Universal Studios Hollywood has announced its new permanent walk-through attraction, based on AMC’s record-breaking television series, The Walking Dead will debut on Monday, July 4, 2016. The Walking Dead depicts the story of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by hordes of terrifying flesh-eating walkers. It is the Number One rated television show among adults 18-49 for the last four years and will debut its seventh season in October 2016.
“After six years of working on The Walking Dead, we have a great opportunity to take The Walking Dead out of the studio, off the soundstage and into an attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood where guests can come face-to-face with walkers,” said Greg Nicotero, executive producer and director of The Walking Dead.
“It’s very exciting to be able to make the attraction as 100% authentic as possible," continued Nicotero. 'We’re getting the chance to utilize molds that were created specifically for the show and translate them into parts of the attraction. We’re creating animatronic walkers that guests will be able to see… it’s never been done before… it’s one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art… and I can’t wait.”
Universal Studios Hollywood has collaborated with AMC’s The Walking Dead for years as a signature Halloween Horror Nights maze. This newly enhanced venture will take the highly sought-after experience from a seasonal, limited time offering to an exciting 365-day opportunity, raising the bar for themed walk-through attractions.
To ensure authenticity of the attraction, Universal Studios Hollywood is partnering with The Walking Dead creative team, including Greg Nicotero and his L.A.-based special effects studio, KNB Efx to develop prosthetics, utilize original molds and painstakingly apply paint and detailing to attraction walkers. The involvement of the creative team will not only inspire the emotional connection that fans will experience, it will be among the attraction’s key distinguishing characteristics that will define it as a living representation of the show.
Coupled with authentic walker make-up effects, sophisticated animatronic walkers, substantially more detailed set design and costuming, and highly recognizable props replicated from the series, The Walking Dead attraction will deliver an uncompromised realistic environment that brings guests even further into the most watched show in cable television history.
The Walking Dead attraction will be located within an entirely new, custom built structure, situated within an expansive building complex just inside the theme park’s main entrance. Due to the intense nature of this experience, the attraction is not recommended for guests under the age 13.
The past five years have been a remarkable time for Universal Studios Hollywood as the destination embarked on an unprecedented revitalization that has substantially altered more than 75% of its familiar footprint to effectively characterize it as an entirely new theme park experience. The introduction of the all-new The Walking Dead attraction continues the theme park’s unparalleled investment in its ambitious transformation.
Universal Studios Hollywood has released a two-minute first-look video that features insightful commentary from Nicotero as he tours KNB Efx, the special effects studio that creates the realistic decaying walkers for the show and the upcoming attraction.
For more information, visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.