The Walking Dead attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood will officially open July 4, coinciding the zombie apocalypse right between pool time and fireworks. The attraction is a permanent version of the park’s walk-through maze counterpart during the annual Halloween Horror Nights event.
But the art of staring off into the distance is also something often practiced on the hit AMC series “The Walking Dead,” the Los Angeles Times reports. After all, the TV show’s characters are forever scanning the horizon, and dark corridors, to see if walkers — those shambling, not-so-alive superstars of both the comic books and television series — are headed their way.
The new Walking Dead attraction at Universal remains a walk-through experience but has been revised and re-envisioned as an enhanced maze with recognizable props and locations from the show. Horrifyingly enough, it’ll boast a combination of actors in make-up and animatronic walkers.
That last part is thanks to Greg Nicotero, the show’s Emmy-winning special effects guru who is now on hand to help adapt AMC’s record-breaking series once again for the theme park, Today reported.
“For me, something that’s very exciting is being able to make the attraction as 100 percent authentic as possible,” Nicotero says. “We’re getting a chance to do animatronic characters that we’ve never done before. We’re getting a chance to utilize molds that were created specifically for the show, and translate them into parts of the attraction. It’s one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art. I can’t wait.”
The The Walking Dead attraction at Universal attraction is being built in a new custom structure right inside the park’s main entryway and just a stone’s throw away from Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest endeavor, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in April.
Greg Nicotero, Executive Producer for the long-running phenom, has headed up the make-up, costuming, and effects for the attraction, along with his team from KNB EFX.
There will also be macabre molds, shreddy costumes, some impressive animatronics, and oodles of details that bring the dystopian world to life.
Running 365 days, you won’t need to wait for Halloween to enter a living horror show for the Walking Dead Attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. As in walkers, as a rule, don’t own calendars, so these stumbling moaners don’t know if it is October or, indeed, July’s most celebrated and festive holiday.
Can you face the darkness in the toasty heat of summer? Will you escape the walkers’ outstretched arms? Will knowing that these famous TV monsters roam a place in Los Angeles, each day of the year, give you the slightest of willies?
Dread Central said you might be scared from the Walking Dead Attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, located at the front of the park, will include animatronic walkers along with real-life actors portraying the shambling monsters. The park put out an open call for actors looking to slowly lumber toward guests.
