Warner Bros. and Universal are discussing possibilities for rides themed to DC Comics, a franchise that includes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
The news
Bloomberg reported the rumblings on Dec. 4, 2025, citing “people familiar with the matter” who wished to remain anonymous. “Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is in talks with theme park operators including Comcast Corp’s Universal resorts business to license its DC comic-book heroes for new rides,” Bloomberg reported. The report later reiterated, “Comcast has signaled its desire to add DC’s intellectual property to its parks business.”
Of course, the elephant in the room is if Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. — revealed on Dec. 5, just one day after Bloomberg published the DC report — affects these discussions. Incidentally (or perhaps not), Universal made a bid for WB before Netflix won out.
Our analysis
WB was discussing DC ride partnerships with “theme park operators” (plural), according to Bloomberg, naturally leading to the question of which other companies those are. DC is already licensed to many Six Flags parks, and has been for years. Surely Disney, parent company of DC competitor Marvel, wouldn’t be interested. Then who? Merlin Entertainments, owner of Legoland parks? United Parks & Resorts, parent company of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens?
Image courtesy of DC
If a Universal deal with DC were to emerge, would DC attractions replace Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal Islands of Adventure? The land opened before Disney purchased Marvel, but Universal is still allowed to operate the highly popular attractions, including The Incredible Hulk roller coaster and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man dark ride — the latter praised by many as the greatest theme park attraction of all time. Would Universal be interested in discontinuing its promotion of Disney heroes at the expense of closing one of its most beloved rides?
The idea of DC replacing Marvel at Islands of Adventure would certainly have a sense of kismet to it, as theme park legend has long spun a tale of DC being the original plan for Islands of Adventure’s super heroes to begin with before pivoting to Marvel.
Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal Islands of Adventure.
Photo by Blake Taylor
Regardless of the specific location of DC attractions in Universal theme parks, any future version of a Universal DC land wouldn’t even have to stick to the comic-book aesthetic in theory. With DC Studios launching earlier in 2025 with director James Gunn’s “Superman” movie, it’s not impossible to imagine a high-tech ride involving David Corenswet reprising his role, as Universal often does in their rides with popular movies.
Poster courtesy of Universal
Of course, everything in this section of our story is speculative. The basic facts, according to Bloomberg, remain that Universal is one of several theme park companies discussing the possibility of building attractions themed to DC Comics, and any additional details are simply unknown at this time.
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