Universal Has Gone Quiet on Pokémon – Now Disney Has a Deal of Its Own

Pokémon’s theme park future is still murky — but its relationship with Disney suddenly is not.

In January, Universal Studios Japan and The Pokémon Company announced plans to develop new immersive Pokémon experiences.

The agreement was not framed as a Japan-only project. Universal said the concept would eventually expand across the wider Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio, opening the door to potential Pokémon attractions at resorts including Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Since then, however, updates have been scarce.

Universal has not announced where Pokémon will go next, what kind of attractions it is developing, or when guests outside Japan should expect to see the franchise become a permanent part of its parks.

That silence has left plenty of room for speculation.

Universal Orlando Still Has a Major Question to Answer

The biggest focus has been Islands of Adventure.

Universal is currently dismantling The Lost Continent, one of the theme park’s original lands, after years of closures gradually stripped away its attractions.

Poseidon’s Fury permanently closed in 2023, while The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad had already disappeared years earlier.

Demolition activity intensified during 2026, making it increasingly clear that Universal has bigger plans for the area between Seuss Landing and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

Mythos Restaurant, one of the final major remnants of The Lost Continent, is also expected to close in 2027.

What replaces the land has not been announced.

Pokémon remains one of the leading rumors, particularly because Universal announced its broader partnership with The Pokémon Company just as questions surrounding the future of The Lost Continent were growing louder.

Speculation has included a Pokémon Snap-style dark ride, interactive features, and other attractions that could allow guests to encounter Pokémon throughout the land.

None of those concepts are confirmed.

There is nevertheless an obvious logic behind Pokémon coming to Orlando.

The franchise would give Islands of Adventure another major family property alongside Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Marvel, and Dr. Seuss. Universal has also already demonstrated how successfully it can translate Nintendo gaming properties into physical theme park environments.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD has become a central piece of Universal’s recent expansion strategy, with versions now operating in Japan, Hollywood, and at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.

Pokémon could theoretically follow a similar path.

For now, though, Universal has only confirmed the broader partnership. It has never announced that Pokémon will replace The Lost Continent.

Seven months after the January announcement, the company has also provided no confirmed U.S. destination for the franchise.

That makes another Pokémon announcement this week particularly notable.

Disney Strikes Its Own Pokémon Deal

Disney revealed on August 28 that Disney+ has entered a global distribution agreement with The Pokémon Company International.

Unlike Universal’s still-vague expansion plans, Disney has already outlined exactly what its deal involves.

A new stop-motion series, Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, will debut on Disney XD and Disney+ in 2027.

The project was produced by The Pokémon Company International and created with Aardman Animation, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run.

The series centers on Sirfetch’d and Pichu as they travel through the Galar Region, encountering other Pokémon while taking on a string of adventures.

Disney’s agreement also includes Pokémon the Series: The Beginning.

The classic animated episodes follow Ash Ketchum and Pikachu during the earliest stage of their journey. The series began airing on Disney XD in August and is also streaming on Disney+ in the United States and select international markets.

Disney has already spelled out what its Pokémon deal involves. Universal, meanwhile, has said little since announcing plans in January to expand Pokémon experiences across its global theme park portfolio.

That silence is especially notable in Orlando, where The Lost Continent is being demolished and Universal still has not confirmed what will replace it.

Pokémon remains a strong possibility — but for now, Disney is the company with the clearer plan.

What are your predictions for Universal’s Pokémon deal?