Back to the Future, But Soon History

(Flickr pic by Gary Bembridge.)

It was long overdue: Slashfilm reports (by way of Blogging.la) that the "Back to the Future" ride at Universal Studios Hollywood will shut down in September.

It was time. The ride, fifteen years later, feels remarkably dated. After all, when the ride opened in 1993, the web and the Internet were still fringe elements in society (all the LED displays and "flux capacitor" designs now seem very... well, 20th century). It's still a well-done ride... but "ET" was better, and they already eliminated that one several years ago. ("ET" is also more evergreen... This new generation probably knows little about "Back to the Future" -- look to that scene in "Knocked Up" where Katherine Heigl's character doesn't get the Doc Brown references).


(Flicker pic by D. Rodriguez.)

But does that mean the horribly punny "Snack to the Future" eatery will close too?

I'm also not shedding much of a tear, because Back to the Future: The Ride will be replaced by a "The Simpsons"-themed attraction, as this press release notes:

Universal City, California – After thrilling over 61 million visitors with wild rides across "the space-time continuum," the ground-breaking "Back to the Future: The Ride" attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood will soar into the future for the very last time on Labor Day, September 3, 2007. Fans of the attraction will also have an opportunity to take the last ride and drive off as the owner of one of the stainless steel 1981 DeLoreans that served as inspiration for Doc Brown's flux capacitor-equipped time machines.

"Back to the Future: The Ride" blends breakthrough simulator technology with a cutting-edge Omni-max 70mm film to create a total sensory experience. A signature attraction at "The Entertainment Capital of L.A." for over 14 years, the ride is being closed to make way for the introduction of a new thrill ride based on the enormously popular "The Simpsons" TV series and movie. The Simpsons ride is slated to debut in Spring 2008.

"Back to the Future: The Ride" was introduced in 1993 as a continuation of the Oscar®-winning blockbuster "Back to the Future" film trilogy directed by Robert Zemeckis and executive produced by Steven Spielberg for Universal Pictures. The attraction features an eight-seat convertible DeLorean Time Travel Vehicle that elevates the theme park ride experience to an unprecedented level of detail, beginning with an artfully staged queue line experience that helps set up the ride's narrative storyline.

At the center of "Back to the Future: The Ride" is an original film, masterfully designed to interface with the simulator's technology by an award-winning team of filmmakers, including Oscar-winning and three-time Oscar-nominated director Douglas Trumbull, Oscar-nominated cinematographer David K. Kennedy and Oscar-nominated writer Bob Gale.

(Flickr pic by Paul Mannix.)

Hmm, not sure what I'd do with a DeLorean.