Gonna throw out what I call Prayer Circles (which is my own means of speculating), I have a few.
- Chainsaw Man: Chaos or Blumhouse: Behind The Screams takes over the DreamWorks Theater
Two scenarios come to this. The former--would be at least in guessing; the continued collaboration with NBCUniversal's UDX alongside Sony and it's anime arm of Crunchyroll. With Fan Fest Nights having this collaboration already in play, it would stem to reason that it might extend to HHN with a localization of Chainsaw Man: Chaos from this year's HHN in Osaka.
If not Chainsaw Man: Chaos, then Atomic Monster + Blumhouse has The Conjuring: The Last Rites, The Black Phone 2, and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 from the prospective producing groups.
Speaking of Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.
- The Horrors of Blumhouse returns with Atomic Monster lurking
2025 is a massive year with Blumhouse. The benefits of the co-ownership of both Blumhouse and Atomic Monster begins with the anticipated "The Conjuring: The Last Rites". And while I do wish that could mean we try to go for bat on it's own terms...M3GAN 2.0 releases in June, and The Black Phone 2 releases in October.
NBCUniversal/Comcast likes to promote and synergize their brands alongside that of the parks, in any way or shape as they can. With M3GAN and The Black Phone being two of their biggest horror films of the year, it would stand to reason that M3GAN's time as a haunted house is due. But with The Black Phone 2 a month into HHN, I think we will see the two films (plus M3GAN 1.0) merged into a "Mega" house. M3GAN 1.0, 2.0 and The Black Phone 2 feel ripe for HHN.
Could they try to go for 4 films and include The Conjuring? Depends on what their plan is with Warner Bros. Discovery, if they have one. That actually does bring up an interesting element though.
- Warner Bros. Discovery -feels- like a wildcard
In a case to where I think you might have to wonder on gambles, I wonder on what exactly is the plan with WBD. In the terms of the 2024 and 2025 calendar year, they have major films and programming that feels prime for HHN.
IT: Welcome to Derry has Stephen King hands off creatively and producingly, giving them a potential line in the sand to go for a loophole similar to The Shining. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice continues to smash records and rise up in the global box office, and The Conjuring: The Last Rites releases on the first week of HHN Hollywood's traditional calendar period. Prime time to wonder what exactly they could go for, if they go for one or if they go for multiple in one fell swoop.
That's not even considering the Titans, and what they could be potentially able to do with Jason now with Jason Universe into play. I'd say this is the one to keep an eye on.
- Shattering a Discography
This one's my personal dumb hope/prayer of the year, much like how Weeknd was for 2024. I have to think that with the way that NBCUniversal was able to keep Hurry Up Tomorrow from being hidden from plain sight, I think that creates an interesting paradigm that might catch the eyes of multiple major music artists.
Who I'd pick is a vast call, but as we've seen with the past 4 years; they do entice big names that can hit young demographics that would be prime for HHN.
- Metro returns to Halloween Horror Nights
With Universal Fan Fest Nights, the door has been opened once again with the Metro/Cityscape sets returning to Back to The Future. While I don't think this is a immediate lock--locations are locations--I am in the belief that we will see HHN return to the "Backlot" backlot. I think we would've done so had timing of worked out for 2024, and had SAG-AFTRA not of been settled when it did.
This would likely mean the future of H-Lot to be likely finished. Or atleast, done for the time being. As it would for a venue in the Lower Lot...though, who's to say it has to be SS12 that goes?
That be my prayer circles outside of one.
And my current shock speculation - We see no Universal Monsters house next year. But I don’t know what breaks tradition first, this or the Latin America house.
As for the Latin American house, I can totally see one based on Duendes (elves) as there is a lot of lore there, or a house based on the Island of Dead Dolls, which Murdy has previously said is a huge source of inspiration for him.
An interesting tit-for-tat on Latin American houses in Parisian (and I feel it's good in establishing it). In the terms of past conversations, I believe Park Journey had chanced to talk with Murdy in 2023. And he brought up how Parisian has basically become a location that is kind of locked to do one aspect (and that aspect is of Latin Culture) due to the adjacent Dia De Los Muertos Plaza.
I think unless if there is anything sudden, we will see Latin American culture stay in line (which is unfortunate as I'd wish for them to tackle asian mythology and culture).