The DeLorean may be revving up for another Back To The Future Universal adventure—this time in Bedfordshire.
Universal Studios’ upcoming UK theme park project just got a lot more interesting thanks to a newly discovered trademark filing for Back to the Future in the United Kingdom. The application, filed in late December 2024 and entered into the UK register in March 2025, specifically includes theme park attraction and live show services under Class 41.
Back To The Future has been trademarked for theme park use by Universal in the UK! Found by @RickCooper02 pic.twitter.com/iQoPyk2HrA
— Universal Apex (@universalapex) April 12, 2025
But that’s not all. Sharp-eyed fans poring over the park’s preliminary concept art have spotted something else: a town square-style area that strongly resembles Hill Valley, complete with a large roller coaster attached at the rear. Many are now speculating that Universal could be planning an 88-miles-per-hour Back to the Future roller coaster, potentially themed around Doc Brown’s iconic time-traveling experiments.
A potential Back to The Future area in the new Universal UK theme park Concept Art – Universal
If true, this could mark the return of one of Universal’s most beloved—and most lamented—franchises to the theme park spotlight.
The Ride That Shouldn’t Have Been Removed?
To longtime fans, Back to the Future: The Ride wasn’t just an attraction—it was a defining piece of Universal Studios’ identity.
Operating from the early 1990s until the mid-2000s in Florida, California, and Japan, the simulator-based thrill ride took guests on a wild chase through time with Doc Brown and Biff Tannen. But in one of Universal’s most controversial moves, the ride was shuttered and replaced with The Simpsons Ride—a move many now see as a critical misstep.
Marty McFly starts disappearing in Back to The Future – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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Not only did Universal retire a core franchise from its own studio library, but it replaced it with an IP that would later be acquired by Disney, Universal’s primary competitor. With the removal of Back to the Future, along with other legacy favorites like JAWS and Kongfrontation, Universal was widely criticized for seemingly abandoning its roots in an effort to keep pace with Disney’s relentless expansion in Orlando.
A New Era—and a Second Chance?
Now, with Universal’s UK park providing a fresh canvas—and no Disney presence anywhere in the market—the opportunity to bring Back to the Future back into the Universal fold feels like poetic justice.
The official concept art for Universal’s new UK theme park resort – Universal
The new resort, planned for a 2031 opening in Bedfordshire, is already set to include attractions based on Jurassic Park, Shrek, and Fast & Furious. But a Back to the Future land or thrill ride could easily become the nostalgic crown jewel of the entire park. The newly filed UK trademark supports that theory, and the suspiciously Hill Valley-like section in the concept art has only added fuel to the fire.
A roller coaster that simulates breaking the time barrier? An immersive Hill Valley walkthrough? A new version of the time-travel ride powered by today’s cutting-edge technology? All seem plausible—and all would be instant crowd-pleasers.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t the only IP Universal has quietly protected. A UK trademark for Halloween Horror Nights was filed all the way back in 2022, hinting at the long-term vision Universal has had for this project. That same forward-thinking could be at play here—positioning Back to the Future for a long-overdue comeback in a region where Universal faces no Disney competition and has total control of the narrative.
Doc and Marty in Back to The Future – YouTube, Universal Pictures
Whether the coaster clocks in at 88 miles per hour or not, one thing is clear: fans are eager to go back in time. And Universal may finally be ready to give them the ride they’ve been waiting for.
Do you think Universal will bring Back to The Future into this new UK theme park? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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