Experience at Common Studios Japan. We rode it one month earlier than its everlasting closure and it was once nonetheless in improbable form. Arguably a greater general enjoy than in Orlando. Quite, the explanation it closed, and did so at its twentieth anniversary, is as a result of that was once the period of the licensing contract for Surprise in Japan. (In contrast to and break free the U.S. contract, which continues in perpetuity.)
This background about The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy: The Experience at Common Studios Japan is related for a few causes.
First, the underlying trip machine was once now not on the finish of its usable lifestyles. That is most definitely rather obtrusive by way of the truth that the older model remains to be going robust at Islands of Journey, and stays one of the crucial absolute best theme park rides on earth. (In case you’ve by no means skilled it, you’re lacking out. It’s arguably the most efficient Surprise enchantment and simply the most efficient Spider-Guy trip. I’d rank it #1.)
2d, retiring Spider-Guy because of the expiration of a freelance is other than Common’s commonplace means. Generally, they’re remaining rides to straight away start paintings at the substitute. Within the contemporary case of Hollywood Rip Experience Rockit, paintings on Rapid & Livid: Hollywood Go with the flow in reality started whilst its predecessor was once nonetheless operational!
Level being, it will typically be the case that we’d be expecting a substitute for The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy: The Experience to be opening 2 years after its predecessor’s closure given Common’s commonplace mission cadence; now not (possibly) simply being introduced. Issues could be other right here, even though. The mission nonetheless may shifting temporarily and be ready to open speedy in the event that they reuse the trip machine and necessarily make this a trip reimagining versus a brand new ground-up enchantment.
Even earlier than The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy: The Experience closed at Common Studios Japan, there were rampant rumors within the Jap USJ fan neighborhood that Pokémon was once destined to switch the enchantment.
As somebody who’s most effective superficially a part of that, it’s tricky for me to evaluate the veracity of the ones claims–whether or not they’re legit rumors, wishful considering, and many others. However I know that Pokémon changing Spider-Guy has been regarded as an open secret amongst Jap lovers for two+ years.
It’s notable that Common Studios Japan already has a long-term strategic alliance with The Pokémon Corporate that has borne fruit by means of the park’s parades, products, and meals & beverage bought at within the park. USJ has additionally had seasonal occasions with a powerful Pokémon focal point. You may’ve been ready to collect this from the quotes above about “NO LIMIT!” and so on.
However you’re most definitely extra considering the Pokémon doable at Common Orlando and Common Studios Hollywood, so let’s flip to that…
For some time, there have likewise been rumors of Pokémon coming to Common Orlando Hotel. This matter has been well-documented by way of Alicia Stella of Orlando Theme Park Forestall, the preeminent Common insider.
At one level, Stella reported on rumors that Common Orlando would exchange Springfield with a Pokémon-themed space. This was once a part of a bigger-picture package deal of rumors about Common Inventive’s medium-term plan for its current gates, which is outwardly in flux as other redevelopment ideas were explored.
Extra not too long ago, she shared that it’s now “strongly rumored” (separate supply) that Misplaced Continent in Islands of Journey might be changed with Pokémon. That is attributed to DreamWorks Land being added to Common Studios Florida, which tests the field for a family-friendly addition at USF. Development Pokémon in Misplaced Continent additionally is smart from a timing point of view, permitting paintings to start out lengthy earlier than the Simpsons contract ends.
Stella additionally published that older pitched ideas for a Pokémon land incorporated a family-friendly Mack Powered Inverted Coaster, an immersive Pokémon Struggle area display, playgrounds, and interactive Pokeballs to catch Pokémon across the land. It’s unknown whether or not those (rumored) ideas have survived to the (rumored) Islands of Journey incarnation of the land.
This all comes from her 5-Yr Predictions for Common Orlando, which is a amusing and beneficial learn. It covers a large number of floor past Pokémon, together with–maximum vital to me–the Legend of Zelda.
With no need any within knowledge in any way, I’d say that it’s inevitable that the Pokémon land (sure, land) at Common Orlando will function Pokeballs; there’s no method that Common will cross up the chance for an interactive integration, particularly because the Tremendous Nintendo International Energy-Up Bands and Harry Potter wands were a license to print cash.
I’d additional speculate that Pokémon is not going to exchange Spider-Guy at Islands of Journey.
And that is most probably why the Common and Pokémon press unencumber in particular discussed that they might “ship distinctive Pokémon stories around the corporate’s world footprint.” As a result of no matter is in-built USJ might not be cloned to Orlando or Hollywood.
Clearly, it makes extra sense for Pokémon to switch Surprise Tremendous Hero Island and its Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy enchantment, which might permit for a right away clone of the USJ enchantment. There are a couple of issues of that, even though.
One is that Surprise Tremendous Hero Island has thrill rides, which don’t seem to be conducive to Pokémon sights. That implies a whole Pokémon land right here wouldn’t simply contain remodeling one of the crucial park’s absolute best sights, it might additionally imply outright changing a pair different standard thrill rides. That on my own most definitely makes it a non-starter.
The opposite is that, despite the fact that Tremendous Hero Island is beginning to (badly) display its age, it’s nonetheless now not even as regards to the worst land at Common Orlando. It will have to now not be a urgent precedence, particularly with Spider-Guy being one of the crucial best sights within the park and the opposite sights offering treasured capability. Misplaced Continent is healthier from a placemaking point of view, but it surely however makes extra sense to switch.
Briefly, the Walt Disney International lovers studying this and salivating over the possibility of the Surprise contract being terminated and all of the ones characters changing into truthful recreation in Florida…most definitely shouldn’t. It does now not appear to be Pikachu goes to be the villain to in the end absolute best Spider-Guy.
There could also be, after all, Common Studios Hollywood. That turns into increasingly of a theme park with every passing 12 months (deemphasizing the “running studio” facet), and I don’t doubt for a 2nd that they would like extra Nintendo. If Pokémon had been to return to USH, my absolute best bet is that it replaces one thing at the Decrease Lot.
Transformers will be the obtrusive possibility if the Pokémon enchantment at USJ keeps the underlying trip machine, as that may make for an more uncomplicated quasi-clone. Revenge of the Mummy would even be an alternative choice. Or most likely USH will paintings its magic, discovering a method to squeeze some other new enchantment into the difficult terrain of that park.
Someday, I’d believe they’ll transfer extra soundstages (or just want fewer of them within the first position?). It certain turns out just like the theme park industry has extra long term doable than the filmmaking industry, however that’s purely speculative on my phase.
Proceeding with that hypothesis, let’s speak about when those Pokémon sights may just open. It is a matter we already mentioned (previous to nowadays’s announcement) in our up to date 2026 Common Studios Japan Making plans Information on TravelCaffeine. From that:
The Wonderful Adventures of Spider-Guy – The Experience…closed effectively over a 12 months in the past (lengthy earlier than Backdraft). A substitute has now not but been introduced, but it surely’s rumored to be one thing Pokemon (that standard franchise is another way most effective represented in seasonal leisure, products, and meals).
It’s atypical that not anything has been introduced but. It’s imaginable the substitute enchantment (possibly Pokemon) opens someday in 2026, particularly if it reuses the trip machine. Then again, with the Common Studios Japan twenty fifth Anniversary party being the large attract 2026, it wouldn’t wonder us if USJ holds again on that till 2027.
Strategically, it might make extra sense to leverage Pokemon as the large 2027 addition. Particularly given the twenty fifth, and the sensible fact that the Minions stuff and Donkey Kong are nonetheless most effective round a 12 months previous. This isn’t what we wish to occur and, on the contrary, we expect USJ wishes to open extra new sights given its astronomical attendance. However realistically, ready till 2027 does appear extra believable.
For the reason that nowadays’s announcement is most effective cursory and doesn’t supply any substantive enchantment main points (as a substitute, it feels extra like a tease and partnership enlargement announcement), I’m going to double-down at the Osaka model opening in 2027 versus 2026.
With Rapid & Livid: Hollywood Go with the flow being the large attract 2027, and the sensible fact that changing Misplaced Continent (assuming that’s taking place) will take longer than twelve months, I may just see Pokémon being the large draw at Islands of Journey in 2028.
With the rate at which Common builds, I’d be shocked if those sights come on-line any later than 2027-2028, particularly for the reason that paintings has (possibly/with a bit of luck) already began in Osaka. This additionally satisfies the parameters of the clicking unencumber, which states {that a} world-class Pokémon enchantment will open first at Common Studios Japan.
Regardless, those don’t seem to be the one additions within the pipeline for Common Orlando. Executives have teased enlargement in any respect 3 parks, and we’ve additionally discovered extra not too long ago that Epic Universe gets its first enlargement within the Wizarding International of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Almost certainly now not as related to this target market, however USJ additionally wishes like a half-dozen added sights.
In the long run, an intriguing however now not surprising announcement from Common and the Pokémon Corporate at the side of a heavy dose of hypothesis, wishful considering, and third-party rumors.
From my point of view, essentially the most attention-grabbing side of this announcement is the studying between the strains, as that kind of confirms now not simply what we already knew about Pokémon coming to USJ, however that there are plans for different parks out of doors of Japan. A kind of will clearly be Common Orlando; it’ll be attention-grabbing to look the place else Pokémon lands down the street.
Want day trip making plans guidelines and complete recommendation on your consult with to Central Florida? Remember to learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. In case you’re making plans a day trip out to the already-open Tremendous Nintendo International, see our exhaustive Information to Common Studios Hollywood. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and a lot more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you recall to mind Common and the Pokémon Corporate participating on world-class sights in Japan and past? Different Nintendo homes or enlargement plans you’d choose for Islands of Journey? Or are you desperate to step foot into this online game universe? Do you compromise or disagree with our observation? Any questions? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
