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Few new details regarding ride update
Source reports USF update to begin before end of the year
It appears that once Universal's annual "Halloween Horror Nights" extravaganza ends later this month, changes to some key attractions at Universal Studios Florida reportedly will begin almost immediately.
It's been kind of quiet once again on the news-front lately regarding the series, but I'm expecting a lot of news to begin filtering through the pipeline very soon. In anticipation of the release of the BTTF DVDs early next year, as well as a brand new Ride opening in Japan, I expect news regarding the series will start flowing our way in the weeks and months ahead.
To help fill the void between major news scoops regarding these projects, our friend "FLUX" is back once again with a brief update about Universal Studios Florida's revamping of Back to the Future...The Ride, as well as some of the other attractions in the park:
 "USF is busily working and focusing on the Halloween Horror Nights shows through October, but once they are done they are supposed to assign one or more project managers to work on a couple different revisions not only to BTTF, but apparently also to T2, Jaws and King Kong. Those project appointments will take place in November and planning will begin immediately. Light production will begin before December on a few different facets of the updates."
"My sources are extremely vague on all of this because apparently no one is really talking about this right now. Universal Studios Florida will be trying to re-sell itself in 2001 because everyone now is going to Universal's Islands of Adventure, and USF is losing a significant portion of it's revenue because the attractions are just played out. MIB is just not pulling in the people they thought it would, even with the special MIB Universal Studios Lottery tickets that are out. So updates and additions to some of the pre-existing shows & rides are going to be done to draw excitement back into the original park."
At the moment, I have no specific idea as to when to expect these revisions to be completed, but I'm assuming that a mid-2001 completion date is not out of the question. We've still not received any further confirmation yet regarding the rumored ridefilm replacement with a brand new storyline, but rest assured once we receive details, you'll read about them here first. [Thanks to "FLUX" for the latest news!]
I recently found the above photo/drawing of the proposed park layout for Universal Studios Japan, which sits on a 140-acre site in Osaka's West Waterfront District. The park will include some 18 different shows and attractions, including, as you know, Back to the Future...The Ride. ...The Ride will be joined by other well-known popular Universal attractions that include Jurassic Park: The Ride, JAWS, and The E.T. Adventure.
Based upon current building designs at USF and USH, I have indicated on the map the building I suspect is the location of the new BTTF Ride, but this is just my hypothesis.
All reports still indicate that Universal Studios Japan will open in April 2001. With that date looming only a mere six months away, expect to start hearing news about the new park and its attractions very soon.
Fox addresses Congress
 Michael J. Fox spoke about his ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease at the 50th annual conference of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, at the Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio. About 2,500 neurological physicians and science related medical professionals attended the conference. (Photo courtesy of The Associated Press)
Project updates
INTERSTATE 60:
Puzzling news regarding this Bob Gale-written & directed film. It now appears that Christopher Lloyd will not be doing this one after being attached to it over two years, dashing all hopes that fans would see him reunited with Michael J. Fox. InHollywood.com has dropped Lloyd's name from the credits entirely, although the outdated credits list on the official site still lists him among the cast. Interstate 60 began principle photography on September 18 in Toronto, and is scheduled to wrap on November 3.
KIDS WORLD:
According to the official site, this Christopher Lloyd-starring film is now set to be released to theaters in January 2001. Reportedly, the film was to be released on October 20, but has now been delayed a few months.
THIRTY WISHES:
You can now count Michael J. Fox out of this project. InHollywood.com has dropped Fox's name out of the credits on this comedy, which Michael had been attached to since late 1992. Fox was set to direct, produce and star at one time when the picture was originally set up at Universal under his defunct Snowback Productions banner, which eventually evolved into Lottery Hill Entertainment. The movie remains in development for Buena Vista, sans Fox.
— Stephen Clark
Got a scoop? We're always looking for credible inside sources with information regarding the Back to the Future franchise. Your anonymity is guaranteed, so tell us what you know!
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