Avengers Campus lands based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been taking the Disney Parks by storm, that is, except for one. Due to licensing agreements with the nearby Universal Studios Florida, there are currently no Marvel rides or attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, but that is about to change with a new ride based on the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
While this won't be the first Guardians-themed Disney park ride - that honor went to Guardians after Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! which opened at Disney's California Adventure in 2017 and later became part of California's Avengers Campus at the park - it will be the first to feature a certain actor from the franchise.
Glenn Close Returns to her MCU Role of Nova Prime
A new video clip released during Disney's Destination D23 event this weekend revealed that Glenn Close will be returning for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as Xandarian leader and Nova Corps commander Nova Prime, a role she originated in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie back in 2014 but has not returned to since.
The clip can be seen below:
Disney also released concept art of what appears to be the queue for the attraction, with images and replicas of items from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise on prominent display.
Called the Xandar Gallery, the area is said to be where guests will "discover more about the Xandarian people, culture and history, including their heroes like … the Guardians of the Galaxy! It’s all well and good until they show up, of course, and adventure ensues in an intergalactic chase through time and space."
A new poster for the ride prominently featuring the beloved characters from the James Gunn-directed franchise was also released.
The poster can be seen below:
Poster and Opening Date of Disney World's First Marvel Ride Revealed
Fans have known that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been on the way to Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park for a while now, as well as it will feature cast members from the films. It's interesting to note that the MCU iteration of Drax is depicted wearing a vest-like shirt for the first time, though the reason for this is currently unknown.
An opening time frame was finally announced this weekend at Disney's Destination D23 event and is displayed on the poster. The ride will open in the park in Summer 2022, making it the first Marvel-themed attraction at Disney World.
However, this doesn't mean fans should expect an Avengers Campus expansion at Epcot anytime soon; Guardians of the Galaxy may be allowed to have a presence in Disney's Florida theme parks, but it's Universal Studios, not Disney, that has the rights to create attractions based on Marvel's other popular characters in the area.
At the time of the agreement, the Guardians were well off the radar of public consciousness, but many would agree that the combined efforts of Gunn and Marvel Studios catapulted the characters to become household names.
The ride's opening date in 2022 will likely tie in with the promotion of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special set to hit Disney+ during Christmas of the same year. Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is scheduled to open in theaters on May 5, 2023.
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