For clarity’s sake, a bit of a disclaimer about my statements (“out of nowhere IPs,” and the Family Guy gif):
My sense of what is on the table each year is, I think, pretty good. Partly because I typically hear about discussions in August/September for the following year, but mostly because I have a decent understanding of Universal’s capabilities in negotiating certain rights, their design principles, and their history. I also try to keep abreast on “popular horror culture” beyond properties’ simple existence. Most of the IPs Universal uses tick most of those boxes. Some surprise me.
Last year, Chucky was really surprising to me. The Shining surprised me. Both, however, became REALLY obvious after my initial reaction. Chucky was accessible and well-known. Shining was a white whale with a loop hole. Those surprised me more than Killer Klownz or Exorcist or Poltergeist - oft discussed and requested IPs.
That said, I’m still kinda shaking my head at this one. Like previous surprises, it makes sense. I’m still just amazed it may happen. That’s not in a good or bad way. It’s an indifferent, “Really? Okay...” way.
Now, regarding the “bonkers build,” it’s not tied to an IP that I know of. If true, it’s a long-term investment in the type of scenes Uni can design. You may not even this year. But you might.