UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ UPCOMING THRILLER “THE THING” TO BECOME HAUNTED HOUSE EXPERIENCE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS’ HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS

Guests Will Experience the Fear of the Film at Both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights Events Before “The Thing” Hits Theatres

ORLANDO, Fla.,  UNIVERSAL CITY, Ca. (July 19, 2011) — An abandoned scientific research facility in the midst of a vast and frozen Antarctica will set the stage for “The Thing,” an all-new horror maze inspired by Universal Pictures’ upcoming film, at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights events, which begins on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31. In the thriller “The Thing,” paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they’re infected, one by one, by a mystery from another planet.

The new haunted house will offer guests an unprecedented first-hand preview of the much-anticipated thriller in advance of its October 14 release. Guests will find themselves in a series of face-to-face encounters with “The Thing,” an alien creature that can transform itself into an exact replica of any living being. “The Thing” maze will recreate the spine-chilling suspense from the film, confronting guests with the paranoia and fear that comes from being trapped inside the film’s Antarctic Thule station. The shape-shifting alien could be anywhere or anything.  Will they survive?

Eerily authentic, “The Thing” maze will feature elaborately designed and disturbingly real alien creatures and sets. They will match the film’s terrifying intensity and provoke both a memorable and disturbing experience. Universal’s theme parks have partnered with the film’s producers, Strike Entertainment’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman (Dawn of the Dead) to create an experience that is authentic to the film. The sets, audio, musical score, creature and character references are all based on the thriller.

“We want people to live the film and experience the same terror that affects the film’s characters,” said Newman. “Our collaboration with Universal’s creative teams brought the vision of the film to life.  We’re excited for Halloween Horror Nights guests to experience ‘The Thing’ in this frighteningly real way.”

To see the movie trailer, click here.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood starts on September 23 and runs on select nights through October 31.  More information is available at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.