Jurassic

Universal has finally shared an opening date for its highly-anticipated theme park complete with lands inspired by Shrek, Jurassic World and the Minions

Universal is set to open its huge new theme park later this year, with seven lands including attractions inspired by Shrek, Jurassic World, SpongeBob SquarePants and the Minions.

Universal Kids Resort will open this summer in Frisco, Texas, and the theme park giant has finally revealed its opening date; July 1, 2026. It’s the brand’s first ever ‘theme park specifically designed for kids’, and will be aimed at families with younger children, although there will likely be plenty that grown-ups can enjoy too.

The new theme park will be divided up into seven themed lands; DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, DreamWorks’ TrollsFest, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar and the Isle of Curiosity featuring DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse.

That also includes a brand new Universal Kids Resort Hotel complete with 300 rooms and suites, restaurants, an outdoor pool and “other family-friendly amenities” although the resort is remaining fairly tight-lipped about exactly what will be on offer.

You can already book tickets and hotel packages at universalkidsresort.com. For Brits who want to visit, the nearest airport is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with airlines including British Airways and Finnair both offering direct routes from London Heathrow. According to Skyscanner, you can find fares from £393 in July if you’re keen to be among the first to explore the new theme park!

Of course Universal already has some world-famous theme parks in the USA including Universal Studios Hollywood, and its Orlando resort with various theme parks, including the new Epic Universe offering. If you’re looking to visit on a budget, the likes of AttractionTix and FloridaTix both offer a series of deals including combo tickets if you’re also planning to visit Walt Disney World during your Florida getaway. You can also find out more at universalorlando.com.

There’s good news for Brits too, as plans for a UK theme park are on the way. The theme park, which will be located at the site of a former brickworks, is expected to employ around 8,000 people once complete, with around 20,000 construction jobs during the build, and is expected to represent a £50billion boost to the UK economy.

Last year, the UK government gave the go-ahead for the complex to be built in Kempston Hardwick in Bedfordshire. Universal has confirmed that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had approved the plans.

At the time, Universal published a letter saying the update was an important milestone. The company said: “In the months ahead, we are committed to sharing progress as well as what to expect including job opportunities and how local businesses and suppliers can potentially work with us. The interest and support we’ve already seen from both local companies and residents has been incredibly encouraging.”

Over the summer, Universal said the theme park will be “unlike anything that exists in the UK” as it could feature the tallest rides in Europe – with height limits reaching up to 115m.

JURASSIC Park star Sam Neill has revealed he’s cancer-free after having pioneering treatment to fight the disease.

The 78-year-old was diagnosed with stage three blood cancer in 2022 while promoting Jurassic World Dominion.

In a new interview, he said he was “on the way out” when his chemotherapy stopped working.

“I was at a loss, and it looked like I was on the way out, which wasn’t ideal obviously,” he explained.

But thanks to pioneering Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, the cost of which, on average, is £280,000 per patient in the UK , there is no longer any trace of the disease in his body.

Sam told 7 News in his native Australia: “I’ve just had a scan just now and there is no cancer in my body, that’s an extraordinary thing. I’m very, very excited that this can happen.”

He first revealed he was having the immunotherapy in September 2023 and had been in remission for 12 months.

The treatment is personalised to the patient and genetically modifies their own T-cells to fight and destroy cancer cells.

The actor said he is now looking forward to returning to the big screen.

Stoic Sam previously said he wasn’t afraid of dying after being diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma — a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“I’m not in any way frightened of dying,” he told Australian Story. “That doesn’t worry me. It’s never worried me from the beginning, but I would be annoyed.”

Sam announced his cancer battle in the first chapter of his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?

He wrote: “The thing is, I’m crook. Possibly dying.”

The acting stalwart, who was born in Northern Ireland but grew up in New Zealand, is best known for playing Dr Alan Grant in the dinosaur franchise, beginning in 1993.

His successful movie and television career spans five decades and includes varied roles from The Piano, to The Zookeeper and even Peaky Blinders.

He has two biological children — Tim and Elena — from his marriage to makeup artist Noriko Watanabe.

The couple were married for nearly 30 years, before divorcing in 2017.