A new patent filed by the Universal theme parks teases a potential Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter and his life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the films explored young Harry's experience of becoming a powerful wizard and embracing his destiny of defeating He Who Must Not Be Named himself, Voldemort.
As the Wizarding World continues to attract new audiences, more recently with the release of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them series, many are keen to experience the magic for themselves. Both Universal Studios' Florida and Hollywood theme parks boast their own real-life versions of the Wizarding World, enabling guests to wander through Hogsmeade village and gander at Hogwarts castle in all of its glory, with Orlando guests also getting the chance to visit the iconic Diagon Alley. These much-loved expansions have brought guests as close to the magic of the Wizarding World as possible, and now it seems Universal has another innovative experience in the works.
In a new patent filed by Universal, a brand new type of attraction appears to simulate a wand battle, much like the characters of the Harry Potter movies would engage in. Published on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site (via Orlando Park Stop) the patent proposes an “Interactive Energy Effect Attraction,” which would see guests perform a specific motion, which would then prompt a nearby emitter to release a beam of energy. While the patent does not specifically state that this would be a wand battle-type attraction, the description uses the phrase "spell-casting hand" when referring to the performing the movements. Check out the images from the patent below:
It's worth noting that not every patent that is filed by Universal comes to fruition within the parks, but this certainly offers a glimpse at what sort of innovative ideas are currently in the works behind the scenes. The Universal parks are constantly working to bring new attractions to the public, most notably with the recent opening of the Jurassic World inspired VelociCoaster, as well as Universal Hollywood's Super Nintendo World, which is set to have its grand opening next year. If, however, this new Wizarding World attraction were to come to the parks, it's speculated that it could be part of Universal Orlando's latest expansion into a third park, Universal's Epic Universe, rather than one of its pre-existing parks.
This exciting new patent not only offers a tease for Potter fans, who could soon get to experience the thrills of a wand duel, but also offers a glimpse at what sort of innovative developments could be making their way to the Universal theme parks in the future. With ever-changing technology constantly bringing new magic to the Harry Potter franchise even beyond theme park attractions, the Wizarding World's legacy continues to burn brighter than ever. While it may be too early to get those wands at the ready just yet, many will certainly be hoping to see this exciting new attraction eventually makes its way into the Universal parks.
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (via Orlando Park Stop)
