Previously unseen concept art for an unnamed theme park ride based on Night At The Museum has recently surfaced online. Based on a 1993 picture book of the same name, Night At The Museum was a massive hit after its release in 2006. It spawned two sequels - Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and Secret of the Tomb (2014).
The three Night At The Museum films combine to form a cohesive and light-hearted trilogy that grossed more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The film, directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things), follows Larry (Ben Stiller) a night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History. His side-job turns into something more supernatural than he could ever imagine as the exhibits come to life at night thanks to a cryptic Egyptian tablet. The concept is as whimsical as it is historical, with wax figures of Teddy Roosevelt, Attila the Hun, and Amelia Earhart that come to life. The original film featured a star-studded cast including Rami Malek, Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams, and Owen Wilson.
And the magical element at the heart of the story in Night At The Museum sounds like a perfect plot for a Disney theme park. And according to Theme Park University, there apparently was concept art for an unnamed ride destined for an unnamed park. TPU discovered the concept art, which was created by design company Legacy Entertainment in 2010. Unfortunately, the idea was shelved and never came to fruition at any park. The dark-style ride looks like it would have sent guests through a replica New York City's American Museum of Natural History as they encounter exhibits that have mysteriously come alive. Check out the concept art from Legacy Entertainment below.
Now that Disney is the rightful owner of the Night At The Museum trilogy after it acquired 20th Century Fox assets, it seems like an opportune moment for them to revive the story in the form of a theme park attraction. It's been reported that Disney+ will be releasing an animated feature film tentatively titled Night At The Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again sometime this year. So that will bring the franchise back into the minds of fans and new viewers.
Night At The Museum's original story might date back to the mid-2000s, but the story is timeless. Stiller's goofy yet fearless character is a relatable father who urges not only his son, but the viewers to follow their dreams. And regardless, some of Disney's most successful rides are based on old films that have stood the test of time, like Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean. A Night At The Museum amusement park ride would be immersive and educational, especially if Disney puts its signature touch on it.
Source: Legacy Entertainment [via Theme Park University]