Halloween Horror Nights 32 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[Parkscope Joe]

This is how I would classify it. Although, I wouldn’t put “Last of Us” as a white whale. Maybe the show changes that but as of right now, it’s just an upper tier property.

It is also a property the creators WANT, too.

 

[Darko]

My only fear with The Last of Us as a house would be it basically being Seeds of Extinction with human scare-actors thrown in. As a fan of the original game (still haven’t played the sequel) they have extremely similar aesthetics. Almost too similar honestly. Not saying it can’t work, just pointing that out.

 

[Midnight Detective]

One interesting wrinkle this year is that the unsympathetic cost cutting at Warner Brothers is a massive wildcard this year and watching it play out is fascinating as rights feel simultaneously more complicated and unobtainable yet somehow plausible this year than ever before.

On one hand, you have WB seriously considering farming out high profile properties to other entities to make a quick buck and on the other hand they are pulling back on tons of things to save money. This seems to have especially hit the non-blockbuster properties that company perceives as having diminishing returns or fading interest. I think dormant IP like The Lost Boys could be packaged up and sold or licensed as a block, while more relevant properties like The Conjuring Universe continues to be developed. I really do not see The Conjuring coming to this event. Heck, even (controversially) IT seems more likely as it might fall into this category as too expensive to maintain but good for licensing. While generally horror is cheaper to make, the strategy seems to be making more profitable "core" IP or blockbusters and shelving the rest, creating new licensing opportunities for previously dormant IP.

Does all that really make IP easier to obtain? I'm just speculating, but I feel like that's the direction they are going. Are we going to see an unprecedented licensing deal under the current management? Very likely. For this year? Maybe. The following year? I'd bet on it. All guesswork on my part, though.

Finally,
Space Jam

 

[Fear2010]

My only fear with The Last of Us as a house would be it basically being Seeds of Extinction with human scare-actors thrown in. As a fan of the original game (still haven’t played the sequel) they have extremely similar aesthetics. Almost too similar honestly. Not saying it can’t work, just pointing that out.

I’ve noticed some had said something similar before about Fallout too cause of Penn & Teller at 22.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

For the gamers, It’s a yes.

I'm a gamer and absolutely love the games, so yes I agree here. I just meant for the general HHN community lol

Maybe I don't fully understand the definition of White Whale.

 

[Darko]

I’ve noticed some had said something similar before about Fallout too cause of Penn & Teller at 22.

I can somewhat understand that but I feel like the tone and look of Penn & Teller was quite different from Fallout. Whereas the tone and look of The Last of Us and Seeds are much closer.

Also I feel Descendants of Destruction this year was basically a Fallout house. Costuming, tone, aesthetics. Much closer to Fallout than Penn & Teller.

 

[Brian G.]

I'm a gamer and absolutely love the games, so yes I agree here. I just meant for the general HHN community lol

Maybe I don't fully understand the definition of White Whale.

White Whale = Moby Dick. The ultimate catch though odds are stacked so you go above and beyond because you know the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[shiekra38]

I think, in general, S4 would translate to a house much more easily than the other 3 seasons.

Maybe I'm wrong, but with so much of the season actually taking place in the Upside Down, it feels that way. Throw in Vecna and the demobats and I think it would be the best ST house they've done.

Oh I definitely agree it would be the best one to adapt, and yet, it would feel a bit tired and a retread IMO

It's a shame that the "darker" season came a bit too late

 

[TheCodeMan95]

White Whale = Moby Dick. The ultimate catch though odds are stacked so you go above and beyond because you know the juice is worth the squeeze.

Gotcha - that's about what I thought.

Hopefully TLOU becomes that after the HBO series.

 

[Clive]

One interesting wrinkle this year is that the unsympathetic cost cutting at Warner Brothers is a massive wildcard this year and watching it play out is fascinating as rights feel simultaneously more complicated and unobtainable yet somehow plausible this year than ever before.

On one hand, you have WB seriously considering farming out high profile properties to other entities to make a quick buck and on the other hand they are pulling back on tons of things to save money. This seems to have especially hit the non-blockbuster properties that company perceives as having diminishing returns or fading interest. I think dormant IP like The Lost Boys could be packaged up and sold or licensed as a block, while more relevant properties like The Conjuring Universe continues to be developed. I really do not see The Conjuring coming to this event. Heck, even (controversially) IT seems more likely as it might fall into this category as too expensive to maintain but good for licensing. While generally horror is cheaper to make, the strategy seems to be making more profitable "core" IP or blockbusters and shelving the rest, creating new licensing opportunities for previously dormant IP.

Does all that really make IP easier to obtain? I'm just speculating, but I feel like that's the direction they are going. Are we going to see an unprecedented licensing deal under the current management? Very likely. For this year? Maybe. The following year? I'd bet on it. All guesswork on my part, though.

To be clear, I have no idea what the lineup is looking like this year, but I think WB's volatility is a very valuable thing to think about.

 

[GentleArt309]

White Whale...... someone say PUMPKINHEAD????????????

 

[Brian G.]

White Whale...... someone say PUMPKINHEAD????????????

I like Pumpkinhead but those 2 words do not belong in the same sentence.

 

[Clive]

I like Pumpkinhead but those 2 words do not belong in the same sentence.

I could see them eventually trying Pumpkinhead as a "we really want to do this niche property" (aka as a supplementary IP, not a planned marketing draw) if there are people on the team who love the film/character. It'd be expensive to do right, though, which is a count against it. I can't imagine the rights are challenging to get.

 

[Fear2010]

Whether if the Monsters house series ends when Epic Universe opens or after, It’s still an annual trend for HHN cause It gets us excited about all the different characters before It opens with the Monsters themed area. Generally, It‘s the easiest IP Orlando could get and do whatever the hell they want cause they can change the formula when they bring them in, and even change the genres if they need to, depending which one is featured.

UM 2019, Bride, and Legends were their own thing separately, but part of the brand. Are they gonna get bored with them anytime soon? Probably not. The Monsters merch also sells too, which is another reason to continue. They are to Universal is what the princesses are to Disney.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Whether if the Monsters house series ends when Epic Universe opens or after, It’s still an annual trend for HHN cause It gets us excited about all the different characters before It opens with the Monsters themed area. Generally, It‘s the easiest IP Orlando could get and do whatever the hell they want cause they can change the formula when they bring them in, and even change the genres if they need to, depending which one is featured.

UM 2019, Bride, and Legends were their own thing separately, but part of the brand. Are they gonna get bored with them anytime soon? Probably not. The Monsters merch also sells too, which is another reason to continue. They are to Universal is what the princesses are to Disney.

I'd just like to see them switch it up a bit. Give me Creature, Phantom, etc.

 

[Horror Lover]

I could see them eventually trying Pumpkinhead as a "we really want to do this niche property" (aka as a supplementary IP, not a planned marketing draw) if there are people on the team who love the film/character. It'd be expensive to do right, though, which is a count against it. I can't imagine the rights are challenging to get.

I could have sworn Pumpkinhead was rumored for one of the 80's-centric years..

 

[Crypt Keeper]

I could have sworn Pumpkinhead was rumored for one of the 80's-centric years..

HHN 29, I think. I could've sworn I saw people on the 29 thread talking about Hellraiser and Pumpkinhead. :shrug:

 

[Darko]

I can’t remember but weren’t the Pumpkinhead rumors more speculation than rumor? Or am I mistaken?

 

[Legacy]

I could have sworn Pumpkinhead was rumored for one of the 80's-centric years..

That was bad speculation on my part and it got out of hand.

 

[Tobias]

I could see them eventually trying Pumpkinhead as a "we really want to do this niche property" (aka as a supplementary IP, not a planned marketing draw) if there are people on the team who love the film/character. It'd be expensive to do right, though, which is a count against it. I can't imagine the rights are challenging to get.

Agreed, and as much as I'd like a Pumpkinhead house, practically I can see Pumpkinhead itself being a Depths of Fear-level pain due to its un-naturally big head. And while I can see a puppet being more feasible a la' the Aliens of AvP, that would unfortunately take away having a tall monster like that lurching and lunging out...which is what I'd want from a house of this IP.