Dark Universe at Epic Universe: Design Secrets from Universal Creative and Framestore - Greg Hall and Max MacEwan

In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey speaks with Greg Hall from Universal Creative and Max MacEwan from Framestore about the creation of Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe. Inspired by the legacy of Universal Monsters, they explore how storytelling, technology, and psychology come together to create a thrilling yet re-rideable attraction. The conversation highlights the importance of anticipation, immersive queue design, creative collaboration, and balancing innovation with guest experience. Key Topics Discussed Creating Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe Reimagining Universal Monsters for a modern audience Designing immersive queues and building anticipation Balancing storytelling with new technology Collaboration between Universal Creative and Framestore Using cinema techniques in attraction design Guest psychology and re-rideable thrill experiences The role of experimentation and creative risk in theme park design     Maximilian Guy McNair MacEwan, Head of Strategic Partnerships - Immersive of Framestore https://www.framestore.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-guy-mcnair-macewan-64809824/   Gregory Hall, Assistant Director, Creative Design of Universal Creative https://linktr.ee/universalcreative https://www.linkedin.com/in/gprodigy/   Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is Andy Povey. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Credits: Written by Emily Burrows (Plaster) Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster) Download The Visitor Attractions Website Survey Report - https://www.merac.co.uk/download-the-visitor-attractions-survey We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’ — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth. Download your FREE copy here