Thierry Coup

Coup began his career working in the film and television industry. He provided set design, visual effects, and stop-motion animation for a variety of films and TV commercials. Coup is credited for working on Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator, Total Recall, Dick Tracy, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.[1][3][4]

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' research and development division, Walt Disney Imagineering, noticed Coup's work and subsequently offered him a job in the early 1990s. Although he wasn't looking to leave the film and television industry, Coup was intrigued by the challenges the new job would entail and accepted the position. Coup's first task with Disney was to redesign Tomorrowland at Disneyland. He then worked alongside others on the design of Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris, where Coup's particular focus was on Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune. Coup's final two projects for Disney were for Walt Disney Studios Park: Armageddon – Les Effets Speciaux and Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular (the latter was duplicated for Disney's Hollywood Studios several years later).[1]

In 1995, Coup began working for Universal Creative. Most of the division's focus at that time was on the development of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Coup was tasked as the Production Designer for Marvel Super Hero Island.[1] The flagship ride for the area was The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, a prototype dark ride which combined 3D imagery with a track-mounted motion simulator.[5] Coup was both the Production Designer and film producer for the ride, and holds a patent for part of the ride's technology.[1][6] The ride was later cloned for Universal Studios Japan.[7]

After Islands of Adventure launched in 1999, Coup worked on developing 4D films for Universal parks across the globe. In the United States, Shrek 4-D was launched, while in Japan, Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic was launched.[1][4] The two films have since been shown at parks owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, and Parques Reunidos.[8][9][10] Work on the Revenge of the Mummy enclosed roller coasters, and a refurbishment of Universal Studios Hollywood's Studio Tour, followed.[3][11]

Coup's next major project was to be the creative director for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure.[12] Coup and his team made several trips to Scotland to meet with J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series of books. The headline attraction for the area was Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an attraction Coup served as both executive creative director and film director on.[1] The overall themed area was a success with park attendance increasing by 36% following the launch.[13] Other Wizarding Worlds followed at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan.[14]

In January 2011, Coup became Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Universal Creative of Universal Destinations & Experiences. The role would see him lead "creative development activities for upcoming attractions of all Universal theme parks world-wide". In 2013, Coup's focus was on the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure into the adjacent Universal Studios Florida park with Diagon Alley.[15]

Coup left Universal in March 2023.[16]

• Thierry Coup at IMDb