Some of my early IP predictions for 32.
The Exorcist: What’s the best way to celebrate the classic 1973’s 50th anniversary? By bringing it back to the event that is the same as 26 with some improvements and an extra scene or two as a preview to the upcoming reboot.
Slipknot: I hope The Weeknd is the catalyst of the music based houses for HHN. With The End, So Far album now out, It perfectly makes sense for Slipknot to go next, going by the original lineup that fans are familiar with the most and also as a tribute to their deceased members. Though, not as big as The Weeknd and Alice Cooper, but the beloved masked metallers from Iowa sold over 35 million copies worldwide, had three number one albums on the Billboard 200, and even won a Grammy. They’re big enough to draw a lot of crowds.
The only problem is they’re no longer on Roadrunner Records (owned by Warner Music Group). If not, then it’s gonna be Dawn FM
Universal Monsters: I’m leaning towards on the Phantom of the Opera cause it’ll turn a hundred in the next few years. Though It’s in the public domain, it’s still technically a Universal property that is a big part of the brand historically. It’s also the Usher’s favorite movie, so you could tie into him with that.
My Biggest Wildcard
Nightmare On Elm Street: It seems like the Slasher icons are being represented one at a time in recent years. Last year was Leatherface, this year was Micheal Myers, and Freddy Krueger is probably next in line for 32.
Haha, was mainly kidding.
As far as actual spec, I’m seeing some Slipknot guesses. While I wouldn’t rule out another music house (I’m sure it moved merch and the synergy the park-wide queue music videos provided was actually a highlight for this year), I’d definitely expect them to lean more into pop. The Weeknd has a tenuous relationship with horror as is, one that I feel Universal probably used as a justification just to get a high-profile artist in the door. Now that the proof of concept worked, I think the horror-adjacency becomes less important than checking off the boxes that:
1. It’s recognizable by the widest possible audience
2. Has merch potential
3. Is mainstream enough to incorporate a big chunk of the discography in the parks’ background music loops
TL;DR: I wouldn’t be surprised to see another music artist…I’d be surprised if it was something like Slipknot.
I’d classify Slipknot as niche unless you’re being sarcastic and I’m reading this wrong in which case nvm.
They may not be big as The Weeknd due to genre differences, but Slipknot is far from being niche compared to some of the bands they were influenced by (Gwar, Cannibal Corpse, etc).
I get they’re not on the same popularity level as the Weeknd or Billie, but they’re similarly big and commercially successful as Alice. Not even Rob was able to achieve it on that type of scale. I think some may not think it’s possible cause they get little airplay on the radio yet they sold millions, streamed billions and played at arenas and festivals as headliners, which I digress.
slipknot is the most obvious choice ( or gaga) but theres always the chance that they say no or something. or that slipknot might want different things that universal might not agree with or something. Gaga might not like the idea,
(the easiest fastest rock house uni orlando could do is Ozzy osbourne or Slash since hollywood did them, so theres already a connection there. those artists already know how hhn works, )
but, realistically speaking, right now the band that fits hhn the most, a band that is very popular today, a band that is extremely related to horror and has horror outfits like slipknot, is Ghost.
i say realistically because Ghost did the end credits song to Halloween Kills (so you already have a connection to Blumhouse/ unniversal and HALLOWEEN that is fresh on people's minds, literally everyone that saw halloween kills heard their song )
and realistically because ghost is super popular and fresh right now, has won a bunch of Awards, they played on the Stephen Colbert show some years ago. and played on Jimmy Kimmel Live! etc.
they really rose to popularity over the years and are very hot right now (their last album received critical acclaim and praise from professional critics.)
And their music is soft enough and safe from non metal fans (more accessible and user friendly that slipknot. Ghost is pop rock, very soft rock) they are one of the biggest bands right now, they toured with Metallica,
you even see a lot of Ghost shirts during HHN this year and last year
Ghost has a sense of humor and dont take themselves as seriously (i could see the singer of Ghost having fun with a Ghost house, ) Ghost has been inspired by horror movies in their music videos and album covers(so theres a lot to use for a house) and their outfits look like halloween costumes already, they really fit all the boxes. it really fits hhn perfectly in every way. and the Halloween Nightmare Fuel show has used their song two years now.
(theres even a video for ghost - halloween kills on the Universal Pictures youtube page, the connection to universal is there already)