Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood is getting extra zombie friendly this year: in addition to the previously announced “Walking Dead” maze, based on the hit AMC TV show, this morning it was revealed that the “Terror Tram” attraction will also be overridden by the undead:
“Terror Tram: Invaded by The Walking Dead” will expose guests to a legion of plagued zombies in the aftermath of the disease’s cataclysmic spread to the West Coast.
The world of television fantasy will collide with grim reality when “Terror Tram: Invaded by TheWalking Dead” pits guests face-to-face with a swarm of living corpses doomed to stalk Universal Studio’s famed backlot—-the heart of the world’s most famous horror moviemaking studio.
Throughout the rest of the year, the Terror Tram is better known as the Backlot Studio Tour, taking theme park guests into the working, real life Universal Studios backlot. For Horror Nights, the same trams are used to shuttle guests into a portion of the back lot where they’ll be let out to wander the grounds a bit. Typically, this is a path that lets people wander through the Whoville set from “The Grinch,” the “Psycho” house and Bates Motel, and a small town that has been decimated by a crashed 747 jet, a remaining set from the Stephen Spielberg/Tom Cruise incarnation of “War of the Worlds.”
But, as is Horror Nights, the path is traditionally filled with killers of one variety or another, depending on the maze’s theme. Last year it was filled with countless “ghost faces” from “Scream” as well as the La Llorona of local and Latin America legend.
Alas, for 2012, it’s “The Walking Dead,” which really means one thing: zombies. Lots of zombies.
Horror Night’s creative director John Murdy sums it up by saying, “The ‘Terror Tram’ is one of the most popular ’Halloween Horror Nights’ attractions since it’s the only time people can walk on the historic Universal backlot where the horror film genre was born. The juxtaposition of the backlot’s rural setting amid a small town devastated by a horrific plane wreckage complements the TV series’ sets almost to a tee and provides the ideal backdrop to showcase the ‘walkers’ from AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ on a grand scale.”
In addition to The Walking Dead, this year’s Halloween Horror Nights features mazes based on the Silent Hill film and video game series, the music of Alice Cooper, and an original take on the La Llorona legend.
We’re still waiting to hear from Universal Studio’s announcements for two more mazes, as well as ticketing info. As usual, keep an eye here on CreepyLA for updates – and feel free to check out our dedicated Halloween Horror Nights page.
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Official press release:
New ‘Terror Tram: Invaded by The Walking Dead’ Experience at
Universal Studios Hollywood Sets Flesh-Eating Zombie ‘Walkers’ Loose
on the World-Famous Backlot During ‘Halloween Horror Nights,’
Southern California’s Premier Halloween Event
Universal City, California — Hordes of flesh-eating, blood-drooling and groaning “walkers” will infest Universal Studios’ world-famous backlot when “Terror Tram: Invaded by The Walking Dead” comes to life at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights® event at Universal Studios HollywoodSM.
AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has a significant presence at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” in addition to the “Terror Tram.” An immersive new maze, “The Walking Dead: Dead Inside,” based on the compelling series” will also debut at the event.
Mirroring AMC’s critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated, Emmy Award-winning TV series, “Terror Tram: Invaded by The Walking Dead” will expose guests to a legion of plagued zombies in the aftermath of the disease’s cataclysmic spread to the West Coast.
The world of television fantasy will collide with grim reality when “Terror Tram: Invaded by TheWalking Dead” pits guests face-to-face with a swarm of living corpses doomed to stalk Universal Studio’s famed backlot—-the heart of the world’s most famous horror moviemaking studio.
John Murdy, Creative Director, Halloween Horror Nights, said: “The ‘Terror Tram’ is one of the most popular ’Halloween Horror Nights’ attractions since it’s the only time people can walk on the historic Universal backlot where the horror film genre was born. The juxtaposition of the backlot’s rural setting amid a small town devastated by a horrific plane wreckage complements the TV series’ sets almost to a tee and provides the ideal backdrop to showcase the ‘walkers’ from AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ on a grand scale.”
This year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in the living, breathing, three-dimensional world of the most notorious and terrifying creatures. Featuring a slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, terror-filled Scare Zones and a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience, uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with incomparable spellbinding and spine-chilling haunted attractions.
Other mazes will include: “Welcome to Silent Hill,” based on the popular video games and film franchise; a new maze by legendary shock rocker, “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D,” and a reimagined “La Llorona: Cazadora de Niños” maze, based on the terrifying Mexican and Latin American legend that has terrified children for centuries. Additional haunted attractions to be announced shortly.
Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available at Halloween Horror Nights and also on Twitter and Facebook, as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Fans are invited to follow John Murdy on Twitter at: Twitter.com/HorrorNights or via Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood”. “Halloween Horror Nights’ maze announcement videos can be seen at Universal Studios Hollywood’s YouTube Channel.
“Halloween Horror Nights” kicks off on Friday, September 21, 2012 and continues on select nights through Wednesday, October 31. Event dates are: September 21, 22, 28, 29 and October 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31.
AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. “The Walking Dead” is the most watched drama series in basic cable history for adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. The series premieres on AMC on Sunday, October 14, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Universal Studios Hollywood SM, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena. World-class rides and attractions include the intense, award-winning ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons RideTM,” “Revenge of the MummySM —The Ride” indoor roller coaster and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride,” as well as the critically-acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™: The Ride—3D.”
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