PHOTOS: The Highly Anticipated Dark Universe Coaster Is TESTING at Epic Universe!

AHH! We are so excited to see all the exciting construction updates coming to Universal’s Epic Universe, opening in 2025.

Dark Universe Portal – ©Universal

Some of the most recent construction updates showed lots of trees being planted in a few different areas of the park, as well as testing starting on some of the water features. But now? Now we know a new roller coaster in Dark Universe is testing too!

We knew that the new coaster — rumored to be called the Curse of the Werewolf — would be a family-style spinning coaster that could potentially revolve around Wolfman’s werewolf transformation. But now we’re getting to see the actual ride vehicles!

Aerial overview of Dark Universe.
A train is seen testing in The Curse of The Werewolf roller coaster.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/7Zv4zNS4CA

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

Right now, the coaster has water-filled test dummies riding it to ensure the ride’s safety for guests, which is what those blue things on the vehicle are.

Aerial photo of a Curse of the Werewolf spinning roller coaster train and The Burning Blade Tavern.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/aIbFbxjFrb

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

And they don’t just have one coaster running — they’ve got two cars going at one time! In this photo, one car is entering the station just as the other one is leaving. We aren’t yet sure just how many cars can be on the track safely at one time.

Aerial photo of continuous testing of Curse of The Werewolf spinning roller coaster. A train with test dummies at left is about to dispatch as another train is arriving back at the station.

Barn is a shuttle that sends trains backwards before send them to station.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/UB3wrVMTeH

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

And WHOA, they weren’t kidding when they said these ride vehicles spin! Just look at that vehicle — almost every car is facing a different direction!

Aerial photo of a just-launched Curse of the Werewolf train in a high-banked turn.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/0BIkRHfSrk

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

Here’s a closer look at the turning ride vehicles, right before it heads into the barn.

Aerial photo of a Curse of the Werewolf train with water-filled test dummies. Heading into the barn, in Dark Universe. pic.twitter.com/Egic6XYVN2

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

We also know a little about how this ride runs too, thanks to @bioreconstruct on X/Twitter who not only grabbed these photos but saw the rides testing in real-time. When guests first come out of the barn, they won’t complete the turn, meaning they’ll rush backward through the barn. Then they’ll stall at the other side, and be propelled forward enough to make it over that first turn again.

Aerial photo of a Curse of the Werewolf train leaving the shuttle barn into a high-banked turn.
At first trains stall in this turn, and fall backwards through the barn. Stall at the opposite side, and then the shuttle propels the trains forward into the station.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/kmuaXxbbhx

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

The manor in the land is also coming along very well, which is where the main attraction in this land will be. This attraction will reportedly use the Kuka Arm ride system popularized by Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey to take guests through the sprawling estate, which will reportedly feature many of the titular Universal Monsters including Frankenstein’s monster, as well as Dracula.

Aerial photo of the manor in Dark Universe.

A Curse of the Werewolf train also seen in testing.#EpicUniverse pic.twitter.com/DWZtStdEFf

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

And, following along with our last update — trees are being planted in this land too!

Aerial photo of trees planted near The Burning Blade Tavern and the extended queue of the attraction in the Dark Universe manor. pic.twitter.com/b3Y9hyYhd4

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) June 9, 2024

The setting of this land is reportedly (and the construction is making it look like this is true) a quaint European village — similar to the ones featured in classic Universal horror films like Frankenstein. The villagers live in fear of the monsters returning, and OH NO, here they are!

©Universal

We’re still about a year away from the proposed opening of this new land (which has been said to be “well before Summer 2025”), but we’ll be keeping you updated on all the latest construction news, so stay tuned to AllEars!