HHN XXV: FACT VS FICTION

 Greetings, internet dwellers. It's positively mind-boggling to believe that news for HHN XXV, is already out there. Truth be told, the first piece of news came even before HHN XXIV ended. By Universal themselves. This is also a time of year, where rampant speculation and rumors run amok around the web. I wanted to make clear what the absolute truth is for HHN XXV (so far). I'll try and sort out some of the myths floating around out there, and shed some light on early speculation.  

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THE FOLLOWING IS just rumor

JACK THE CLOWN IS THE ICON FOR HHN XXV

• This is utter nonsense right now. While it is true that the first original Icon for HHN popped up in Universal's "thank you" video for HHN XXIV, he is at this point, not the Icon. Yes, common sense says Jack will probably show up at some point in some capacity (along with past Icons given it's the 25th anniversary), but nothing has been said about his, or other Icon's returning to the event. If you are really cynical, one can even say that Jack showing up in the "thank you" vid, was just a marketing ploy to generate hype for the 25th anniversary. Doesn't mean he will show up at all for HHN XXV. 

AMERICAN HORROR STORY WILL REPLACE THE WALKING DEAD

• Again, utter nonsense at this point. I had someone tell me this the other day. Rumors suggest that Universal has indeed been trying to get American Horror Story at HHN for a few years now. Supposedly, they came very close last year, but couldn't come to an agreement with Fox over the content. 

THE WALKING DEAD IS RETURNING

• If one is to believe that three year contract rumor, HHN XXIV would have been the last year for those pesky zombies. Truth be told, rumblings of The Walking Dead actually doesn't surprise me. From a sheer business standpoint, bringing back The Walking Dead makes all the sense in the world. The show is still immensely popular, and the property has been extremely successful for HHN. It brings people to the event. 

ALFRED HITCHCOCK IS COMING

• I was talking to someone the other day, and they asked me if I had heard that Hitchcock would have a House at HHN XXV. They were under the impression that Hitch was definitely coming. He read it on the internet. Yeah, not true. At least, not at this point. On a personal note, I would actually really love this to happen. 

HHN XXV WILL HAVE 9 HOUSES

• The same person during the Hitchcock conversation, said this to me as well. Just like Hitch, this is also not currently true. I have even heard someone say that HHN XXV will have TEN Houses. While I personally believe that it is time to add at least one more House to the event, you also have to think about logistics. Where would they put it? Add another Sprung Tent? Use the Parade Building for two Houses? Split another Soundstage? Use two parks? Which brings me to...

HHN XXV WILL BE IN TWO PARKS

• This pops up every year. Someone on some message board is absolutely adamant that the event will be in both parks. Every year, someone is wrong and made to look like a fool. Truth be told, having the event in both parks is pretty expensive for Universal to do. If you look at 2004, technically, the event wasn't even in both parks, but half of each. You can't have anything in Seuss Landing either, and now you have Hogsmeade, which you can't have anything in as well. So the question becomes, why bother? I even read the other day someone say there will be a "dual event". One HHN at IOA, and another separate event at the Studios. 99.9% sure that aint happening.

INSERT FANBOY DREAM HOUSE HERE

• Ghostbusters is coming. The Exorcist is coming. Freddy VS Jason is coming, Killer Klowns From Outer Space is coming...And so on. Ghostbusters gained steam last year, as it was the 30th anniversary and supposedly was a House that Mike Aiello has wanted to do for a while. It recently gained buzz again when a fake photo surfaced of an HHN XXV House treatment, with Ghostbusters in the title.

INSERT MOVIE CROSS PROMOTION HOUSE HERE

• We know HHN likes to do this. One of Universal's upcoming Horror films being featured as a House at the event, is not new. Every year though, every Horror film seems to be coming as a House (and not just a Universal properties either). This year's list includes but is not limited to: The Conjuring 2, Insidious 3, As Above So Below (which came out last year), The Purge, Mama (which came out in 2013), Crimson Peak, Ouija, Paranormal Activity, the above mentioned The Exorcist, and a few others. Last year, there were a few people adamant that The Exorcist was indeed coming, as well as The Conjuring spin-off Annabelle being what we now know was Dollhouse of the Damned. 

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THE FOLLOWING IS FACT

THE DATES

• With that "thank you" video, Universal revealed the dates for HHN XXV, before HHN XXIV ended. I personally have never seen them do that so freaking early. We know the event starts on September 25th, and will run on select nights though October 31st.

PLANNING HAS BEGUN AND BEGAN EARLY

• With the early reveal of what the dates for HHN XXV would be, it's obvious early planning started before HHN XXIV ended. Mike Aiello Tweeted the other day as well, that HHN XXV is "taking shape". 

ONE HOUSE CONCEPT IS ALREADY DONE

• The HHN Orlando Twitter feed, recently tweeted out an image of the first House treatment for HHN XXV. What it is, we don't know, but one treatment is indeed done. The feed also revealed that the second treatment is currently underway. Based on the tweet, the second House they are working on, may be something returning from the past. 

STREET EXPERIENCE

• Back in December, the HHN Twitter feed tweeted a picture of what appeared to be, a concept for an HHN XXV Scare Zone/Street Experience.

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  While it is entirely possible some of the current rumors will turn out to be true, they are just that at this point: rumors. And even still, stuff can change in an instant with HHN. Even if they have stuff locked down and done. With this being the 25th anniversary, there will probably be a lot of crazy conjecture and rumor floating around out there, until we get something more concrete in the Spring. Truth be told, it is just so early to really say anything at all.  
  Until next time HHN fans.

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