Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[saint.piss]

 

[Blysthon]

Who’s guessing what’s the icon next year?

 

[v0latilebear]

Who’s guessing what’s the icon next year?

It’ll be the friends we made along the way

 

[Blysthon]

It’ll be the friends we made along the way

With Michael Aiello back I think, we can get back full into lore of the icons. And with themes that aren’t disconnected

 

[v0latilebear]

With Michael Aiello back I think, we can get back full into lore of the icons. And with themes that aren’t disconnected

In all seriousness probably no icon or if there is one another original. I don’t see returning icons until 2025 for anniversary year.

 

[HHN Maddux]

With Michael Aiello back I think, we can get back full into lore of the icons. And with themes that aren’t disconnected

I mean... we just had that with Oddfellow in 2023. Not saying we won't get another Icon like that (I hope we do!), but it's not like it's been a long time since they've delved more into the lore and had a connected theme for the year (zodiac signs in 2023, and albeit not executed well, there was an attempt have this year's theme be the effects of fear). Heck I'd say ever since 30 they've been actively trying to make the lore relevant again.

 

[Crypt Keeper]

Who’s guessing what’s the icon next year?

I think Surreal & Sinister put a damper on that. Probably won't see an Icon-led event until 2026 for the 35th anniversary and even then, it'll probably be Jack.

With Michael Aiello back I think, we can get back full into lore of the icons. And with themes that aren’t disconnected

I mean, he led many events that had no Icon or a well-established theme. 2012-2014 and 2017-2019. Aiello coming back full-time isn't a guaranteed return to the "Good Old Days", but I'm sure we'll see much more of his touch.

 

[Clive]

I think we can pump the brakes on icon speculation at this point in time. No way to know one way or the other.

 

[Blysthon]

I think we can pump the brakes on icon speculation at this point in time. No way to know one way or the other.

Agreed

 

[TheCodeMan95]

While it would be cool to have an Icon, I'd also be okay if they decided to skip an icon year and just go with a general theme again.

 

[Legacy]

With Michael Aiello back I think, we can get back full into lore of the icons. And with themes that aren’t disconnected

Icons kinda stopped after Mike took over and came back after he left.

Yes, he wrote the story of Nathanial Crowe and Cindy and the Halloween tree, but we don’t actually know WHEN those concepts were developed/written. He could have developed them while the event was predominantly led by Roddy (who basically established the use of icons).

The only icon years that existed solely during Mike’s tenure was 2010 (Fear), 2011 (Luck), 2015 (Jack return), 2016 (Chance, pre-established character). Even by the time 2020 was developed, Mike was predominantly an overseer while Patrick, Charles, and Blake led the development.

So, we don’t actually have a ton of evidence that Mike is a huge advocate for icons… and the icon years he did have weren’t exactly well-received (outside of 2015).

 

[HHN Maddux]

Something I've begun wondering, with there potentially being no Universal Monsters next year, what could our IP ratio be looking like? As we know this year we had 4 IPs (including UM), although it likely would've been 5 if FNaF had happened?

Legacy has stated on Bluesky he's already heard about two strong IPs, and that if what he speculates comes true (which he stated on the Discord server to be M3GAN), it will be a very strong IP lineup, which brings me to the point I'm trying to make:

Could we potentially be seeing only 3 IPs? As we've seen last year and now especially this year, Universal really just needs 1 or 2 big IPs to draw in big crowds. This year was BUSY, and that was with a rather weak IP lineup. Just something to ponder about.

 

[Legacy]

Something I've begun wondering, with there potentially being no Universal Monsters next year, what could our IP ratio be looking like? As we know this year we had 4 IPs (including UM), although it likely would've been 5 if FNaF had happened?

Legacy has stated on Bluesky he's already heard about two strong IPs, and that if what he speculates comes true (which he stated on the Discord server to be M3GAN), it will be a very strong IP lineup, which brings me to the point I'm trying to make:

Could we potentially be seeing only 3 IPs? As we've seen last year and now especially this year, Universal really just needs 1 or 2 big IPs to draw in big crowds. This year was BUSY, and that was with a rather weak IP lineup. Just something to ponder about.

It’s more than 3.

 

[Killer Klown]

I think Surreal & Sinister put a damper on that. Probably won't see an Icon-led event until 2026 for the 35th anniversary and even then, it'll probably be Jack.

The core complaint I’ve seen with them is that they didn’t have enough presence and that the event and the event theme didn’t feel connected enough so I’m not sure if the lesson there is “drop icons and connectivity entirely”.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Universal has always attempted a 5/5 split, give or take dropouts or last-minute changes.

The core complaint I’ve seen with them is that they didn’t have enough presence and that the event and the event theme didn’t feel connected enough so I’m not sure if the lesson there is “drop icons and connectivity entirely”.

Considering the rumors of scare zones shuffling it wouldn't surprise me if the characters got kneecapped somehow. I just don't think Universal can really do the old school "icons" anymore, instead we'll just get more hybrids like Pumpkin Lord and Dr. Oddfellow.

 

[Killer Klown]

Universal has always attempted a 5/5 split, give or take dropouts or last-minute changes.

Yeah people were annoyed/bummed/upset with the 4/6 split so a 3/7 split probably wouldn’t go down well at all haha.

Considering the rumors of scare zones shuffling it wouldn't surprise me if the characters got kneecapped somehow. I just don't think Universal can really do the old school "icons" anymore, instead we'll just get more hybrids like Pumpkin Lord and Dr. Oddfellow.

Oddfellow checks more “icon” boxes then some of the old school icons like Fear and Lady Luck so I’d classify him as a full on icon but yeah I agree, in terms of future icons what they did for him was probably as far as they’ll ever take one again in terms of their overall event presence and connection aside from Jack who they still let be in marketing and what not.