Epic Universe construction update: Dark Universe exteriors near completion (!)
Dark Universe construction appears closest to completion out of any of the five worlds of Epic Universe in Orlando.
From high in the sky, bioreconstruct captured another round of aerial photos of Universal Epic Universe construction on Oct. 4 & 10, 2024. The new theme park will open May 22, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (New to Epic Universe? Check out our beginner’s guide.)
Today, we’re taking a look at the realm of Dark Universe, which is … almost finished with exterior construction?!
Dark Universe refresher
Dark Universe is one of the five worlds under construction at Epic Universe. (The others are Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.) A blend of vintage and modern, Dark Universe is rooted in the stories of Universal Classic Monsters, yet the area “takes place” in present day.
The two rides of Dark Universe will be Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (an indoor, next-level dark ride) and Curse of the Werewolf (an outdoor roller coaster). Dark Universe will also contain two quick-service restaurants, a monster makeover salon, and various shops.
For more granular details about Dark Universe, consult our previous coverage. The remainder of this story will focus on aerial photography of Dark Universe construction.
Now entering Dark Universe
The portal that will segue Epic Universe guests from Celestial Park into Dark Universe has been constructed for quite some time now (nearly a year), but construction workers are still busy putting a few finishing touches on the dynamic structure.
Immediately after stepping through the portal, guests will meander through a graveyard before entering the village of Darkmoor. A nearby pathway of similar aesthetic will serve as the exit route as guests leave Dark Universe.
Welcome to Darkmoor
As we take a look at Darkmoor village, the fictional setting of Dark Universe, it’s clear that this area of Epic Universe is nearly finished with construction (on the outside, at least). Artisans have already crafted story-related architectural details such as roof “aging,” window designs, and broken shutters, all of which contribute to the idea of this cryptic, centuries-old village.
In the center of the Darkmoor village square, a well will eventually emit eerie fog, if Universal’s virtual flythrough video of Dark Universe is to be believed.
Frankenstein Manor construction in Dark Universe
At the time of bioreconstruct’s Oct. 4 flight, scaffolding still covered Frankenstein Manor, the future home of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
By Oct. 10, some of the scaffolding elements had been removed due to Hurricane Milton, revealing just how close to Frankenstein Manor is to being complete.
The Burning Blade Tavern and Curse of the Werewolf
Moving on to The Burning Blade Tavern, a quick-service dining location, things are looking practically ready for guests’ arrival.
Between the details of the windmill to the quantity of landscaping, this section of Dark Universe doesn’t look like a theme park under construction. This looks like a finished theme park, just empty of people. This contrasts to other areas of Epic Universe (particularly Celestial Park and Isle of Berk) that are still very much dirt-trodden.
There isn’t much to report about the Curse of the Werewolf coaster in this batch of construction photos, but that’s only because there was already some significant ground to cover in bioreconstruct’s September Dark Universe update, such as the set pieces pictured below from that flight last month.
More construction photos of Epic Universe from October 2024:
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