Disney Files Construction Permit for New Villains Show at Hollywood Studios, Set for Summer 2025

Gallery / 6 Photos
Villains Show concept art

Posted: Tuesday October 1, 2024 2:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a construction permit for work on the new Villains-themed live entertainment show set to debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025.

The permit for "General Construction" is assigned to the long-term Disney construction partner, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, valid through September 27, 2025.

Villains Show concept art

This new show will take over the Sunset Showcase on Sunset Boulevard, replacing the current Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, which is set to close on October 7, 2024. Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, which opened in March 2019, features a life-sized animatronic Lightning McQueen and high-energy racing sequences from the Cars franchise.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is scheduled to close on October 7, 2024

The upcoming villains-themed show is set in the Magic Mirror's mysterious realm, where iconic Disney villains will break through the glass and come to life on stage. Characters such as Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent are already confirmed to make appearances, with live production numbers and immersive special effects promising to bring these notorious figures to life.

Villains Show concept art

Sunset Showcase, which first opened in 2015, has previously hosted a variety of entertainment experiences, including the short-lived Club Disney and special events like Club Villain, a cabaret-style show featuring Disney villains.

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Giss Neric47 minutes ago

With so many shows in a day, I now understand why there's no supporting casts or even background dancers.

Moth1 hour ago

Giant Chernabog puppet doing freestyle rap. Relocated Carnotaurus AA from Dinosaur doing a rockabilly song entirely through roars. Hamsterveil and Gantu doing a duo ballet. Disney, give me a paycheck and I'll give you a ton of ideas on how to add more villains. Otherwise you won't get amazing ideas like "Crossover episode where Darth Vader brings in a boom box".

Fox&Hound4 hours ago

I thought this. Maybe they could trade out the villains. Yes they would need to hire additional actors but it seems easy enough :)

Animaniac93-984 hours ago

There's an excellent live Villains show that plays in the Festival of the Lion King theater in HKDL during Halloween. Not sure if it had any substantial changes post-pandemic, but they still do it Disney is more than capable of producing a good Villain show. The Spelltacular at MNSSHP is another example This does not look to be one of them.

Casper Gutman5 hours ago

Come on…

Casper Gutman5 hours ago

Decoration, not theming.

flynnibus5 hours ago

They also get giddy over cupcake videos... but you don't see everyone at fireworks with cupcakes in the hands. The real truth is how much people commit themselves to it vs their online clicks.

Jedi146 hours ago

Probably either 2029 or 2030 if it says as part of the first half of the ten year plan.

Disgruntled Walt6 hours ago

Dear lord, so the 2030s?

ToTBellHop6 hours ago

I’ve noticed that, too. Of course, we will know more once it opens. I agree that it’s better than the Cars show (although I hope they’ve saved that AA for MK).

Jedi146 hours ago

The way the show is set up, it seems like they can easily rotate the villains on stage every couple of years. Especially if this show will be here until Villains land opens. I don’t know if this will bomb like some people on here expect. The reactions I’ve seen so far besides this forum have been mainly positive.