Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Official ride logo (Hollywood)
Universal Studios Hollywood
Park section	Upper Lot
Status	Under construction
Opening date	2026 (2026)
Replaced	Animal Actors on Location Special Effects Stage
Universal Studios Florida
Park section	New York
Status	Under construction
Opening date	2027 (2027)
Replaced	Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
General statistics
Type	Steel  – Launched  – Spinning
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Universal Creative
Lift/launch system	LSM launch
Length	4,100 ft (1,200 m)
Speed	72 mph (116 km/h)
Inversions	4
Trains	4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 16 riders per train.
Theme	Fast & Furious
Restraints	Lap bar
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at RCDB

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift refers to two upcoming spinning roller coasters under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida. Manufactured by Intamin, each installation will feature a unique layout but will share many of the same features, including spinning cars themed to the Fast & Furious film franchise, as well as a linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch. The Hollywood installation is undergoing testing and is set to open in 2026, while the Florida installation is scheduled to open in 2027.

History

As early as May 2022, rumors began circulating that a new roller coaster themed to the Fast & Furious film franchise was under development at Universal Studios Hollywood. ^[1] Stage show attractions Animal Actors on Location and Special Effects Stage were both permanently closed the following year to make way for the new rumored ride. ^{[2] [3]} On July 12, 2023, the park announced that construction was set to begin on a new Fast & Furious coaster, confirming earlier speculation. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The new coaster was later unveiled as "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift" in May 2024, billed as the park's "first ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster" and scheduled to open in 2026. ^{[6] [7]} Its track was completed by April 2025. ^[8]

At Universal Studios Florida, construction began on a similar version of the coaster, which was officially announced by the park in January 2026. ^{[9] [10]} Although not identical, ^[10] it will feature many of the same features, including cars that spin 360 degrees along the track layout. ^[11] The Florida installation will notably add a 170-foot-tall (52 m) vertical spike situated close to Universal CityWalk. ^[11] The coaster is being constructed on the former site of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. ^{[9] [10]}

Characteristics

Concept art

On June 12, 2025, Universal Studios Hollywood released official concept art and a video promo for the new ride, showcasing riders spinning and racing up and down the track in different model cars from the film franchise. ^{[12] [13]} The ride is 4100ft long in length and will travel up to speeds of 72mph, making it the fastest Universal coaster in the world. ^[14] On the same day, ahead of Universal Hollywood's Mega Movie Summer event, a model of one of the ride's trains was unveiled. This model is an authentic resemblance of Dom's 1970 Dodge Charger R/T with lap bar seats, on-board speakers, which would remain on display until the end of the event on August 10, 2025. ^[15]

See also

• Fast & Furious: Supercharged – another attraction at Universal Studios parks themed to the same film franchise

References

1. Stella, Alicia (May 1, 2022). "Fast & Furious Drifting Coaster Rumored for Universal Studios Hollywood". Orlando Park Stop. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
2. Davis-Friedman, Samantha (November 10, 2022). "Two Universal Studios Hollywood shows are closing". Attractions Magazine . Retrieved February 27, 2025.
3. Martinez, Christian (July 13, 2023). "New 'Fast & Furious' coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
4. White, Abbey (July 13, 2023). "Universal Studios Hollywood to Get New 'Fast & Furious' Coaster". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
5. Chen, Eve (July 12, 2023). "Calling all speed demons: Fast & Furious roller coaster coming to Universal Studios". USA Today . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
6. Tapp, Tom (May 3, 2024). "360-Degree Spinning "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift" Roller Coaster Set For Universal Studios Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
7. "Universal Studios Hollywood's First High-Speed Outdoor Roller Coaster, "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift", Set to Launch in 2026, Based on Universal Pictures' Fast & Furious Blockbuster Film Franchise". NBCUniversal Media. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
8. Palm, Iman (April 9, 2025). "New 'Fast & Furious' coaster track completed at Universal Studios Hollywood". KTLA . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
9. Bevil, DeWayne (January 20, 2026). "New Universal Studios coaster will be Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
10. Chen, Eve (January 20, 2026). "New 'Fast & Furious' coaster coming to Universal Studios Florida". USA Today . Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
11. Nolfi, Joey (January 20, 2026). "Universal Orlando permanently closing Fast & Furious ride ahead of jaw-dropping new roller coaster themed to film series". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
12. "First Look – Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Coaster Unveiled at Universal Studios Hollywood". NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
13. Universal Studios Hollywood (2025-06-12). Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coming to Universal Studios Hollywood . Retrieved 2025-06-12– via YouTube.
14. "Universal releases video of 'Fast & Furious' roller coaster". UPI. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
15. Ace, Shannen (2025-06-12). "FIRST LOOK at Dodge Charger Ride Vehicle for Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood - WDWNT". WDW News Today. Retrieved 2025-07-03.