Actor, Director Diego Luna Collaborates with Universal Studios Hollywood To Create Disturbing New “Halloween Horror Nights” Maze, “La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas,” Based on Terrifying Mexican Legend

Universal City, California— La Llorona, the fearful story of melancholy and murder that has terrified Mexican and Latin American children for generations, will have an expanded presence at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights®” event as Universal Studios Hollywood recruits Mexico-based film star Diego Luna as a creative consultant to design the all-new terror-filled maze, “La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas.”  The event begins on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31.

            “La Llorona:  Villa De Almas Perdidas,” which translates to “Weeping Woman:  Village of Lost Souls,” will feature elaborate sets depicting sites within and around a small Mexican village.  The new maze will tell the haunting story of “La Llorona,” doomed to wander the earth forever after drowning her children in a desperate attempt to win a lost love.  She then drowns herself when this attempt to win her lost love fails. According to the legend, La Llorona’s dreadful, wailing cries—“My children!  Where are my children?”—can be heard eternally piercing the night.  La Llorona’s frail, drenched body lurking throughout the dead of night will invariably elicit unwavering dread from the helpless village inhabitants or maze guests as her presence signifies impending death. 

            Diego Luna said: “Like all Mexican children, I grew up with the story of ‘La Llorona’ and I think it’s a tale with universal appeal. Story-telling is at the heart of all my work and I’m thrilled to have the chance to help present the great ‘La Llorona’ legend in a different kind of medium at the ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ event.”

                Diego Luna began his acting career before age 12 and came to international attention with his performance in the award-winning film, “Y Tu Mamá También.” Since then, he has shown tremendous versatility as an actor, writer, producer and director.  He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for his role in Universal Picture’s critically-acclaimed, award-winning film “Milk,” served as executive producer of the gritty and much-praised drama “Sin Nombre,” and recently won Mexico’s prestigious Silver Ariel Award for co-writing the movie “Abel,” which he also directed.  Diego Luna is currently filming “Elysium,” starring opposite Matt Damon and Jodie Foster.  He’ll soon be seen opposite Will Ferrell in the comedy, “Casa De Mi Padre,” and in the thriller, “Contraband,” opposite Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale.

            Diego Luna is be a key member of a Hollywood horror “dream team” assembled by Universal Studios Hollywood to create the ultimate “live” Halloween nightmare. The team also includes director, writer, producer and actor Eli Roth, who will present the new maze, “Eli Roth’s Hostel: Hunting Season,” rock-horror legend Alice Cooper, who will present the new maze “Alice Cooper:  Welcome To My Nightmare,” and multi-platinum recording artist and filmmaker, Rob Zombie, making an encore performance with his nightmarish 3D world of carnage and chaos in “Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D ZombieVision.”

             “The Thing: Assimilation,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ upcoming thriller, and “The Wolf Man:  The Curse of Talbot Hall,” inspired by the Academy Award®-winning Universal Pictures film will add to the Hollywood horror clout.  An all new terrifying backlot experience, “Terror Tram:  Scream 4 Your Life,” based on the latest installment of Wes Craven’s “Scream” film series, will unleash the iconic “Ghostface Killer” on Universal’s famed backlot, the heart of the world’s most famous horror moviemaking studio.