UniversalParksBlog News for June 29th, 2025
How much happened at Universal Studios this past week?
Well, I’m publishing consecutive weeks of UniversalParksBlog News for the first time since early in the pandemic.
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That tells you a lot about all the excitement. We’re talking about new Houses AND new theme parks!
Please allow me to explain all the thrilling news we just learned about Universal’s theme parks.
Coming Soon…to Chicago?!
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I’ve been watching WGN since the 1980s. So, I am VERY excited to cite them for the first time in my 30-year career as a journalist.
Here’s the story, and your eyes will bulge when you read it. Universal Destinations & Experiences has confirmed a new theme park!
Photo: Universal
This location, a Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) project, will debut in 2027, which means we’re just two years from its debut!
That’s amazing for something we didn’t even know existed a couple of weeks ago!
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It’s the benefit of Universal’s decision to license the HHN brand.
In case you haven’t guessed, this project is similar to the one in Las Vegas. It’s Universal Horror Unleashed.
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One is coming to Chicago in 2027, and it’ll be easy to find on 700 West Chicago Avenue in a 114,000 square-foot building.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Universal Horror Unleashed, the Las Vegas version will debut in six weeks.
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So, you can learn more on August 14th, although I hope to have sneak preview information for you sooner than that.
The gist is that it’ll host a series of permanent installations of popular Houses.
Photo: Universal
Universal previously announced the following Houses: The Exorcist: Believer, Scarecrow: The Reaping, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Universal Monsters.
There’s also a bar called Jack’s Alley, and yes, that’s based on HHN’s signature character, Jack the Clown.
Universal hasn’t confirmed any new houses yet, but it promised “a world-class horror attraction and entertainment destination.”
Remarkably, construction will begin in early 2026, meaning we’re only six months or so away from the project’s start.
Speaking of Houses
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If you’ve been reading UniversalParksBlog this week – and you always should! – you know that Universal has confirmed several Houses.
These are the anchor installations for Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando Resort (UOR).
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In last week’s update, I mentioned the four Houses that Universal had confirmed by that point.
Now, that total has doubled, as Universal announced four more Houses over the past week.
Spectrum News
Some of them have intriguing names. For instance, there’s Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters!
That kinda sounds like a Supernatural story, doesn’t it? Well, you won’t have Sam and Dean to save you.
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Instead, you’re trapped in an Old West town, and there’s an unfortunate infestation of “Red-hot lava demons.” That can’t be good.
While the illustrations for Hatches and Chains are amazing, I’m more excited about Dolls: Let’s Play Dead.
Death Eater
To me, this one sounds like some sicko at Universal thought, “Let’s turn Andry’s room in Toy Story into a slasher film.” And I’m here for it.
Universal describes it as: You’re about to become doll-sized and be hunted by toys that have been burnt, melded, and stitched together by a twisted little girl.”
Two More Houses
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So, yeah. That’s riffing on Toy Story. As for the third House, the name will grab you. It’s Grave of Flesh!
Universal is just picking the best names and elevator pitches these days, isn’t it? Thankfully, that works for me.
Anyway, Grave of Flesh! features the following description:
Photo: Universal
“Welcome to your funeral, where things are about to go from bad to worse.
You’ll enter your grave and then the underworld, where flesh-eaters who feed on the dead will hunt you for all eternity.”
I hate when that happens. But it still doesn’t sound as rough as the final House Universal revealed.
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Meet Galkyn: Monsters of the North. Judging from the picture, I guess winter is coming, as it looks like the Night Queen and a direwolf.
Well, it’s close enough. The story indicates the following:
Credit: Universal
“In a remote northern village, a wicked being rises from the dead with a horde of monsters. Try to escape the belly of the beast.”
So, I guess that’s supposed to be a banshee rather than the Night King’s bride/successor. Anyway, she’s terrifying.
Photo: Universal
To a larger point, that’s five original stories announced for this year’s Houses. And Universal says that’s it.
With three Houses based on IP revealed already, the other two will apparently be known brands as well.
Halloween Horror Nights
I guess Universal prefers a 50/50 split this year as opposed to leaning more heavily on new stories.
Also, I’ll point out that we don’t know the Universal Classic Monsters House yet. I guess they’re saving that one until last.
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Finally, Universal Studios Hollywood announced a new House as well, but it has a familiar name.
You’ll encounter Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America. This year’s terrifying freaks are La Llorona, La Muelona and La Siguanaba.
Stay Tuned This Week
The only big story this week qualifies more as a “stay tuned!”
On July 3rd, England’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will consider a proposal.
Photo: Universal Orlando
You can probably guess the topic. Yup, it’s the upcoming theme park coming to the outskirts of London.
Alicia Stella of Theme Park Stop has highlighted a post showing the official presentation documents.
BIG UNIVERSAL UK NEWS
It is possible we see our first official plans THIS WEEK for the Universal Studios theme park project in the UK, as a consultation on plans, drawings, Environmental Statement, and other associated documents will be submitted July 3rd! pic.twitter.com/9tIU5frdIu— Alicia Stella (@AliciaStella) June 28, 2025
The consultation on this project that begins on July 3rd will end on August 31st. However, that’s not the key takeaway here.
What matters is that these documents are about to be a matter of public record in England.
Photo:universal
So, UniversalParksBlog and many other sites should have access to this information later in the week.
At that point, we may have a better idea of specific plans for the Universal Studios theme park in England.
Photo: Universal Parks and Resorts
I say maybe because some public documents provide more specificity than others.
But there’s a chance that this entire project gets real this week. We could feasibly even learn about some themed lands.
That’s why you must stay tuned!
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Feature Photo: Universal
