Author: Chris Glass

December 4, 2014 – If you’ve followed our social accounts at all for the past month, or if you listen to the podcast, you’d know that last month one of our editors visited Universal Studios Japan. Spread out over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be covering much of what Osaka has to offer. Some things will be very familiar. Others will be quite unique. Ultimately it makes for a fascinating place that is unlike any other theme park in the world. As the title implies, this first update will simply be covering getting to the park and…

November 18, 2014 – While this site is primarily focused around the original Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California, we felt that other Universal parks deserve some attention as well. We don’t intend to replace them as a news source, but merely wish to highlight developments outside of Hollywood because they often tie back to our park as a guideline for what to expect in the future. Here’s what’s making news this month Around the Globe. » Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights in Japan is now wrapped up, after having a late ending (this year it ran until…

October 28, 2014 – While this site is primarily focused around the original Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California, we felt that other Universal parks deserve some attention as well. We don’t intend to replace them as a news source, but merely wish to highlight developments outside of Hollywood because they often tie back to our park as a guideline for what to expect in the future. » Universal Studios Japan While Halloween Horror Nights enters the twilight days in 2014, news out of Osaka is light, but they are teasing their 2015 campaign, called “Universal Cool Japan”. First…

Update: October 12, 2014 – John Murdy has elaborated his stance on shows on Twitter, noting that shows may return at next year’s event. Having said that, chances still remain slim that Bill & Ted will return to Hollywood anytime soon given his previous statement. October 12, 2014 – As Halloween Horror Nights continues on this year, a common question amongst guests pertains to the lack of any night time shows. Specifically, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure is nowhere to be found and based on recent comments from John Murdy, Creative Director of Halloween Horror Nights, it’s not going…

Editor’s note: As Halloween Horror Nights 2014 continues, Inside Universal will be offering a comprehensive overview of the entire event categorized into three sections: the Upper Lot, the Lower Lot and the backlot experiences. Of course, given the nature of reviews, this article will contain spoilers. For spoiler-free advice on planning, please be sure to read our Survival Guide, First Stab/Early Entry article and VIP Experience review for a complete overview of this year’s event. Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood Occupying the space between French Street and Baker Street is Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood, a maze based on the…

September 15, 2014 – While this site is primarily focused around the original Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California, we felt that other Universal parks deserve some attention as well. We don’t intend to replace them as a news source, but merely wish to highlight developments outside of Hollywood because they often tie back to our park as a guideline for what to expect in the future. » Universal Studios Japan While we have another week to go before Halloween Horror Nights debuts here in Hollywood, the Halloween season recently kicked off over in Osaka. Both their daytime parade…

August 31, 2014 – Earlier this week, the GameStop at Citywalk, located next to the 5 Towers stage, served its final customer. This move is part of a larger “GameStop 3.0” initiative from the company, closing approximately 120 stores of the more than 6,000 locations in their portfolio, as they attempt to diversify into mobile products and close unprofitable shops. Originally an EB Games before GameStop merged with the company back in 2005, this store was designated as a flagship location, often frequented with high profile guests and events, like midnight releases for Guitar Hero: World Tour, or signing events…

August 25, 2014 – First on Inside Universal – Inside Universal has learned from multiple sources that one of the oldest stages on the Universal lot, soundstage 28, is set to close. The soundstage is most famous for being the location where, in 1925, The Phantom of the Opera was filmed. The set pieces were left in there to this day, under the belief it was haunted. As the soundstage is closed, Phantom’s set pieces are rumored to be removed and preserved. The area where the stage currently occupies is one of the largest spots on the Lower Lot, and…

August 18, 2014 – While this site is primarily focused around the original Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California, we felt that other Universal parks deserve some attention as well. We don’t intend to replace them as a news source, but merely wish to highlight developments outside of Hollywood because they often tie back to our park as a guideline for what to expect in the future. » Universal Studios Japan Far and away, the biggest news out of Osaka was the opening of their Wizarding World of Harry Potter last month. After the success in Orlando, it was…

August 5, 2014 – Late last night, Universal revealed that Alien vs. Predator will be the next property to be featured as a maze during their annual Halloween Horror Nights, held on soundstage 747 on the Universal backlot. The Alien vs. Predator franchise is a long lasting 20th Century Fox property that consists of nine movies, countless comic books, and even more novels and video games, and now for the first time as a Halloween Horror Nights maze. The Halloween Horror Nights story begins with a Predator ship carrying Alien specimens crashing in a remote forest, and they began fighting…