My predictions:
99-100% Guranteed:
• Jordan Peele’s Candyman
- Way too much to support this one and the overwhelmingly positive reviews the Us maze had in Hollywood help fuel this fire. Comes out in June which lines up perfectly for home video synergy in September. Plus, it’ll likely be one of the Top 3 biggest/highest grossing horror movies of 2020.
• Universal Monsters(likely Dracula)
- Again, a lot supporting this one. Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman might not have cracked the Top 5 in GSAT’s but it did draw crowds, sell merch, and was positively reviewed. I would bet this returns but with Dracula and another monster in the forefront.
• 2-3 Original Mazes
- I see All Hallow’s Eve returning as a maze and being given the Holidayz treatment. Aside from that more original ideas in general are fair game since Pandora’s and Holidayz cracked the Top 5 in GSAT’s.
Wildcards:
• Beetlejuice
- Personally, I think this is a go. However with Ghostbusters’ negative reception I could see why they wouldn’t do another comedy horror movie, but I also think Beetlejuice is a scarier movie with more frightening imagery. I see this one as a 50/50, and even if it’s not a maze I wouldn’t doubt a Beetlejuice show
• Creepshow
- Wouldn't be shocked to see this return. That’s about all I have to say since it was a good maze and was well received, but I also wouldn’t call it a total lock.
• The Conjuring/IT/Scream/Hellraiser/NoES
- I think one of these will happen. I’m leaning towards Hellraiser since that’d be the easiest one to get since Clive has worked with Universal before, but I really want to see The Conjuring. With Orlando supposedly wanting to trim down their IP count I think we’ll see one of these + Candyman + another IP being shared.
• The Thing
- Orlando’s 30th anniversary means that they’ll likely bring back an old IP of the past as a repeat house and I think that Thing would make the most sense given Orlando’s history. Hollywood has also been dying to have the original movie so it just makes sense. Not too confident in this one but I just think it could go either way.
• Cult IP
- Killer Klowns and Creepshow both proved an IP doesn’t need to be huge to be well received. I think we’ll see a new cult classic IP come to HHN, not sure what but I’m hoping either Suspiria, Black Christmas, or Sleepaway Camp.
• The Haunting(Hill House, Bly Manor)
- I don’t think this will be happening this year but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see it. Hoping Murdy didn’t screw the pooch with Netflix since this show could potentially be the next Stranger Things
Not Confident:
• Ghostbusters 2020
- Maze was apparently received as a dud on both coasts. I thought both were fun but not scary whatsoever and it seems many guests agreed given the GSAT’s. Don’t see them bringing the sequel this year
• The Purge 5
- This one is moreso me hoping that we’re done with The Purge since a year without it was an amazing refresher. The First Purge was a pile of garbage maze that had good scares after 5 years of nonstop Purge in the parks, so if they even have a Purge popcorn cart I will riot. Sick of this franchise at HHN.
• Stranger Things 3
- Orlando basically covered most of what there is to cover from Season 3(although not to its fullest potential). Maze was low ranked on both coasts and I think Murdy will pull another Asylum/Coven with the show. Bummed we likely won’t get Starcourt in a Hollywood maze
• Halloween 5 or H20
- We won’t see H2018 nor Halloween Kills due to rights issues with Miramax but with Dimension out of the way H20 is somewhat available. I don’t see Hollywood going after Part 5 since it has little to no reach but I think H20 would make more sense. Personally I just think they’re done with Halloween for the time being.