We all know the details: On May 22nd, 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will be opening the gates to a brand new universe of adventure – Epic Universe, the first major theme park to open in Orlando after nearly 30 years, following its closest sibling, Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999.
Of the five featured lands we expect to see within Epic Universe, one of them – Dark Universe – is a tribute to the classic Universal Monsters that put the film studio on the map back in the 1930s, with timeless films such as the 1931 adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Both of these films became classics and set the tone for what the horror genre would eventually become today.
And in the more than a century since the inception of the feature-length horror film (which, realistically, started with the studio’s adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923, almost 10 years before Dracula or Frankenstein made a name for themselves on the silver screen!) the horror genre has exploded into something almost unrecognizable from those original tales of monsters and misery.
The horror genre is a behemoth of pop culture, and Universal certainly seems intent on blending the classic art of the horror film with the modern perception of what horror is, in a intricately themed land with a rich narrative where these Universal Monsters legends collide with the modern world of themed entertainment.
Among the attractions housed in this land, it’s long been public knowledge that the headliner attraction of Dark Universe would be an incredibly high-tech and immersive horror experience. We’ve been given snippets here and there over the months of Universal teasing fans with footage, concept art, and detailed 3D renderings of these beautiful new lands, but for the first time since the announcement of Dark Universe, Universal Orlando Resort has finally given us an official look at the breathtaking artistry and technology that is being employed this this industry-changing theme park.
Universal has released images of four of the numerous animatronics that will be featured in Dark Universe’s headliner attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, in which guests will meet Dr. Victoria Frankenstein – the great-great-granddaughter of the reviled Henry Frankenstein – in her quest to control the monsters themselves.
This is the infamous, dangerous, and cunning Count Dracula, a character that guests will meet at multiple points throughout Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. As Dr. Victoria Frankenstein strives to control the monsters of Darkmoor, she finds Dracula to be a particularly nasty challenge; this overgrown mosquito is the most dangerous monster of Darkmoor, and the catalyst for the enraged monsters that cause Dr. Frankenstein’s experiment to go awry during guests’ visit to her mansion.
The Modern Promethus himself! Frankenstein – or, if we’re being pedantic, Frankenstein’s Monster – stands at nine feet tall and weighs over eight hundred pounds. An amalgam of harvested body parts, Frankenstein’s Monster is described quite differently from the Hollywood depiction that became so famous, though certainly no less ghastly.
This animatronic will first be encountered in the queue of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and will be seen walking – yes, that is how Universal has described this animatronic, actually walking! – through the pre-show held within Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s lab.
Animatronics that walk under their own power are nothing new, of course. Elektro the Moto-Man dates all the way back to the 1937 World’s Fair, but suffice to say that dear old Elektro isn’t exactly going to be outperforming Frankie, here. Humanoid robots – and subsequently, humanoid animatronics used in the themed entertainment industry – have seen incredible advancements in recent years, allowing for safe and autonomous movement that create an unprecedented level of immersion.
The Wolfman – who appears to be swiping downwards at unlucky passerby in these photos released by Universal Orlando Resort – is another gruesome beast guests will encounter in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. If you can escape his snarling jaws and razor-sharp claws, you may live to tell the tale, and even go on to ride the other major attraction housed within Dark Universe: Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning coaster where guests will race through a darkened forest to escape a ravenous pack of werewolves before they, too, fall victim to the curse.
The final monster that has been shared with us is perhaps the freakiest of the bunch! The 1954 Universal film Creature from the Black Lagoon has given us this “gill-man,” who lurks in the lagoon, rising from the inky waters as Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s experiment goes haywire.
These animatronics will some of the most advanced and detailed monsters we’ve ever had the honor of coming face-to-face with – but don’t worry! If you’re not ready to tackle Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment just yet, you can still get your fill of monstrous fun. Frankenstein’s Monster and his Bride will be available to meet outside of the ride, in the village of Darkmoor, along with some other creepy character, like Ygor, The Invisible Man, monster hunters, and bards eager to regale you with tales of horror and hubris.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the village of Darkmoor, and all of Dark Universe open May 22nd, 2025 along with the grand opening of Epic Universe. While details of what awaits guests deep within the catacombs of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s mansion are still being kept secret, we’re certain that all of Dark Universe and this incredible flagship attraction is going to change the way many guests see attractions and themed entertainment as a whole.
For more information about these cutting edge animatronics – including video of these figures moving – check out this promotional video covering the details below:
