Universal Epic Universe Unveils Dark Universe: A Horror Lover’s Paradise

Universal’s upcoming theme park, Epic Universe, is set to open in 2025, and today they revealed thrilling details about one of its immersive worlds: Dark Universe. As one of five unique lands, Dark Universe promises to captivate guests with its spine-tingling attractions and legendary horror characters.

Welcome to the Dark Universe

Epic Universe will feature five distinct worlds, starting with Celestial Park, which serves as the gateway to the other four realms: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and the much-anticipated Dark Universe. Leveraging Universal’s rich history in the horror genre, Dark Universe will be a hauntingly immersive experience.

A Stroll Through Darkmoor

As soon as guests pass through the electrified portal, said to harness the dark energy of Darkmoor, they’ll find themselves in a ravaged village teeming with Frankenstein’s monstrous experiments. The atmosphere combines family-friendly fun with intense thrills, perfect for horror enthusiasts of all ages.

Key Attractions in Dark Universe:

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: This ride takes guests deep into the catacombs of Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s attempts to control monsters go awry, leading to a heart-pounding escape from Dracula, The Wolf Man, and other classic creatures.
Curse of the Werewolf Coaster: Inspired by The Wolf Man, this spinning family coaster has guests racing through the forest to escape the werewolves.
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience: Here, guests can transform into their favorite monsters with elaborate face paint and temporary tattoos in Dr. Pretorius’ converted lab.
Meet the Monsters: Get up close and personal with the likes of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and more as they roam the village.

Universal’s Ambitious Vision

Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, expressed immense excitement about Universal’s fourth theme park during a recent earnings call. Describing it as “completely original” and “the most exciting project” since NBCUniversal was acquired, Roberts highlighted the substantial investments being made to enhance the park’s infrastructure. With new hotel rooms and a dedicated fleet of electric buses, the park is gearing up to accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors.

Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe is shaping up to be an unparalleled horror experience, blending iconic legends with innovative new stories and attractions. Horror fans and thrill-seekers alike should prepare for an adventure unlike any other.

Sources:

Universal Pictures
Comcast Earnings Call
Deadline

Catch more about this exciting development on the next Geek Freaks podcast!

IT: Welcome to Derry Finale, Supergirl Teaser, Avatar Season 2, and Game Awards Highlights – Geek Freaks

Episode Summary This episode is a geek news and trailer roundup with a full IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 finale discussion, plus reactions to the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow teaser and the Netflix live action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 trailer. We also hit the biggest Game Awards 2025 winners and reveals, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a new Divinity announcement, and first impressions of the Street Fighter movie trailer. Spoiler note: Full spoilers for IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 kick in during the dedicated segment later in the episode. Timestamps and Topics 0:00:00 Intro, holiday check-in, and California fog weather 00:01:22 Question of the Week: Which classic horror movie should become a modern series? 00:05:31 Streaming consolidation talk and why big mergers worry creators and viewers 00:12:08 Far Cry series discussion and what makes the games work as TV 00:17:05 The Game Awards 2025 recap: winners and biggest reveals 00:25:48 Trailer reactions: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow teaser and Lobo glimpse 00:32:52 Trailer reactions: Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, Toph, Azula, bending rules 00:39:25 IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 spoiler discussion and finale thoughts 00:49:28 What's next: Season 2 (1935) and Season 3 (1908) setting breakdown 00:53:03 Ratings and recommendations, plus network updates and wrap-up Key Takeaways The show dives into how streaming consolidation could impact jobs, creativity, and what viewers pay. Far Cry feels like a perfect TV sandbox if it nails the villain and the escalating rebellion vibe. The Game Awards conversation focuses on what looks exciting now versus what might be years away. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow looks like it's keeping the comic's tone and trauma-driven edge front and center. Netflix Avatar Season 2 has the ingredients, but the details matter, especially Toph's presentation and Azula's intensity. IT: Welcome to Derry sticks the landing for the crew, and the back-in-time structure could keep future seasons fresh. Memorable Quotes "Merging in the end makes a small amount of people rich." "That is such a devious strategy. You almost got to respect it." "How does this story about Pennywise make me feel feelings?" "I need to see bloodbending." Call to Action If you enjoyed the episode, follow Geek Freaks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, leave a five star review, and share the show using #GeekFreaksPodcast. Also keep an eye on our socials for Geekies voting and nominees this week. Links and Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during our podcast. Follow Us Instagram: @geekfreakspodcast Threads: @geekfreakspodcast Twitter: @geekfreakspod Facebook: Geek Freaks Podcast Patreon: Geek Freaks Podcast Listener Questions Send us what you want covered next, including: Which Game Awards reveal are you most excited to actually play? What moment from IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 hit you the hardest? What Avatar Season 2 moment do you think Netflix cannot afford to cut? Apple Podcast Tags IT: Welcome to Derry, IT Welcome to Derry finale, Pennywise, Stephen King, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, DCU, Lobo, Jason Momoa, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix Avatar live action, Toph, Azula, The Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, Knights of the Old Republic, Divinity, Larian Studios, Street Fighter movie, Far Cry series, Noah Hawley, Rob McElhenney, streaming wars, geek news, TV trailers, video game news