Warner Bros. Discovery put their chips behind James Gunn and his DCU starting back in 2022, but one thing they haven’t gifted the cinematic universe with, until now, was an attraction on the famed studio tour. The long-running tour is one of the hallmarks for visitors of the legendary Warner Lot that’s home to every cinephile and Animaniac fan’s beloved Watertower.
WBD’s Global Experiences division partnered with that other iconic and noteworthy division, DC Studios, to launch a walkthrough experience with live gameplay. Entitled Superman Experience: Defenders Unite, it debuted at Stage 6 of the Warner Lot on the 18th of this month.
A description of the attraction, which was picked up by several sites, says the interactive experience takes visitors inside The Fortress of Solitude to be “recruited by Superman himself and receive Kryptonian abilities to utilize in a critical mission.”
On this mission, recruits take flight with the help of “immersive technology," including 3D glasses and what can only be described as “next-generation motion capture technology” that simulates flying the friendly skies with The Man of Steel.
To the Darkseid
But, first, visiting players have to learn how to fly and test their skills to face impossible odds. Superman takes you on stops for training such as the Kent Farm, where you will play – or maybe it’s more like "struggle" – with the feisty Krypto before heading into battle. The villain to beat: Darkseid! Who else? The Omega-level tyrant has been a cosmic thorn in Supe’s side for decades everywhere.
That said, don’t expect the Lord of Apokolips or the New Gods to make an appearance in the DCU anytime soon - unless it happens in that Mister Miracle cartoon still stuck in development, which will probably be canon to the DCU.
Superman Experience: Defenders Unite, on the other hand, is not. While the attraction is inspired by the world of Gunn’s Superman, it has an original storyline that does not tie directly into the film or its upcoming sequel, Man of Tomorrow (which officially started filming). It is a nice treat for fans and tourists until the next chapter comes out, though.
"The Superman Experience offers guests a unique experience to step into the world of DC's storytelling in an incredibly fun and immersive way," Vice President and General Manager of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Danny Kahn, explained. "This new attraction unites Global Experiences, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, and DC Studios, so fans can create memories while celebrating the world's greatest superhero."
Defenders Unite comes equipped with a lounge; a Daily Planet-themed retail shop; a life-sized animatronic replica of Robot 4 (the one affectionately known as Gary, voiced by Alan Tudyk in Superman); photo opportunities perfect for social media; and mini-games. The two most talked-about games are one involving Krypto and a game of catch and another with a series of puzzles that unlock the Phantom Zone Projector.
An exclusive comic by writer Josh Trujillo and cover artist Bernard Chang is also available on site. That is sure to become a collector’s item.
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