Author - Jerry Paxton

Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines Haunted House Announced for Horror Nights

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights debuts the all-original haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” headlined by an all-female assemblage of classic Universal Monsters – The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London and the undead, mummified Egyptian princess Anck-Su-Namun  beginning Friday, August 30 at Universal Orlando Resort and on Thursday, September 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” haunted houses will introduce guests to an all-new terrifying storyline, as they find themselves in the center of the ultimate battle between two unexpected alliances of classic female Universal Monsters. Fans will encounter Saskia Van Helsing, a new fearless huntress and daughter of revered Abraham Van Helsing – who killed Count Dracula by driving a stake through his heart and destroying his reign of terror. Saskia now faces Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya, who arose from the dead to seek revenge for her father and destroy the Van Helsing bloodline. With a mission to kill, Dracula’s daughter, from 1936’s Dracula’s Daughter, forms a deadly alliance with the She-Wolf, inspired by the 1946 film She-Wolf of London, and Anck-Su-Namun, from the 1932 film The Mummy – only to be intercepted by Saskia and an unlikely ally, The Bride of Frankenstein. The terrifying adventure will take guests on a journey between the hunted and the hunters in a life and death battle with only one bloodline left to survive.

As the movie studio that invented the horror film genre, this haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood will have even more relevance as it will reside within legendary Sound Stage 12 on the studio back lot, the original filming location for such Universal horror movies as Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), among others revered classic and contemporary films.

The return of the Universal Classic Monster haunted house also reunites GRAMMY® Award-winning musician SLASH with Universal Studios Hollywood in a collaboration that spans six seasons of Halloween Horror Nights. Once again, SLASH will compose an original score for this all-new haunted house, and the score will be featured along with his past original compositions on a limited-edition vinyl album that will be sold at Universal Studios Hollywood throughout the run of the event.

At Universal Orlando Resort, Emmy®-nominated composer Sara Barone will create an original score for this all-new haunted house to elevate the experience for guests. She recently served as composer for BBC’s “Planet Earth III,” along with Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea, and Amazon’s “Silver and the Book of Dreams.” Barone currently participates in the Universal Composers Initiative. Led by the Studio’s Film Music team and Universal Talent Development & Inclusion, this two-year program provides composers with unparalleled access to the studio process, in addition to exclusive scoring opportunities such as this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.

A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available, including General Admission with savings up to $40 on select nights when purchased online (restrictions apply), Universal ExpressAfter 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket, which provides access to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), in advance of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. event opening time, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. Click here to purchase tickets and for Terms and Conditions.

Tickets and special vacation packages for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights are on-sale now, including single-night tickets and event upgrades such as Universal Express Passes and the R.I.P Tour, which provides Priority V.I.P. entry to the haunted houses. The popular Frequent Fear and Rush of Fear Passes are also available for purchase, which allow guests to enjoy more horror with access to the event on multiple nights. Fans can also get an early start by adding the Scream Early ticket to their Halloween Horror Nights ticket, which gives them access to Universal Studios Florida between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to face the thrills of the theme park before braving the chills of Halloween Horror Nights. Fans can be one of the first to experience this year’s haunts at Universal Orlando’s first-ever Premium Scream Night on Thursday, August 29 – an unprecedented, limited-capacity event that gives fans access to everything they love about Halloween Horror Nights, plus shorter wait times, a selection of all-you-care-to-enjoy food items and more. Additional details on Universal Orlando’s current Halloween Horror Nights offers and entitlements can be found at www.universalorlando.com/halloween.

Fans interested in digging deeper into the terror at Halloween Horror Nights can visit the Discover Universal Blog for in-depth stories and updates. The all-new Halloween Horror Nights collection is available for purchase at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as online at http://shop.universalorlando.com.

Additional details about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort will be revealed soon.

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Title Sequence Revealed

During the TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES panel earlier today at San Diego Comic Con, Paramount+ revealed the official main title sequence for the series. The sequence is composed by EMMY® nominee, Matt Mahaffey, known for his work on Sanjay and Craig, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie and much more.

From the studios of the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers onto the streets of NYC. Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey are faced with new threats and team up with old allies to survive both teenage life and villains lurking in the shadows of the Big Apple. The series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures.

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES is executive produced by Chris Yost (The Mandalorian, Thor: Ragnarok) and Alan Wan (Blue Eye Samurai, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2012 Series]). Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Series Animation, Nickelodeon, and Nikki Price, Director of Development and Executive in Charge of Production.

In addition to the upcoming new series, stream all things Turtles on Paramount+.

Transformers One SDCC Hall H Panel Images

Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree henry and Keegan-Michael Key joined director Josh Cooley and producer lorenzo di bonaventura to kick off San Diego Comic-Con! TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.

Knott’s Scary Farm 2024 Tickets Go On-Sale July 26th

Knott’s Scary Farm is Southern California’s longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event. Starting Friday July 26, tickets go on sale for a frightful experience that has left no tomb unearthed, no crypt unrattled and no fear untouched. This year’s terror-filled lineup runs on select nights from September 19 through November 2. For those counting, that’s 31 fearful nights of horror!

This anniversary’s lineup includes 10 frightening mazes, 5 sinister scare zones and 4 hair-raising shows. Guests can expect to experience their worst nightmare as the most horrendous monsters await around every corner ready to turn you into their next victim. Those looking to unleash their inner monster at this year’s event can purchase event tickets on July 26 at 10 AM.

WHEN:         This year, the event returns September 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, October 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, November 1 and 2. Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 2:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:00 pm – 1:00 am on select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

WHERE:       Scary Farm tickets go on sale at 10 am on July 26 at knottsscaryfarm.com

Her Universe Celebrates 10 Years of Geek Couture with Record Attendance At SDCC

The 10th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show, presented by Mattel, kicked off San Diego Comic-Con with a standing-room-only crowd as fashion and fandom took the spotlight for an unforgettable evening. Within the first 10 minutes of the show, Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein had revealed her highly-anticipated fashion first – a one-of-a-kind projection mapping dress that blended technology and 65 years of Barbie fashion – and Broadway star Michael James Scott kicked off the evening with an electric rendition of Katy Perry’s “Roar” that had audiences on their feet, singing and dancing. The co-hosts later revealed multiple geek couture looks inspired by beloved Mattel brands, including Barbie, Polly Pocket, Hot Wheels, and Uno.

Twenty-five designers unveiled their extraordinary creations throughout the night, each inspired by iconic fandoms and pop culture figures, including Barbie, Beetlejuice, Magic 8 Ball, Monster High, Popples and more. From intricate craftsmanship to boundary-pushing designs, every look celebrated the power of imagination, with many also honoring milestone anniversaries, including 65 years of Barbie, 35 years of Polly Pocket, and nearly 80 years of Mattel.

This year’s winning designers, who will receive the opportunity to design a fashion collection with Her Universe AND, in celebration of the 10th-anniversary show, will each win $10,000, are below:

Judges winner – Wes Jenkins, Orlando, FL, @artofwesjenkins
Audience winner – Candice Miller, Louisa County, VA, @candicedunlapmiller

“It’s been my dream to open up the show with a projection mapping look since 2017, but I didn’t have the right team to help me pull it off—until now!” gushed Eckstein.

To pull off Eckstein’s groundbreaking opening Barbie look, she and show director Jeremy Merrifield worked with a team of more than twenty designers, engineers, illustrators, carpenters, animators, and musicians. The team used a 40,000 lumens precision BARCO projector to celebrate 65 years of Barbie with seven iconic Barbie fashions using a single dress made with cutting-edge projection fabric from AV StumpFL. The eighth Barbie couture look was a pink design created by audience winner of the 2014 Her Universe Fashion Show, Andrew MacLaine.

The fusion between fashion and technology was led by Denise Hatcher, Managing Director of AOA, and Emmy Award-winning director Jay Hatcher of Live Everyday Studios. AOA’s creative artists and technologists, lead by Amara Freshour and Jake Taylor, designed a custom, life-size Barbie box illusion. altrd productions, led by Tony and Ashley Reser, known for their magical projection content on some of the world’s most recognizable architecture, designed custom virtual Barbie fashions and animations.

The opening was scored by renowned music team Nathan and Andrea Padgett, who arranged and produced a moving version of “Roar” for Michael James Scott. The reimagined version of the Katy Perry anthem showcased the era’s music for each of Eckstein’s iconic Barbie looks—from doo-wop to pop and disco to rock. One minute, the audience was crying, and the next minute, they were up on their feet singing.

Polly Pocket also took center stage at this year’s event. Mattel transformed the lobby into a whimsical and nostalgic Polly Pocket experience to celebrate the 35th anniversary. Guests were greeted by some of Polly Pocket’s most iconic pieces, transporting visitors back to cherished childhood memories. A personal favorite of Eckstein’s, the Her Universe founder’s second look was Polly Pocket inspired with a heart-shaped skirt that opened a life-sized Polly Pocket compact, revealing Eckstein as Polly Pocket herself in a look created by designer Andrew MacLaine and the master prop builders at MacGuffin Makers.

Other fashion highlights inspired by Mattel brands included Eckstein and Scott appearing as Totally Hair Barbie and Ken from the ’90s and in matching looks made from actual Uno cards, evoking the style of the ’70s, the decade in which the game made its debut. Michael James Scott gave a new meaning to “fast fashion” when he delighted the audience with his custom-made Hot Wheels suit and coat made by Kristi Siedow Thompson, the 2018 Her Universe Fashion Show winner, who made all of Michael’s looks. Eckstein’s couture looks were made by Andrew MacLaine. Hair and makeup were done by Veronica Nunez, with help from Leibi Carias.

The fun continued throughout the night as audience members won prizes, including 65th Anniversary Barbie dolls, Monster High Backpacks, 35th Anniversary Polly Pocket compacts, specialty Uno card decks, and more!

The Her Universe Fashion Show footage will be available online next week exclusively at www.youtube.com/user/HerUniverseChannel.

Marvel Studios Ultimate Deadpool & Wolverine Celebration of Life Surprises Fans at Comic-Coin

Tonight, in San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H, Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” Celebration of Life was full of surprises for fans. First, fans met Kevin Feige, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Emma Corrin with thunderous applause and then were rocked off their feet by a surprise screening of “Deadpool & Wolverine” in its entirety. After the film, special guest stars Dafne Keen, Chris Evans, Jennifer Garner, Channing Tatum and Wesley Snipes walked on stage and were greeted by a roar from the surprised crowd.

The evening ended with Marvel Studios’ 11-minute-long drone show, featuring 2396 drones that formed the image of Deadpool and then Wolverine. With the Wolverine display, the record for the Guinness World Record for the largest aerial display of a fictional character formed by multirotors/drones was broken. The drone show was accompanied by a specially designed soundtrack showcasing music from “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throwdown in theaters nationwide tomorrow, July 26.

Shawn Levy directs “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.

Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, George Dewey, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.

Razer and Sanrio Partner for Hello Kitty Peripherals

Razer, the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers and Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand behind the beloved pop icon Hello Kitty®. The Razer | Hello Kitty and Friends collection makes a celebrated return with a captivating new range, honoring Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary. Seamlessly blending Razer’s high-performance gaming peripherals with the timeless charm of Hello Kitty, this collection is set to be an essential favorite among gamers and Sanrio fans of all ages. The Razer | Hello Kitty and Friends collection includes:
1.    Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT – Hello Kitty and Friends Edition:
  • Unleash your inner kitty with Razer’s most adorable Bluetooth headset. Featuring iconic Hello Kitty ears and customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting, this headset lets you express your style while delivering immersive sound for your favorite games and music.
2.    Razer Ornata V3 Tenkeyless – Hello Kitty and Friends Edition:
  • Level up your squad goals with the keyboard that clicks like your best friend! Our ergonomic RGB keyboard with a magnetic wrist rest keeps comfort high and APM (actions per minute) soaring for endless gaming sessions.
3.    Razer Gigantus V2 Medium – Hello Kitty and Friends Edition:
  • Bring a smile to your face with every swipe made. The Razer Gigantus V2 Medium – Hello Kitty and Friends Edition mouse mat combines precision performance with adorable charm. Its soft surface lets you glide to victory in style.
4.    Razer Enki X – Hello Kitty and Friends Edition:
  • Unleash your inner champion and game in comfort with the perfect gaming chair! This cuddly companion provides all-day support, so you can conquer epic quests without sacrificing cuteness.
For more information, please visit Razer.com.

Aztecs: The Last Sun – New Demo Developer Walkthrough

Publisher 663 Games is thrilled to announce a new publishing deal with Warsaw-based indie developer Play2Chill S.A. to publish Azetcs: The Last Sun, their thrilling new survival city-builder game for PC via Steam in late 2024.

Prepare to be transported back to the time of the Aztecs, a Mesoamerican culture that flourished for three great centuries, dominating vast stretches of land in the area and creating a society unique in world history. It was a gifted and wise nation, rich in complex traditions and beliefs. Now, in Aztecs: The Last Sun, you will become a leader and strive to make history remember you and your people.

Following an early playable demo released last year, the development team has been working closely with the players and community to gather valuable feedback to support the direction of the game’s development journey. After many months of work, Play2Chill and 663 Games are thrilled to reveal a new walkthrough video showcasing the changes to the deep city-building, survival gameplay and immersive game world. Join Jakob, Krzysztof and Damian as they introduce some of the new features and updates players can expect when Aztecs: The Last Sun releases.

Fans will not have to wait long to try Aztecs: The Last Sun for themselves, as 663 Games and Play2Chill are also excited to announce that a new, updated playable demo will be released on Steam in August. More information on this exciting new demo will be available soon.

About Aztecs: the Last Sun

Aztecs: The Last Sun is a survival city-builder set between the 13th and 16th century CE. You will take on the role of the people’s ruler, responsible for building and bringing to splendour the magnificent Tenochtitlan city-state. This amazing architectural wonder was historically located on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. This in itself will represent a technological and economic challenge as you will have to provide food for your people and maintain a permanent trade connection with the outside world.

The game perfectly combines three different aspects of city management, and you must take care of the economic, military and religious growth of the city-state. All features of the game have been created with great care to make the fun gameplay experience as faithful as possible from a historical perspective. Invest in culture and erect buildings, build mighty armies and make human sacrifices to the gods who will surely repay you when the hard times come.

Aztecs: The Last Sun will launch for PC via Steam in late 2024. Fans can add the game to their Wishlist now.

Follow Aztecs: The Last Sun’s development journey on the official social media channels Discord / X

TERRIFIER 3 Teaser Trailer and Poster World Premiere

On the eve of SDCC preview night, check out the highly anticipated Teaser Trailer and Teaser Poster – Christmas Comes Early This Year 🤡🔪

Cineverse will also be passing out some killer Art the Clown masks on the ground at SDCC, so be on the lookout!

The TERRIFIER franchise has not only been a box office and streaming smash, but the brand – and the newest horror icon, Art the Clown – have become pop culture phenomena. It has achieved a sensational amount of buzz, press coverage and mainstream attention and has permanently changed the landscape for indie horror films, setting the stage for such films as Longlegs, In a Violent Nature and Late Night with the Devil.

Terrifier 3 looks to raise the stakes as a wide-theatrical release on October 11.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Release Date Trailer

NetEase Games is pleased to announce that the remastered version of Shadows of the Damned – the 2011 PS3/Xbox 360 action-adventure title developed by Goichi “Suda51” Suda-led Grasshopper Manufacture – will be available starting Thursday, October 31st, 2024 as Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered for PC on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders on most platforms are now available.

Release Date: Thursday, October 31st, 2024, 12am local time.*
*Release times for Steam vary by region
*Preorder start dates for Nintendo Switch will be announced soon

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered expands the classic with a number of features:

New Costumes!
In addition to Garcia’s iconic jacket, “Purple Reign”, there are now four new costumes to choose from:
Placa Garcia, Ocho Corazones, Demonio Garcia and Kamikaze Garcia

Now includes New Game+ Mode!
A feature requested since the original release, the Hella Remastered edition includes a New Game+ mode! This mode carries your weapons and upgrades over from your last playthrough into a new game, jam-packing those replays with hella power.

60fps/4K Support!*
Hell has never looked so good. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered lets you experience the game in silky-smooth 60 frames per second, as well as supporting resolutions up to 4K, allowing you to appreciate every bone fragment and blood splatter.
*Switch supports up to 30fps; 4K is supported on PS5 / Xbox X / Steam only.

Be sure to check out the newest “Grasshopper Direct”, streaming on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 – featuring a special guest: SotD producer Shinji Mikami! Join Mikami, Suda51, and a few members of the Grasshopper team as they take you on a deep dive into development and conception of the original game, provide updates on the remastered version, and also maybe indulge in a little smack talk:
Grasshopper Direct: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFWi9TS_dV_mSW25RFc6Kg