Halloween Horror Nights 35 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[Brian G.]

It's more likely we get an original "inspired by" house, if I'm understanding the synopsis correctly without spoiling it. They usually go that route when they like the concept of a property but feel it needs more fleshing out, building an original house around the feeling rather than adapting the source material directly.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The Backrooms (from what I gather), don’t have that sort of ever-present danger except the rooms themselves (and the idea of what could be there, not exactly what is). And those are scary because they’re liminal spaces. That is THE primary driver of the fear (which I mentioned, cannot truly be replicated at HHN); the idea of what can exist in the emptiness. That means that any attempt at a Backrooms house is going to immediately have to work around the thing that makes The Backrooms works. If there are no visible (or extremely few) antagonistic creatures, the actual scares would be… victims looking around lost?

It's an odd beast because the property is half original and half a copy-pasta. There's monsters in both concepts and the large spaces are haunted by vibes. The scares still feel dependent on isolation and space to work, not sure it'll work as a conga line haunted house. But we'll see!

 

[RedRightDan]

$50M isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things.

A big win for a gen-z director with a small budget and A24 for sure. But not necessarily something that HHN is going to bend over backwards to “figure out”

Ok. Tracking to push $90M for the weekend. That’s damn impressive.

 

[grlhowl]

I feel like eventually, they're gonna have to touch the A24 bubble. The question is when, not necessarily if (especially with films like Curry Barker's Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the horizon).

I agree with this, but it's more likely to happen with something like that than with something atmospheric and psychological like Hereditary or Midsommar (both of which people have thrown around for years) or Backrooms. Maybe down the road it could get more complex, but I think something more straightforward, like Barker's TCM, could begin that collaboration.

Also, I agree with Jake. I think many of the suggestions about how they would do Backrooms would either be impractical and unsatisfying as a haunt or would require a drastic change from what's in the film and what makes it such a popular concept. I think an original based around liminal spaces would give them much more freedom. This also seems like a property that a lot of people are attached to, but all have a different view of. This thread alone has had some people say it should be atmospheric and isolating, and some say it can have jumpscares and more overt horror.

 

[Bigskinny0310]

it’s entirely possible that they could work with Kane to establish the House as an episode of his series. The film is merely na episode of his larger story. They could also just do their own original iteration.He doesn’t own the concept. Have them enter a space reminiscent of the original photo and then transition it into a fusion of workable physical scares and the eerie liminal atmosphere. The concept is inherently open ended, anything goes evident by the hundreds of levels people have written about (a good bit of which are not liminal). I don’t think the fans would care if it wasn’t a recreation/adaption of the film. It’s a really rich creative space that I really hope they tackle. It’s a hard challenge. I would rather they swing and miss than see Quiet Place Part III.

 

[Spooky_Bitz]

it’s entirely possible that they could work with Kane to establish the House as an episode of his series. The film is merely na episode of his larger story. They could also just do their own original iteration.He doesn’t own the concept. Have them enter a space reminiscent of the original photo and then transition it into a fusion of workable physical scares and the eerie liminal atmosphere. The concept is inherently open ended, anything goes evident by the hundreds of levels people have written about (a good bit of which are not liminal). I don’t think the fans would care if it wasn’t a recreation/adaption of the film. It’s a really rich creative space that I really hope they tackle. It’s a hard challenge. I would rather they swing and miss than see Quiet Place Part III.

I completely forgot that there’s a new Quiet Place movie coming out. Absolutely agreed, i don’t want another house from that franchise

 

[Clive]

Before you even get into the reality that the Backrooms film would be extremely difficult to execute in the Horror Nights format, we are also assuming that A24 wants to have a presence at Horror Nights.

 

[Legacy]

I’m also trying to figure out how you could merchandise Backrooms, as it isn’t really using any iconography to promote itself except emptiness.

But, ultimately, none of this talk should be in this thread.

 

[Kichkinet85]

It’s Murdy so it’s for Hollywood but this is funny

 

[HHN Maddux]

This was touched on very briefly in the Hollywood thread, but with it getting a photo op at Horror Unleashed already, I could definitely see Obsession getting a photo op in the Wolfman/Black Phone spot next to Lombard's.

I also think giving Albert and Cindy their own zone is a good way to test response… 2027 is 25 (calendar) years since Screamhouse, which was a big step forward in the scale of their houses. Its success was a bit of a turning point for way their house designs went. It’s worth revisiting, but the characters but prove to be popular.

Trying to avoid double-posting, but here's a thought (admittedly might be better for wishlist thread, but I genuinely think this might be what we're building up towards)- The past 5 years have been new Icons, with this year marking two Icons hosting, one representing the 'old' era, and his rival representing the new era. Now, what if these next 5 years have the original Heralds hosting their own years again, starting with Caretaker? Would be really cool.

 

[Legacy]

Trying to avoid double-posting, but here's a thought (admittedly might be better for wishlist thread, but I genuinely think this might be what we're building up towards)- The past 5 years have been new Icons, with this year marking two Icons hosting, one representing the 'old' era, and his rival representing the new era. Now, what if these next 5 years have the original Heralds hosting their own years again, starting with Caretaker? Would be really cool.

It felt like that was attempt after 25. Formally upgrading Chance at 26 and then initially planning on a Caretaker return for 27. The “Our Time Has Come” implies Cindy could have played a part as well. The “success” of the new icons (of which I’d say only Oddfellow was truly successful but they all conceptually worked as intended), means there could be an appetite to revisit the older ones with newer stories (and designs?).

 

[RedRightDan]

I’m also trying to figure out how you could merchandise Backrooms, as it isn’t really using any iconography to promote itself except emptiness.

But, ultimately, none of this talk should be in this thread.

A24 is selling the wallpaper. Take that for what you will

 

[RGMick77]

It felt like that was attempt after 25. Formally upgrading Chance at 26 and then initially planning on a Caretaker return for 27. The “Our Time Has Come” implies Cindy could have played a part as well.

Wasn’t Caretaker the icon for the only HHN documentary they ever sold? The one in 2002? Do they not do those anymore because of the IPs?

Anyways, I thought Caretaker was cool. He reminds me of the guy from Phantasm, but I think any character associated with funerals and cemeteries is easily translated and sufficiently creepy.

 

[EmperorSephirothII]

Wasn’t Caretaker the icon for the only HHN documentary they ever sold? The one in 2002? Do they not do those anymore because of the IPs?

Anyways, I thought Caretaker was cool. He reminds me of the guy from Phantasm, but I think any character associated with funerals and cemeteries is easily translated and sufficiently creepy.

He was yes. I actually own a copy of said documentary. The only negative thing I can say about is that it doesn't include the commercial bumpers that were a part of the TV version. I specifically remember one where it cuts to the Caretaker operating on a guy and he says, "Don't worry, we'll be right back...but he won't." Or something like that. I wish the DVD version was able to keep those, but I see why they didn't.

 

[Legacy]

Wasn’t Caretaker the icon for the only HHN documentary they ever sold? The one in 2002? Do they not do those anymore because of the IPs?

Universal never did its own documentary. Art of the Scare was a Lightship Entertainment production that was funded by the Travel Channel. Lightship Entertainment did numerous Orlando resort documentaries (a lot of Disney stuff), and HHN just happened to be one of their subjects. Universal sold copies of the documentary because they could.

Another documentary hasn’t been done because nobody has decided to do one. The theme park isn’t going to produce its own without a planned distribution method, and the obvious distribution method (Peacock) isn’t going to do one if it doesn’t feel the synergy is a priority (Epic’s opening was… HHN appears to be not so much).

 

[kingcooger]

I feel like eventually, they're gonna have to touch the A24 bubble. The question is when, not necessarily if (especially with films like Curry Barker's Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the horizon).

We have had two Halloween houses that did not tie into the movies that were released the same year AND two Texas Chainsaw Massacre houses that did not tie into the movies that were released either the year before or just a few months after the event

Given that, I just have a hard time assuming that any potential remake movie is destined to get a house based on its most current iteration at HHN

And, by the same token, Universal already has a working relationship with the studios who hold the rights to most of these legacy properties, so when a new studio comes along with their version of the IP, Universal doesn’t necessarily have to work with them when they already have an in with the original rights holders

 

[MilesDriver]

Because, largely, it’s not actually speculation. About 70%-80% of the maps are based rumors that are historically accurate.

Yea I think next year I want to try to make my own speculation map that's based on rumors. I just feel like by the time I hear any rumors that are even remotely correct, there is a map out that's already perfect. I need to figure out a way to get the information sooner.

 

[dscott]

Can anyone please point me in the direction of any posts that explain what happened to the relationship with AMC/The Walking Dead? I presmumed it was something to do with Disney getting involved, but all the spin-offs have been with AMC? Aside from TWD, I wondered why we hadn't seen anything for Anne Rice's Immortal Universe at HHN.

 

[mccgavin]

Can anyone please point me in the direction of any posts that explain what happened to the relationship with AMC/The Walking Dead? I presmumed it was something to do with Disney getting involved, but all the spin-offs have been with AMC?

There was significant fatigue from both guests and creatives after it was featured at the event for 5 consecutive years in a row, and there has been little demand for it to come back again. Also, the fact that the show itself has waned a lot in popularity over the last decade certainly doesn't help its odds.

 

[SeventyOne]

Can anyone please point me in the direction of any posts that explain what happened to the relationship with AMC/The Walking Dead? I presmumed it was something to do with Disney getting involved, but all the spin-offs have been with AMC? Aside from TWD, I wondered why we hadn't seen anything for Anne Rice's Immortal Universe at HHN.

I think the time for Rice would've been right after the Cruise/Pitt Vampire--back before HHN used outside IPs. The other movies flopped hard, and while at least season 1 of the new show was decent, I don't think it had much cultural impact.

Biggest difference is probably TWD debuted when everyone still had cable--new Vampire show is just a tiny streaming audience until it randomly hits Netflix 2 years later, harder to build buzz. But I think even a house inspired by the books could be interesting. As far as I know, Rice never discussed the idea, but I guess it would be her son's call now. At least not a hard "no" like Stephen King, who I swear is going to write a ban into his will.