Disney Files Construction Permit for New Villains Show at Hollywood Studios, Set for Summer 2025

Gallery / 6 Photos
Villains Show concept art

Posted: Tuesday October 1, 2024 2:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a construction permit for work on the new Villains-themed live entertainment show set to debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025.

The permit for "General Construction" is assigned to the long-term Disney construction partner, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, valid through September 27, 2025.

Villains Show concept art

This new show will take over the Sunset Showcase on Sunset Boulevard, replacing the current Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, which is set to close on October 7, 2024. Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, which opened in March 2019, features a life-sized animatronic Lightning McQueen and high-energy racing sequences from the Cars franchise.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is scheduled to close on October 7, 2024

The upcoming villains-themed show is set in the Magic Mirror's mysterious realm, where iconic Disney villains will break through the glass and come to life on stage. Characters such as Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent are already confirmed to make appearances, with live production numbers and immersive special effects promising to bring these notorious figures to life.

Villains Show concept art

Sunset Showcase, which first opened in 2015, has previously hosted a variety of entertainment experiences, including the short-lived Club Disney and special events like Club Villain, a cabaret-style show featuring Disney villains.

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RteetzDec 15, 2025

The exterior of RnR isn't changing much outside of the guitar. They'll likely just put up walls around that and the ride entrance and keep a path to the show.

AidenRodriguez731Dec 15, 2025

Probably just a bypass walkway I imagine for now, they don’t really need the whole plaza right now anyway

EagleScout610Dec 15, 2025

I doubt they'd shut villains down after less than a year

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 15, 2025

Anyone know if the Villians Show is going to close around the same time RnRC closes down? The only way to get into the theater entrance is in the G-force plaza or build refurb walls get built?

Cmdr_CrimsonAug 29, 2025

Exactly what I was thinking.. Consider how many show they perform and the results per day it would be interesting to see a full tally once the show finally gets removed..

Jedi14Aug 29, 2025

I saw the show six times on my last trip, I was trying to get all the endings, and Maleficent was picked for three of them, Hook two, and I got Cruella on my last one.

Figments FriendAug 29, 2025

Has to be Maleficent. The in audience voting seems to be skewed however. The show I experienced for example clearly had far more cheering for Maleficent, and yet Cruella was deemed the ‘winner’. Um….yeah….. -

Cmdr_CrimsonAug 28, 2025

When this show finally ends and closes I would really like to see the tally of who had the most votes throughout the span of the show and would make them the most villainous out of them all..

Jedi14Jul 27, 2025

What ad?

Disgruntled WaltJul 27, 2025

I saw a YouTube ad for this that made it sound like you could vote for Jafar, which isn't exactly accurate.

jrhwdwJul 27, 2025

TrainsOfDisneyJul 14, 2025

I would say even more so - you could put another show in there tomorrow with some quick light and video programming! (Well…. At least a month for Disney but that’s not the point! Haha)