Universal Studios Hollywood Opening Secret Life of Pets Themed Dark Ride in 2020

© Illumination Entertainment

Finally we can take another major addition to a Universal theme park off the "rumor" list and put it on the "confirmed" one.  Today Universal Studios Hollywood announced that they are building a new dark ride themed around The Secret Life of Pets film franchise in 2020.  The ride will be called The Secret Life of Pets: Off The Leash! and take up the space formerly occupied by the Globe Theatre.

The park has not released any concept art with today's announcement, but did give fans the premise of the ride.  The ride will be set in New York City and themed around a pet adoption day, with passengers playing the role of stray puppies on a mission to find a forever home.  They will join popular characters from the movies along the way, including Max, Snowball, Gidget, Chloe and Duke.  Of course, the trip to the adoption event is filled with an "array of challenges" that will have to be overcome before the end of the journey.

As for the ride itself, we know it will be an indoor dark ride experience, and Universal Studios Hollywood states that it will "blend live, dimensional and animated characters with hyper-realistic media as guests zip along a track aboard ride vehicles through bustling New York City streets towards the Pet Adoption event."

© Illumination Entertainment

“We are thrilled to be able to bring another exciting Illumination movie-based ride to our guests,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO, Universal Studios Hollywood. “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!’ will capture the essence of the popular film and invite our guests to live vicariously through some of their favorite characters as they embark on a one-of-a-kind experience only available at Universal Studios Hollywood.”

The attraction's location in Universal Studios Hollywood will put it right next to both Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Super Silly Fun Land, also themed around Illumination Entertainment films.  Plus, The Secret Life of Pets 2 will open this June, keeping the franchise fresh before the ride opens next year.