You’d think after watching a single series for more than 20 seasons, one would basically know all there is to know about it. But Top Chef remains an elusive exception. Not only do I still not know how to cook James Beard-worthy dishes at home — my fault, not the chefs’ — but I remain curious about several other aspects of the series itself. Thankfully, host Kristen Kish shed some warming light when I asked how hot the food is when the judges are eating.
Top Chef: Destination Canada has, as predicted, been one of my favorite weekly must-watches on the 2025 TV schedule, and it’s been easy to forget that this is just Kish’s second year as host. During her interview with CinemaBlend, the past champ and former Iron Chef host shared quite a few delectable details with me. When I asked whether or not the judges take into account dishes that have sit for a bit before being eaten for one reason or another, she said:
I mean, here’s the thing: during Quickfires: there might be Quickfires where, yeah, by the time someone gets to you, like if you’re serving last, the dish that was hot is no longer hot. But Top Chef is a really great marker of integrity for culinary shows across the board. We move through it quickly. Like the food comes first, the chef’s work comes first. And so to get through an entire tasting of a Quickfire of like 15 chefs doesn’t take that long. We keep it quick, we keep it moving.
Despite the fact that it’s a TV show with camera set-ups and the like, Top Chef is a well-oiled machine at this point, so one can imagine the Quickfires are at peak efficiency when it comes to serving and tasting from the first meal to the last. (At least inside the studio.) So while it’s not surprising, it’s still good to hear that spotlighting the contestants’ efforts continues to be the top priority.
Elimination challenges can shake things up when it comes to the freshness factor, especially earlier in the season when there are far more chefs and dishes to get through. While not always necessary, Top Chef‘s producers do take the serving timing details into consideration, which is why some of those challenges feature different start times for the chefs. Kish continued, saying:
Then during elimination challenges, where there obviously is a little bit more weight and importance to them, I guess — because someone’s going to go home for it — there’s always a staggered cook. Either three dishes will come to you at the same time, or if that’s not a thing or if possible for that challenge, you’ll notice that they all start at different times, so they all serve.
I had to refrain from digging into any kind of minutiae by asking how the order is chosen, because who is that helping, really, besides me and my pork belly-addled brain?
(Image credit: Bravo)
For all that we might think that Top Chef‘s process is so different due to it being a TV show, Kristen Kish pointed out that what she, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons (among others) go through isn’t all that dissimilar from a night out with friends where a large meal is involved. As she put it:
When we’re sitting there as diners, it’s exactly like a restaurant. It’s no different than getting three plates to share for the table all at one time and having to work your way through them. By the time you take your first bite and you make your way to the next plate, are you thinking, ‘Damn, this is cold.’ No, you’re eating it like it’s totally normal. And so no, Top Chef accounts to make sure that the food is served at its peak.
While I never truly suspected that Kristen, Tom and Gail would think a dish less desirable due to an element like temperature (at least outside of something like ice cream), I’m doubly pleased to hear that they’re not having to choke down sub-lukewarm food at any point. Room temperature seafood is no one’s best friend, in the Top Chef world or otherwise.
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Top Chef: Destination Canada‘s two-part finale kicks off Thursday, June 5, with the champion being crowned in Milan on Thursday, June 12, only on Bravo.
The following contains major spoilers for the Doctor Who Season 2 finale. Check it out now with a Disney+ subscription.
After more than six decades, it’s a modern miracle that Doctor Who is still going as strong as it is. The “revival” of the series has now lasted nearly as long as its original run. In that time, there have been highs and there have been lows, but the show has almost always been fun and it’s never boring, as even its worst moments are worth discussing.
To be sure, fans will be discussing the last moments of the Doctor Who Season 2 finale for quite some time. In a shocking movie, The Doctor regenerated, and more importantly, the character regenerated into Billie Piper, the actress who played Rose, the first companion of the modern era. This was made to be a controversial decision, and while I’m open to the possibility that this could be great, my initial reaction is one of incredible disappointment.
behind-the-scenes goings on regarding Doctor Who that left the future of the series in question. However, I still wasn’t aware we were getting a regeneration until it happened. Part of the reason that I wasn’t expecting it was that even if there were issues, I figured we would have at least one more season with Ncuti Gatwa, and I was looking forward to it.
The last two seasons aren’t exactly the best in the history of the series, but they are far from the worst, either. There have been some solid episodes since Doctor Who made the jump to Disney+. More importantly, even when the episodes weren’t great, they were still fun enough because Ncuti Gatwa was in them. I have rarely seen an actor playing The Doctor who was so obviously having the time of their life doing it. He was always happy to be there, and that joy was infectious. I’m far from the only one sad to see Gatwa leave the show.
Three years/seasons (give or take) has long been the default tenure of a Doctor Who lead. There have been exceptions, of course, but most exceptions only stayed longer. The only Doctors to have a shorter tenure than Gatwa were due to the actor clashing with the people running the show (Christopher Eccleston) or the people running the show clashing with the actor (Colin Baker).
While Gatwa is indicating he always planned to leave after two seasons, it seems all but certain that there’s more going on. Losing Gatwa alone is frustrating, but where the show is apparently going next doesn’t make me mad, just disappointed.
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(Image credit: Disney+)
Bringing Back “Rose” So Soon After David Tennant Feels Like One Gimmick Too Many
I wasn’t prepared to see a new Doctor at all this past weekend, but seeing Billie Piper just has me scratching my head. What is this? More importantly, why is this?
To be sure, Billie Piper (probably) isn’t playing Rose. She’s playing The Doctor, who has now taken the form of Rose for timey-wimey reasons that will become apparent, assuming more episodes are coming. I’m just not sure I’m as excited as I’m supposed to be.
I will admit that part of the reason for this is that I (please don’t throw things at me) don’t love Rose, at least not as much as many seem to. I think Billie Piper is great, and in her first season on Doctor Who, Rose is great. Unfortunately, she’s the third most interesting of the three companions of David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor.
This just feels like a gimmick; a hook to grab old fans of Doctor Who who have wandered away from the show. The thing is, I don’t have a problem with that idea on its own. I’m a Disney fan, so I eat and breathe nostalgia. Nostalgia is fine, but we just had David Tennant back for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. We’ve fed our nostalgia need for the next little while. We can do it again, but can we wait a little while?
In much the same way that the Fourteenth Doctor being David Tennant had a reason for happening in the broader plot, the fact that The Doctor now has Rose’s face won’t just be a coincidence. It will have a purpose that will all tie back to earlier seasons of the show. Doctor Who couldn’t cast Peter Capaldi without connecting his character to the fact that Capaldi played a small role in a single episode of the show years before. There’s no way they’re casting Billie Piper and just moving forward.
There’s reason to believe there is something more going on here. As others have already noted, the closing credits did not list Billie Piper as The Doctor, a move that was all but certainly intentional. Of course, even if it’s the case that Piper isn’t playing The Doctor, she’s still holding that space for the time being, and if this is all part of some grand plan, does it matter what character she technically is?
(Image credit: Disney+)
Even If There’s “A Plan” To All This, I’m Not Sure It’s Worth It
It’s hard to believe Doctor Who hasn’t been trying to find itself of late. First, we lost a companion after a single season, and then a Doctor after two. Things have been changing so fast that none of these characters have much time to get comfortable before they’re gone.
Perhaps there’s something of a plan in all this. Maybe Russell T. Davies knows what he’s doing and he’s driving everything toward a larger goal. The thing is, even if what we’re getting isn’t the result of randomly throwing things at a wall to see what sticks, it very much looks like that’s what this is. At a certain point, it doesn’t matter if it’s all part of a master plan if everything it takes to get there is a big mess.
Of course, being a Doctor Who fan means being open to change. The decision to allow a show’s hero to transform, thus allowing other actors to take the role, is one of the most brilliant creative decisions in the history of television. Everybody has Doctors they love and those who aren’t their favorites. It’s how the show works, and a big part of the fun.
If we really are getting The Rose Doctor as the Sixteenth Doctor, I’ll give her a chance. I do love that we’re getting another woman in the role. I loved Jodie Whittaker’s run as The Doctor, even if the writing rarely did her character any favors. Maybe what’s coming will be great. It doesn’t change that I’m deeply disappointed by what we’ve lost.
One of the most important elements to filming any movie is finding the right location. Today, so many films use CGI to enhance, or even to create, a scene’s location in order to be sure that everything looks just right. When things are that important, it’s little surprise that when a prime filming location is found, it can end up being used for multiple films.
To prove that point, an account on Instagram recently pointed out that the Royal Palace of Caserta in Italy was used for two big movies 25 years apart, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and the much more recent hit Conclave. Not only did they use the same building, but nearly identical shots of the same staircase, check it out.
the election of the Pope took place on Naboo. Comments include…
So they filmed Conclave on Naboo?? – ivandaandrey
Which planet though – mgm_patrick
It was nice of Italy to keep the set for such a long time – sean_tilley
I destroyed so many battle droids on those stairs…. – seamus_malloy
Okay, now imagine a show about a young Palpatine climbing the political ladder on Naboo while he’s secretly a Sith apprentice, and its filmed in these same locations. – seanandersonmedia
That means the Pope and Star Wars are in the same Universe!! – miquelbarsbarba
Of course, as with many filming locations that get used, the Royal Palace of Caserta has actually been used in several more movies, though not necessarily this same staircase. You’ll also see it in Mission: Impossible III, Angels & Demons, and the recent Netflix series with Jeff Goldblum, Kaos.
If you look closely, you’ll discover that a lot of your favorite TV shows and movies are filmed in the same locations. Of course, you have places like the Universal Backlot, which has lots of sets that can be modified to resemble whatever filmmakers need. But even out in the world, you’ll discover many locations have been reused throughout the years. When you need a palace for your movie, you can build a set, or you can just go use an actual palace.
Of course, once you do see connections like this, it becomes basically impossible to unsee them. You’ll probably never watch Conclave again without thinking about it taking place on Naboo. Although now I want Ralph Fiennes as a High Republic era member of the Jedi council for 10 episodes on Disney+. I know exactly where they could film it.
First Teaser for ‘The Man in My Basement’ Horror with Willem Dafoe
by Alex Billington June 5, 2025 Source: YouTube
“Tell no one of our arrangement…” Hulu has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a film titled The Man in My Basement, an intriguing new horror creation from filmmaker Nadia Latif. Set for a streaming debut later in 2025 – another feature debut horror creation for Hulu. Charles Blakey, an African American man living in Sag Harbor, is stuck in a rut, out of luck, and about to lose his ancestral home… when a peculiar white businessman with a European accent offers to rent his basement for the summer. He agrees to let this mysterious stranger into his basement, unaware he may be letting in a force much darker than he imagined. Uh oh. Starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe, with Anna Diop & Tamara Lawrance. It’s based on the book of the same name first published in 2004. The film was originally set to star Jonathan Majors, who was replaced after his assault conviction. Stay tuned for more with the full trailer later on this summer.
Here’s the first teaser trailer for Nadia Latif’s film The Man in My Basement, from Hulu’s YouTube:
In the African American neighborhood of Sag Harbor, New York, Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) is out of work, out of luck and on the verge of foreclosure on his ancestral home. A knock on the door from a mysterious businessman, Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe), brings a bizarre & lucrative proposition; rent his dusty stand-up basement out for the summer and receive enough money to clear his debts for good. Once Charles accepts, he finds himself led down a terrifying path that confronts his family’s ghosts & locks the men in a terrifying puzzle, at the heart of it race, the source of their traumas and the root of all evil.The Man in My Basement is directed by filmmaker Nadia Latif, making her feature directorial debut after working on the “Foresight” series. The screenplay is written by Walter Mosley & Nadia Latif; based on Walter Mosley’s book of the same name. Produced by Diane Houslin and John Giwa-Amu. Hulu will release Latif’s The Man in My Basement film streaming on Hulu starting in the fall later in 2025. First impression?
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A Story of Stone & Men – A24’s Trailer for ‘Architecton’ Documentary
by Alex Billington June 5, 2025 Source: YouTube
“When we design something, we design the behavior of people.” A24 has unveiled an official trailer for the documentary titled Architecton, the latest creation from master documentarian Victor Kossakovsky (of Gunda, Aquarela). This first premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival last year, and will be released in the US in art house theaters starting this August (remarkably by A24!!). An extraordinary journey through the material that makes up our habitat: concrete and its ancestor, stone. Architecton is an epic, intimate, and very poetic meditation on architecture and how the design & construction of buildings from the ancient past reveal our destruction — and offer hope for survival and a way forward. Rocks and stone connect the disparate societies, from ghostly monoliths stuck in the earth to tragic heaps of concrete rubble waiting to be hauled off & repurposed anew. Through Kossakovsky’s inquisitive lens, the grandeur & folly of humanity and its precarious relationship with nature posits the urgent question: How do we build…? And how can we build better, before it’s too late? Starring legendary architect and designer Michele De Lucchi alongside several million tons of rocks. It’s a stunning film to watch, though gets a bit repetitive & redundant overall.
Here’s the official US trailer (+ poster) for Victor Kossakovsky’s doc Architecton, from A24’s YouTube:
You can also watch the original promo trailer for Kossakovsky’s Architecton right here for more footage.
From filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky comes an epic, intimate and poetic meditation on architecture and how the design and construction of buildings from the ancient past reveal our destruction – and offer hope for survival and a way forward. Centering on a landscape project by the Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, Kossakovsky uses the circle to reflect on the rise and fall of civilisations, capturing breathtaking imagery from the temple ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon, dating back to AD 60, to the recent destruction of cities in Turkey following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in early 2023.Architecton is directed by acclaimed Russian doc filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky, director of the doc films Svyato, Demonstration, Aquarela, and Gunda previously. Produced by Heino Deckert. This initially premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival last year, and it also played at London Film Festival and AFI Fest the same year. A24 debuts Kossakovsky’s Architecton doc in US theaters starting on August 1st, 2025 later in the summer. Intrigued to watch this?
Find more posts in: Documentaries, To Watch, Trailer
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Preview:
Take a closer look at Isle of Berk and The Wizarding World – Ministry of Magic.
Isle of Berk houses 30 dragon animatronics, two rides, and a live show.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride has the most elaborate line queue of any theme park ride.
Ever wonder what it’s like to come face-to-face with the famous Nightfury from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’? Or travel by Floo Metro to the British Ministry of Magic? Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe has found a way to give guests the ultimate immersive experience in its brand new theme park, which opened on May 22, 2025
Moviefone had the pleasure of visiting Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe during the media preview ahead of its grand opening to experience the entire theme park, including Isle of Berk and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Related Article: Epic Universe Is Game-Changing And Certainly Lives Up To It’s Name
What Is Epic Universe?
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park, not far from Universal Studios Orlando. It houses five brand new lands, including Celestial Park, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Epic Universe’s theming is inspired by the heavens, stars, and constellations, and once guests step through the towering Emerald Gate and Chronos device, they will find themselves in Celestial Park. From there, they will be able to access the four other portals leading them into various lands.
The Isle of Berk
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Just through the fiery red swirling portal is the Isle of Berk – a land where Vikings and dragons live in harmony. Themed to DreamWorks’ animated feature ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ franchise, this land in Epic Universe will transport you to a world that has only existed in animation – until now. There are plenty to do in Berk, including three rides, one live show, meet and greet with Toothless, plenty of food options, and of course, you’ll spot characters from the film roaming around the village.
Once inside Berk, you’re greeted by towering Viking and Dragon statues emerging out of the water. The larger-than-life decor of this land will make you forget that you’re at a theme park. Aside from its attractions and live entertainment, there are 30 animatronic dragons spread throughout Berk. From napping baby dragons to the massive Snow Wraith ready to blast you with its icy breath.
The Attractions In Isle of Berk
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Out of all the lands within Epic Universe, the Isle of Berk houses the most attractions. It has three rides – Hiccup’s Wing Glider, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Fyre Drill. Each is unique, has colorful outdoor line queues, and fits right into the world of ‘How To Train Your Dragon’.
Hiccup’s Wing Glider rides like a classic rollercoaster, with just enough thrills without taking the riders upside-down. As the coaster moves out of the loading station, you’ll hear Hiccup speaking to Toothless, “Hey Toothless, we’ve got to prepare for launch”. The coaster takes you right past animatronics of Hiccup and Toothless before Toothless launches your Winged Flying Machine to soar through the Isle.
The ride track will take you through the entire land and over water so you can get a fantastic view of Berk. All is well until you come across some Gronckle eggs hatching. The winged machine quickly makes its getaway by launching at full speed. As the coasters soar past the eggs, the score from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ plays, and you get the sensation of what it’s like to fly on the back of a dragon.
The official synopsis for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders:
“From Hiccup’s workshop comes his latest contraption: a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the air, swooping and soaring and encountering Hiccup and Toothless along the way. Get ready to board Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a fun coaster that invites Vikings to prove they’re brave enough to speed through the sky with dragons.”
Dragon Racer’s Rally takes riders in a circular motion up to 67 feet in the air before gliding back down in a circular motion. What makes this ride unique is that each rider has control over their own vehicle’s “wings”. Alternating them back and forth will allow your vehicle to spin 360 degrees, which means as the ride is gliding in a circular motion, you are also spinning and going upside down. The wings are heavier than expected and can take some getting used to to get your vehicle to spin. If you prefer a milder experience, hold the wings steady and your vehicle will not spin. This is a short ride and a fun way to experience flying like a Dragon.
The official synopsis for Dragon Racer’s Rally:
“The sport of dragon racing is a celebrated pastime on the Isle of Berk. At Dragon Racer’s Rally, Berk’s new Vikings can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragonriding trainer. You’ll need these high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills if you hope to become a champion dragon racer.”
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Fyre Drill is the perfect way to beat the heat. It’s an interactive boat battle, and in Viking fashion, teaching you how to douse flames or foes with water. This is an all-ages ride with no drops, twists, or turns. Each boat is equipped with water cannons. As the boat moves through large wooden targets, your goal is to hit the targets, but there’s no rule about also soaking the other boats and its riders with your water cannon. The ride is slow moving, so there is no way to avoid getting wet on this ride.
The official synopsis for Fyre Drill:
“With fire-breathing dragons everywhere, villagers have to be prepared. Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut have transformed Berk’s Fyre Skööl into a watery, interactive boat battle at sea. Board your ship in Fyre Drill and blast your water cannons at flame-like targets – and the occupants of every other boat – to out-soak other Vikings.”
Eat Like A Viking
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
There are several dining options in Isle of Berk including the Mead Hall, the Spit Fyre Grill, and Holligan’s Grog & Gruel. Each of the food locations offers quick service and a variety of dishes.
The Mead Hall is the tallest building in the land, and its entrance doors are over 16 feet tall. Here you’ll find larger platters of meats perfect for sharing, seafood, sandwiches, desserts, drinks, and of course, mead. There are also two vegan options available: the Nordic Harvest Salad and Valka’s Vegan Burger with an ancient grain patty. This is where you’ll find the adorable fish-shaped dessert made of chocolate mousse on a bed of cereal crumbles.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel is where you can find the Instagramable Dragon Fire Chicken Spire mac-and-cheese cone. These huge bread cones are filled to the brim with creamy mac and cheese and toppings such as BBQ pulled pork or pulled chicken with hot honey. Spit Fyre Grill is where you’ll find various bowls featuring steak, chicken, salmon, and shrimp. There’s also a vegan bowl option with kale spring mix, bean salad, vegan feta, with a mango and mint vinaigrette.
Toothless and Hiccup Soar High In “The Untrainable Dragon” Live Show
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Amongst the rides, food, and character meet and greets, there is also the live show called “The Untrainable Dragon, ” unlike any theme park stage show. First debuted in Universal Studios Beijing, the Vikings encountered a new troublesome dragon causing mayhem in the village. Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid must find a way to calm the dragon before it causes more destruction.
This show will feature large dragon puppets, singing, dancing, projection, smoke, and lighting effects. Best of all, Hiccup and Toothless will soar over the audience. It’s truly stunning to see Hiccup on the back of the massive Toothless animatronic, with a wingspan of 27 feet, breaking through the fog, high in the theater. The show runs about 20 minutes and is pure entertainment.
You can also meet Hiccup and Toothless, located near the theater for “The Untrainable Dragon”. This is probably the most sought after experience in Isle of Berk so if you want to meet Toothless, make sure to prioritize and plan because the line can get up to over 2 hours long.
The Isle of Berk immerse guests into the world of Dreamwork’s ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. Aside from all the attractions and entertainment, it’s fun to walk around to try to find all 30 animatronic dragons. There are interactive towers placed all around Berk that’ll play a sound or mist effect once you interact with it. You’ll undoubtedly run into Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Gobber, as they usually roam around the land. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for adorable baby dragons who will play a game of “Toothless Says”.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Explore the world of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Walking through the towering wand-topped portal, you are transported to 1920s Paris. This land has incredible design, from the cobblestone streets to the tall buildings of Place Cachée to the towering Phoenix arch.
This land is filled with interactive activities, hidden in shop windows. To unlock the magic, you will need an interactive wand, which is available at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. This is where you can find the new second-generation wands with a more powerful connectivity, and features light and sound haptics to give you a more unique spell casting experience.
Aside from interactive wand spells, there are also character interactions in magical Paris. You can find a live street band playing, alongside the magical creature Plume the Puffskein. The stylish wand designer Cosme Acajor roams near her storefront, and students from various wizarding schools add to the overall atmosphere.
Battle at the British Ministry of Magic
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The main attraction in this land is the “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” ride. For the first time, guests will be able to experience the Métro-Floo as they walk through the green tunnel. Stepping through the mist, you’ll find yourself at the atrium of the British Ministry of Magic.
The official synopsis for “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” is:
“Travel by Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic™ where Dolores Umbridge™ is about to stand trial. Board a lift and join Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments. Thrilling adventure, fantastic beasts, and unexplored mystery await in Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™.”
This ride queue is the most impressive one at Epic Universe. As you come out of the Métro-Floo tunnels, it feels like you’re swallowed by the massive atrium of the British Ministry of Magic, with its tall ceiling and the multiple floors of office buildings that overlook the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The sight is truly breathtaking. Proceeding through the line queue, you’ll walk through the Magical Archives library, the Aurors’ locker room, and Dolores Umbridge’s office.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The wait for this attraction is likely to be very long, but it will give you time to take in all the details this line queue has to offer. As you walk through Umbridge’s office, you’ll find her house-elf Higgledy explaining a little about Umbridge’s trial.
Once you’ve reached the end of the line queue, you will board the magical omnidirectional lift as it makes its way to Umbridge’s trial. As she attempts to escape, the lift, along with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, gives chase throughout the Ministry. The ride has a combination of screens and practice sets, similar to “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” but on a grander scale. Even though this ride isn’t as thrilling as Monsters Unchained, what sets this ride apart is immersive storytelling and the detailed animatronics found throughout. For Harry Potter fans, this is a must.
Le Cirque Arcanus
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Head straight from the Phoenix Arch, and you’ll find “Le Cirque Arcanus”, A live show featuring cirque acts and fantastic beasts in large puppetry form. The magic begins as soon as you enter the red show tent because the line queue and the theater inside are much bigger than they look outside, similar to the effect of the charmed tent used by Hermione and Ginny after the World Cup Final.
During the pre-show, you are introduced to Ringmaster Skender and his assistant, Gwenlyn. Wanting to save his failing circus, he has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase and wants to use the magical creatures inside to draw a crowd. When Gwenlyn accidentally lets out a Demiguise. This pre-show includes magical surprises like Newtscander’s suitcase traveling through the wall into Skender’s office, and how the Demiguise crawls out of the suitcase, just like we’ve seen Scamander do in the movies.
The main show takes place inside a 550-seat theater, featuring various circus acts. The rest of the show takes place inside Scamander’s suitcase. Yes, the entire stage transforms into the inside of the suitcase, and the transition was magical to watch. As Gwenlyn looks for the Demiguise, she encounters many other magical creatures, including a very large Zouwu and the adorable Mooncalf. With special effects and intricate set designs, guests will feel surrounded by the magic of the Wizarding World.
Magical Fare
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
There is plenty to taste while you’re in the Wizarding World. Quick service dining options include Cafe L’air De La Sirène, where you can find the delectable Butterbeer crepe, Le Gobelet Noir for drinks and hearty entrees, and Bar Moonshine for a refreshing beverage.
Cafe L’air De La Sirène and Le Gobelet Noir are where you can find the most seating and be tucked away in air conditioning from the heat. Le Gobelet Noir has several dining rooms themed to its moody name, while Cafe L’air De La Sirène has one large dining area.
The Butterbeer crepe served at Cafe L’ar De La Sirène features a warm crepe with a Butterbeer filling, topped with powdered sugar, fresh strawberries, Butterbeer whipped cream, a decorative shortbread cookie, and finished with a Butterbeer drizzle. Despite the description, this was not overly sweet. If you enjoy Butterbeer in its drink form, you’ll want to try this. Aside from the Butterbeer crepe, the cafe serves a variety of sweet and savory crepes, quiches, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Le Gobelet Noir features dishes inspired by French, German, and Hungarian cuisine. Items such as Jägerschnitzel and Coqu Au Vin can be found here. Themed to its dark decor, you’ll also find Le Breuage Sombre du Gobelet Noir, which is a dark brew drink with eyes of Plimpies. Don’t worry, they are actually just yogurt popping pearls.
These worlds within Epic Universe are unbelievable. The attention to detail has elevated the theme park experience. Every inch of each land is immersive, the designs are breathtaking, and parkgoers will have a different experience every time.
Universal Epic Universe officially opened on May 22, 2025.
Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe Grand Opening. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Movies that inspired Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe:
