Theme park fans are used to surprise announcements, yet few expected Universal Studios to hand one of its most unusual roller coasters over to a world-famous DJ. The shift arrives as Universal continues expanding its global footprint, reshaping its approach to thrill rides in the U.S., Japan, and beyond.
Universal’s parks have built their identity around inventive roller coasters. From high-profile launches in Orlando to experimental concepts overseas, the company has fostered a reputation for attractions that blend intensity with spectacle. Those offerings have routinely set Universal apart from Disney’s more story-driven portfolio.
That pattern is rapidly accelerating. Universal’s next milestone — Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift — opens at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026, marking the park’s first outdoor high-speed coaster. There are also rumors of a big Ghostbusters roller coaster replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
Universal has also been advancing plans for its upcoming theme park in the United Kingdom. Early concept art for the Bedford project featured a large outdoor roller coaster, signaling that the company intends to expand its high-speed thrill offerings well beyond its U.S. and Asian resorts.
Universal’s Most Unique Roller Coaster Receives DJ Overlay
Among Universal’s most distinct creations is Space Fantasy – The Ride at Universal Studios Japan. Opened in 2010 to replace the classic E.T. Adventure, the indoor coaster built its reputation on surreal visuals, rotating ride vehicles, and layered lighting effects that give the attraction a dreamlike feel.
The combination turned Space Fantasy into a guest favorite, not only for its unusual tone but for its adaptability. Universal Japan has repeatedly used it as a canvas for limited-time overlays, often leaning into virtual reality or anime collaborations to keep the experience fresh.
At present, Space Fantasy operates as the Spy x Family XR Ride, but that iteration will step aside at the start of 2026. Universal Studios Japan has confirmed that the next version will introduce a partnership with DJ and producer Zedd, launching January 30 and running through August 17, 2026.
The seasonal experience, titled Space Fantasy – The Ride: CLUB ZEDD REMIX, promises an audiovisual shift. According to Universal, the makeover invites guests to “step inside where powerful music and light take you to spectacular outer space!” Zedd has created exclusive mixes for the event, timed precisely to the coaster’s motion to “create a music experience from another dimension.”
The artist expressed his excitement directly on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Can’t believe I get to say this… I’M OPENING MY OWN RIDE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN!!!” he wrote.
He described spending the past year “reimagining the Space Fantasy roller coaster into CLUB ZEDD; a brand-new space-club experience,” adding that the queue will feature an exclusive DJ mix designed specifically for the attraction.
Can’t believe I get to say this… I’M OPENING MY OWN RIDE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN!!! 🤯
Over the past year, we’ve been reimagining the Space Fantasy roller coaster into CLUB ZEDD; a brand-new space-club experience. My goal was to make the music drive the ride itself, guiding… pic.twitter.com/3vmYyeGzVl
— Zedd (@Zedd) November 13, 2025
Demand Builds at Japan’s Crowded Park
Universal Studios Japan draws some of the highest attendance numbers in the global theme park industry, often surpassing every non-Disney destination. As a result, ride-specific overlays tend to generate sizable crowds, and the Zedd collaboration is expected to attract both coaster fans and music enthusiasts.
Guests looking to bypass lengthy queues for the CLUB ZEDD REMIX version of Space Fantasy may want to consider Express Pass options. At the Osaka resort, that’s not unusual; popular attractions such as Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, and Mine Cart Madness in its Donkey Kong Country expansion of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD routinely post long waits.
However, it’s worth noting that these Express Passes often sell out well in advance.
This announcement also complements Universal’s broader expansion phase. Alongside Hollywood’s upcoming Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift — which features 4,100 feet of track and speeds up to 72 mph — and the forthcoming U.K. resort, the company appears committed to diversifying the tone, scale, and audience of its major attractions.
The CLUB ZEDD REMIX overlay marks yet another reinvention for a coaster already known for its fluid identity. Universal’s decision to hand its strangest ride to a chart-topping DJ suggests a willingness to take risks that blend pop culture with engineering, keeping Japan’s most unpredictable coaster unpredictable.
Have you ever experienced Space Fantasy – The Ride?
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