Latest news with #UniversalMonsters
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Blockbusters Take Over Theme Parks for a Mega Movie Summer
Summer hits the theme parks and vacation destinations in this week's theme park news. Universal Studios Hollywood takes fans back in time with Back to the Future and Jaws while bringing in the future with new Wicked and Jurassic World fun. Don't worry, the Universal Monsters aren't far behind; in fact they're all hitting up Sin City for Universal Horror Unleashed's opening in Las Vegas this August. Over at the Disney Parks, Walt Disney World gears up for Test Track's reopening. Meanwhile, Old Navy and Disney collab on one heck of a roadtrip across America with their new summer Mickey & Friends collection. And just in time for the release of DC Studios Superman, Six Flags gets the Justice League to unite for new superhero experiences! Mega Movie Summer at Universal Studios Hollywood Iconic blockbuster movies abound as new entertainment, fandom foodie offerings, and more. To celebrate Jaws' 50th anniversary, the hanging shark makes its return to the theme park with a special Quint and Brody meet and greet, which is delightful and the actors doing their Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider impressions are fantastic. Hey if the kids can meet Mario and Luigi, letting the adults meet the Orca crew is a great compromise. There's also more Amblin amusement park presence, with Doc Brown, his pal Marty McFly, and his trusty first time traveler Einstein the dog in the DeLorean. Both films get awesome curated cinematic cuisine at the parks too. For Jurassic franchise fans, there is now a Mosasaur roar on Jurassic World: The Ride and a new tiny triceratops meet and greet (which was temporarily in London for the premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth). Wicked fans will also be happy to learn they can meet Elphaba and Glinda in an alternating capacity and there's tons of new Wicked merch in its designated store. Universal Horror Unleashed: Universal Monsters – Area15 Las Vegas All of the Universal Monsters will be featured in one haunted house at Universal Horror Unleashed, which is sharing more updates ahead of its arrival at Las Vegas' immersive experience destination Area15. 'We've got four incredible haunted houses that put you right in the middle of iconic and terrifying scenes. In the Universal Monsters House, you get to follow Van Helsing as he battles all of your favorite classic monsters. Our legacy of creating horror in Universal Studios goes all the way back to the beginning of the film itself. We've been creating iconic horror movies that have stood the test of time. Our Universal Monsters Haunted House takes you through the stories of all of the classic Universal Monsters. All of them are there, and you get to walk into their world,' Universal Creative's Lorelei Lee shared in the video you can watch above. We can't wait for this one, especially since The Creature from the Black Lagoon's Gill-man will be represented at last in Horror Unleashed's Universal Monsters house. Shelby Honea, executive producer at Universal Creative added, 'We're bringing something entirely new to Las Vegas. It is a year round destination, and so is our horror brand.' The destination is currently slated to feature houses in the universes of The Exorcist, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Horror Nights original canon characters. There will also be performers, walk-around scare-actors, themed frightful foods, and scary sips! For more info check out the recent Discover Universal podcast that outlines whats to come at Universal Horror Unleashed. M3GAN 2.0 at Universal Studios Florida Just in time for M3GAN 2.0, the army of dancing M3GANS make their theme park return in limited appearances during the day at Universal Studios Florida. Images of their return courtesy of Park Hop on IG. Walt Disney World announces Test Track opening date The Epcot cars ride (not that one) is set to reopen with new theming and a refreshed look July 22. io9 met Laufey at House of Mouse Los Angeles Check out our chat with musical artist Laufey live from House of Mouse Los Angeles, where she shared with us the different ways Disney was one of her first fandoms. 'I grew up in Iceland, which is definitely a very, very different climate and a different world. I always knew of Mickey. And that was one of those first characters that I became aware of,' Laufey said. 'It's so classic, my dad loved watching very classic cartoons growing up. So I grew up watching the really, really old Mickey Mouse ones.' The singer also revealed her fave childhood Disney toys. 'I had the whole Winnie the Pooh zoo. I had Winnie and I remember specifically I have a Piglet. It's really, really special.' The Disney Style pop-up party is currently on a global tour at major cities where fandom and fashion collide. Disney and Old Navy go on a road trip across America To celebrate the summer Disney and Old Navy have dropped a Mickey & Friends collab for the whole family. Combining options for all sorts of weather, the Disney Americana-inspired collection features swim, tees, sweaters, kidswear, and accessories to suit the season wherever you happen to be. If you're in Chicago this weekend, you can hit up the Disney x Old Navy road trip van which will feature immersive photo-ops, treats, and a showcase of the collection with a summer bbq vibe on the 21st. The van will also stop at the Santa Monica Pier on June 28. Shop the collection online here. Disney Jr. Let's Play – The Disneyland Resort Kids can have more fun with Mickey and friends as Disney Jr. Let's Play returns to the Disneyland Resort August 8-10. DC Heroes at Six Flags Magic Mountain DC Heroes and Villains Fest arrives at Six Flags to get superhero fans hyped up as we head into a Superman movie summer. It's filled with action stunt shows, character meets, music, and more, and DC fans can enjoy these offerings on Friday and Saturday nights from June 20-July 26. Kung Fu Tea x How to Train Your Dragon Kung Fu Tea locations across the nation will be featuring special drinks inspired by Universal Pictures' How to Train Your Dragon until June 30 with drinks and collectible cups/stickers. The flavors include: Toothless Soaring Slush – a frosty swirl with milk cap magic Stormfly's Dragonfruit Splash – citrusy zing + chia seeds that pop Monstrous Flight Tea – dragonfruit base, honey boba finish Pop Mart x Pride The toy collectible giant currently taking over the world with Labubu launched its Pride collection at LA Pride recently with a float and LGBTQIA+ collectibles creators. Check out the Peach Riot and Hug You limited releases with special Pride colorways online now.
Thrill Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
Universal Horror Unleashed Reveals More Frightening Details Ahead of Grand Opening in Las Vegas
Universal Destinations & Experiences is set to redefine terror with the grand opening of Universal Horror Unleashed, a first-of-its-kind year-round horror attraction debuting August 14 at the AREA15 District in Las Vegas. New details have emerged about one of the cornerstone experiences—the Universal Monsters haunted house—along with two original themed areas: Dead Storage and The Boiler, an immersive cocktail bar experience like no other. In the Universal Monsters haunted house, the legends of classic horror cinema break free from their silver screen origins and come terrifyingly to life. Guests will journey through the ruins of famed monster hunter Van Helsing's mausoleum, only to be thrust into the cursed territories of Universal's most iconic creatures. From the echoing corridors of Castle Dracula to the ancient tombs of The Mummy, and the electrified laboratory where Frankenstein and The Bride still haunt the living, this fully immersive haunted experience unites the most legendary monsters ever imagined in one continuous, spine-chilling nightmare. Before entering Van Helsing's realm, guests will first brave Dead Storage, a hauntingly atmospheric themed zone set within a forgotten section of an abandoned production warehouse. Reminiscent of Universal's earliest horror sets, this gothic graveyard of film relics is alive with nocturnal terror. Guests may encounter vampires, a werewolf mid-transformation, and other dark creatures that lurk in the shadows, all while navigating an environment filled with eerie set pieces and props lost to time. At the heart of the experience lies The Boiler, a darkly industrial cocktail bar pulsing with mechanical energy and infernal ambiance. Here, multiple horror zones converge, offering guests a space to unwind without ever truly escaping the horror. Beneath a towering, flame-spewing machine, patrons can enjoy expertly crafted cocktails and soak in the atmosphere of this uniquely twisted reprieve. Universal Horror Unleashed will feature four immersive themed areas and four major haunted house experiences, including: Universal Monsters Blumhouse's The Exorcist: Believer The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Scarecrow: The Reaping In addition to the frights, guests can explore horror-themed food and beverage offerings, specialty bars, and a retail location filled with exclusive merchandise and collectibles. Tickets are now available at For fans of fear, this is the next evolution in immersive horror entertainment—an experience that never sleeps, and never lets you forget what lurks in the dark. Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What to expect from Universal's new year-round horror experience in Vegas
AI-assisted summary Unlike Halloween Horror Nights, Horror Unleashed offers a permanent, immersive horror experience with four haunted houses and interactive scare zones. Haunted houses include Universal Monsters, The Exorcist: Believer, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Scarecrow: The Reaping. The experience is designed for all types of horror fans, with varying levels of engagement and is not recommended for children under 13. Nate Stevenson remembers it being a big deal to rent movies as a kid and his dad bringing home a stack of VHS tapes on weekends. 'Three or four were obviously for my mom,' Stevenson recalled. 'But then he would always go, 'And then I got one creepy old movie' ... and then me and my dad would just sit and watch the horror films.' TJ Mannarino shared similar memories with his dad. 'That was a bonding thing,' Mannarino said. 'We used to sit around and watch the black-and-white Universal monster movies, and it got me excited about those strange characters.' Mannarino and Stevenson still get giddy about horror. Now, they're creating a new way for fellow fans to connect with it, as two of the masterminds behind Universal's first year-round horror experience in Las Vegas. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, they shared more about what guests can expect when Universal Horror Unleashed opens in August. How is Horror Unleashed different from Halloween Horror Nights? Universal Horror Unleashed won't just be a longer version of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. 'You're a little bit locked in at the parks,' said Stevenson, show director for Universal's Creative Development Group. Both he and Mannarino have worked on Horror Nights for years. 'You know what works and you go for it, and the turnaround is so fast for the next year that you're just on to the next year ... But this really gave us a chance to kind of innovate and think outside the box and say, 'How can we take this amazing thing that we've got and take it to the next level?'" With Universal Horror Unleashed, they had a chance to build a permanent home for horror, from the ground up, in a newly expanded area of the Area15 entertainment district off the Las Vegas Strip. 'To be on the side of creating it and envisioning it is a dream come true, or a nightmare,' said Mannarino, vice president of Entertainment Art and Design for Universal Orlando Resort. The story begins even before guests enter the building, which is set as a production warehouse where horror film props were stored, a nod to Universal's century-long legacy of horror films. "The overarching story, just for Horror Unleashed in general, is that there's kind of a parallel world that lives beside ours, and in that world – we call it the shadow world – all your nightmares are actually realities,' Stevenson said. He explained that in some areas, like Sin City and this production warehouse in particular, the veil between the worlds is thinner. 'They stuck so many spiritually charged things in this warehouse that it erupted and it broke that veil between the shadow world and our world, so when you're in the warehouse, some of those creatures and those monsters and those things have spilled out from the shadow world,' he said. How many haunted houses are there? There are four haunted houses at Universal Horror Unleashed, with a mix of intellectual property and original content, like Horror Nights. Universal Monsters: 'Guests will pass through the crumbling mausoleum of famed monster hunter Van Helsing and into the cursed domains of creatures that defined the genre,' Universal shared in a press release. 'From the shadowy halls of Castle Dracula, to the sandy tombs guarded by The Mummy, to the crackling lab where Frankenstein and The Bride still draw breath – this haunted house resurrects the most legendary monsters of all time in one continuous nightmare.' The Exorcist: Believer: Based on the latest film in the Exorcist franchise, guests will follow the journey of two girls who've been possessed, all the way to their exorcism, which includes disappearing wall special effect that reveals a hidden hellscape, according to a promo video for the house. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Guests will enter the farmhouse from the franchise's first film and, following that film closely, come face to face with Leatherface as well as parts of his world that weren't on screen. Scarecrow: The Reaping: Based on a fan-favorite, original Universal Halloween Horror Nights house, 'It's set in the Dust Bowl era, when the farmers ravaged the land, but in our story, the land has come back to life to wreak its revenge on you,' Stevenson said in a promo video. Beyond the haunted houses, there will be four immersive areas with their own themes. 'One is kind of more classic, which is where the monsters come in – the classic Universal monsters – and then one is more kind of like a slasher 80s sort of feel, and another is more of kind of like a poltergeist sort of feel, and then another is more traditional and circusy, where Jack shows up,' Stevenson said, referring to Jack the Clown, a Halloween Horror Nights icon. Getting into character Each space will also feature various characters with fully fleshed, interconnected stories that guests can engage with. 'In the parks, you have all these incredible characters out in the streets and they're running and they're scaring you, but it's kind of like a moment in time. They scare you and then they go,' Stevenson said. 'But with these characters, you can actually walk up to them and chat with them ... get a couple of fun anecdotes about their life and move on – if that's the level of immersion you want – or you can sit there and talk to them for 15 minutes and learn all about the warehouse and all about the story.' There will also be uniquely themed areas for food and drinks. 'I could see people buying a ticket and just going out there and hanging out for the night because it's such a cool environment,' Stevenson said. 'I just want a drink at the Boiler Bar that turns into a monster and becomes this really cool show moment ... and watch people get scared and have drinks with my friends and then walk over to Jack's (Alley) Bar and watch his show.' These are all opening attractions, but from the beginning, Universal has said the venue will feature continuously updated horror experiences. 'It has to evolve. It has to change. How does that change and what that cadence is, I think that's still for us to tell you, as we learn also,' Mannarino said. Halloween Horror Nights 2025: Everything you need to know Room for everyone For now, guests can expect something different each visit, depending on how they engage. 'Spend as much time, come back as many times as they want, but feel like this place also has a life and it grows and it changes, and so every time you come back, you do see the world differently,' Mannarino said. Experiences will also change depending on who guests go with. 'In your group, you might have the die hard who's always going to be the first person to line, but you always have the other person who's like, 'No, no. I'm going to be in the back, and I'm going to be hiding behind four other people,''' he said. Universal Horror Unleashed is meant for all types of horror fans, from casual thrillseekers to lore-loving super fans. 'We see ourselves in you, because that's who we are,' Mannarino said. Is there an age restriction for Universal Horror Unleashed? The destination's website warns that like Horror Nights, the 'experience may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.' How much are Universal Horror Unleashed tickets? Universal Horror Unleashed opens August 14. Tickets are already on sale and start at $69 for one-time entry to each house ($59 for Nevada residents) and $99 for unlimited access to houses.
Geek Girl Authority
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Universal Monsters Archives
Categories Select Category Games GGA Columns Movies Stuff We Like The Daily Bugle TV & Streaming All the Rest Stuff We Like Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and other creatures are here to guide your tarot practice. Read our review of Universal Monsters Tarot Deck and Guidebook! GGA Columns Horror Movies In this edition of Underrated Horror Movie of the Month, we dive into the 2005 film, Cursed. Take a look at why we love it. The winter holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes that long list of gifts to buy. Choosing the perfect ... Over the weekend we were treated to the first trailer for the upcoming Tom Cruise movie, The Mummy, and it ... Universal finally gave us a brief teaser for the upcoming Universal Monster movie reboot, The Mummy. Starring Tom Cruise, Sofie ...
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
NECA Reveals Glow-In-The-Dark BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN SDCC 2025 Exclusive — GeekTyrant
NECA has revealed the classic Remco Universal Monsters Glow-In-The- Dark Bride of Frankenstein 7″ Scale Figure. This release will be a San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Exclusive. It features a Glow-In-The-Dark, and a vintage style vinyl robe. A limited number of these will be available during an online presale for their SDCC 2025 Exclusives from June 18-20. Universal Monsters – 90th Anniversary Glow-in-the-Dark Retro Bride of Frankenstein 7' Scale Action Figure (2025 Con Exclusive) 'NECA's glow-in-the-dark Universal Monsters collection is creeping its way onto shelves with modern tributes that draw inspiration from vintage monster toy lines. 'Celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Bride of Frankenstein with this 2025 Con Exclusive. Her skin and hair streak glow in the dark for extra spooky action! This fully articulated, 7-inch scale action figure includes a vinyl cloak and comes in tribute blister card packaging. Collect all these classic film monsters!' With a Limited Exclusive Presale June 18th- June 20th on .
