Here's Every Spooky Monster You'll Encounter at Epic Universe's Dark Universe
Universal Orlando Resort's new park, Epic Universe, draws from decades of horror icons, from Frankenstein to Dracula and more.
This spring, Universal Orlando Resort is unveiling Epic Universe, an all-new park that promises to transport visitors to their favorite fictional realms. For fans of horror and science fiction, Dark Universe is the most exciting of these. Set in a mysterious and gothic village of Darkmoor, Dark Universe is will feature thrills and chills inspired by Universal’s classic lineup of movie monsters, given an all-new twist. Before you plan your trip to the Dark Universe, get to know the classic Universal horror films that inspired this epic new theme park.
Dark Universe monsters with their own rides
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is a groundbreaking thrill ride that showcases an entire cavalcade of monsters in all their horror and glory. The plot of the ride centers on the character of Victoria Frankenstein, stated to be the great-granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, the original mad scientist portrayed by Colin Clive in Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).
The character of Victoria is original to the Dark Universe, and her name pays tribute to Dr. Frankenstein’s original name, Victor, as given in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel before being changed to Henry for the Universal films. However, many of Universal’s classic Frankenstein films played with similar ideas of the original Frankenstein’s descendants continuing their ancestor’s work. In Son of Frankenstein (1939), Basil Rathbone stars as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, Henry’s son. In The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Cedric Hardwicke plays Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein, a younger son of Henry. The crossover film Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) features Ilona Massey as Baroness Elsa Frankenstein, said to be Ludwig’s daughter. In the ride’s storyline, Victoria has captured the full lineup of classic monsters, including Frankenstein’s monster, Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, aiming to experiment on them, before they break free, wreaking havoc.
Frankenstein’s monster, played in three films each by Boris Karloff and Glenn Strange, and one each by Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi, was the most prolific of the Universal monsters, making eight film appearances in the classic era: Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945), and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).
In Monsters Unchained, Count Dracula is the mastermind of the monster escape. He appears in four classic Universal films, Dracula (1931), Son of Dracula (1943), and the aforementioned House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula crossover films. Universal also produced the 1936 spinoff Dracula’s Daughter, which does not feature the count himself.
The Wolf Man made five appearances in classic Universal horror films, though only one was centered on him: The Wolf Man (1941). The character also appeared in the crossover films Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945), and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). More recently, the Wolf Man was reimagined for the 21st century by director Joe Johnston in The Wolfman (2010) and director Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man.
The Mummy is another staple of Universal’s classic canon of monsters, with six films in its original run: The Mummy (1932), The Mummy’s Hand (1940), The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), The Mummy’s Curse (1944) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1945). In the 1990s and 2000s, a rebooted series starring Brendan Fraser brought the horror classic into action-adventure territory with The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001), and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). Universal also produced a 2017 reboot of the series, also entitled The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise. Notably, the Mummy series has featured a few different characters as its titular mummy, though the most recurring is the ancient Egyptian high priest Imhotep.
The Gill-man, commonly known as the Creature from the Black Lagoon, was the last addition to Universal’s classic monsters, first appearing in Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), and going on to two sequels, Revenge of the Creature (1955) and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).
Universal Orlando has also teased that the ride features the Phantom of the Opera’s organ, which will burst with flames during the ride. While perhaps more closely associated with the famed musical, the 1925 silent film edition of The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney, was the original Universal horror film.
While inspired by all the classic Universal monster films, the monsters in Dark Universe are all sporting brand-new designs original to the park and will appear in Monsters Unchained as state-of-the-art animated figures.
Another pulse-pounding thrill ride, Curse of the Werewolf sends riders deep into a werewolf-infested forest. Inspired by the Wolf Man franchise, Curse of the Werewolf tells another elaborate narrative that further fleshes out the original world of the Dark Universe.
A Land Filled With Monsters
Beyond the rides, Dark Universe’s many attractions are filled to the brim with horror-inspired details. The dining hall Das Stakehaus is themed after Dracula-inspired vampire lore, with the restaurant being filled with vampiric artifacts and staffed by vampires’ “familiars.” If you’re more monster-averse, grab a meal at the Burning Blade Tavern. Set in an ablaze windmill inspired by the climax of Frankenstein, the Burning Blade is staffed by monster hunters, and packed with their trophies.
Dark Universe’s main merchandise destination is Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities. Named for Ernest Thesiger’s iconic mad scientist character in Bride of Frankenstein, the shop showcases his collection of macabre artifacts. If you’re looking to blend in with the denizens of Darkmoor, the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience allows you to transform into your favorite Universal monster amid Dr. Pretorius’ old laboratory. Whether you choose to stay human or become a monster yourself, you can wander the streets of Darkmoor and meet your favorite monster icons, from Frankenstein’s monster and his Bride to Ygor, the villainous blacksmith played by Bela Lugosi in Son of Frankenstein and The Ghost of Frankenstein, to the Invisible Man, from the Universal classics The Invisible Man (1933), The Invisible Man Returns (1940), The Invisible Woman (1940), Invisible Agent (1942), The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), as well as Leigh Whannell’s reimagined The Invisible Man (2020). Like the Mummy series, the Invisible Man films featured a variety of characters taking up the titular mantle, so we'll have to see which Invisible Man is roaming the streets of Darkmoor.
That’s all we know for now about Dark Universe and the decades of iconic monster movies that inspired it. When it opens, fans are sure to find even more easter eggs scattered throughout the land, and even more monsters that we haven’t yet heard about.
Until Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort opens on May 22, prepare for your visit by catching up on some of the iconic movies that inspired the new park!
