Steven Spielberg came up with the initial idea which led to Universal Creative creating Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (Monsters Unchained) at Universal’s Epic Universe.
The legendary filmmaker offers insight on Dark Universe (including Monsters Unchained) in Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks, which is streaming on Peacock on the 17th November, 2025.
“I was pushing for some kind of ride experience that would collide every one of these famous monsters together in one huge, scary, but entertaining experience. I’d been advocating for a monster ride to rival [Disneyland Park’s] Haunted Mansion in Anaheim.”
Steven Spielberg
Mark Woodbury reveals in the docuseries that Spielberg had approached him several times pitching a ride in which all the Universal monsters come together,
FYI: Mark Woodbury is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experience.
Spielberg’s love for the classic Universal Classic Monsters goes back to his childhood, and even influenced his earliest filmmaking efforts,
“Universal has the greatest monster titles…All of Universal’s classic monsters movies I saw on TV, and they were truly scary. I remember the image of The Mummy dragging his bandages behind him…with the shot where the camera pans down and you see the bandages. With each jerky step The Mummy took, the bandages are being pulled. That really compelled me. I mean, those the little things that I would want to do that myself…
…My earlier little 8mm films when I was 12-13 years old, I would use my sisters as the victims and I would play the Shadow Monster. I’d cast my shadow against the wall and have my hands coming down towards my siter, and that was all influenced by what I was seeing on television. They stuck with me my whole life.”
Steven Spielberg
Spielberg says in the docuseries. “As the executive consultant for all the [Universal] theme parks all over the world, which I’ve been doing since the mid-‘80s, I just thought, ‘OH MY GOD, there’s got to be a place in here to celebrate Universal’s legacy with these famous monsters of film land.”
To find out more, watch Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks on Peacock. The docuseries is streaming on the platform on the 29th September, 2025.
Stay tuned to Orlando Theme Park Zone for more Orlando theme park-related news and information.
JOIN OUR UNIVERSAL ORLANDO – NEWS & TIPS FACEBOOK GROUP HERE!
