Universal’s landmark film, The Phantom of the Opera originally debuted in 1925; now in its 100th year, the film studio has grown far beyond the scope of its first foray into the classic horror genre that put it on the map back in the day. With its hand in projects ranging from science-fiction thrillers to kids’ television and movies, Universal Studios has certainly expanded, and now welcomes millions of guests every year to its Orlando-based theme park. But despite the wide array of media, destinations, and experience that the company now produces, it’s clear that they’ve never forgotten their roots with the Universal Classic Monsters.
Brought back into the spotlight in recent years through the use of the Classic Monsters IP during the park’s Halloween event, the Monsters have been in the public eye more than ever – and with good reason! With Epic Universe opening its doors on May 22nd, 2025, Dark Universe and the village of Darkmoor welcomes guests to face their fears in a land dedicated entirely to the things that go bump in the night. The darkest and most mysterious of the new lands, Dark Universe treats guests to the legacy of the Universal Classic Monsters in a new way.
Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and so many more horrible creatures can be found in Darkmoor – and no matter which legion of monsters you align yourself with, you’ll be able to find plenty of peculiarities for purchase along the twisting paths of the village.
Take, for instance, Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities – a shop located adjacent to the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, where guests can find an array of cosplay items. Blending in is a must when visiting Darkmoor, after all, lest your party be picked off, one by one, by the unseen creatures prowling the town. The more you look the part, the better chance you have of making it out alive!
This isn’t the first time that Universal has tried to help make their guests look the part. Back in 2024, guests were invited to try out a temporary test run of this concept with the Monster Makeover Experience, housed within the Five and Dime on Hollywood Boulevard in Universal Studios Florida. This experience allowed guests to receive complex makeup transformations by some of Universal’s best makeup artists who work seasonally to bring the scariest monsters to Orlando at Halloween Horror Nights.
While the experience is no longer available within Universal Studios Florida, a new version of this experience will find its home within Darkmoor; Universal Orlando Resort has hinted that more details about these terrifying transmogrifications will be available in the lead-up to Epic Universe’s opening, but in the meantime, guests can learn more about the discontinued Studios experience [here.]
In addition to the devilish disguises necessary to traverse Darkmoor, guests will also be able to find commemorative items for sale at Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities. New lines of collectible merchandise as well as returning favorites like the Bitty Monsters will be available within Dark Universe. These cute and creepy caricatures of our favorite Monsters will include a wide array of products like apparel, plush, head wear, and collectible figures. Unlike the real deal Monsters prowling the streets of Darkmoor, these bitty monsters are the perfect companions.
Dark Universe will also feature a line of apparel showcasing all of the nightmarish creatures you had to survive while visiting. Guests can find the enigmatic Victoria Frankenstein, great-granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, alongside her great-grandfather’s monstrous creation and a host of other terrible creatures on this character-collage-styled portrait featuring Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, and The Wolfman. With slight variations, this gorgeous portrait reminiscent of popular 80s and 90s oil-painted movie posters can be found on a variety of apparel and accessories at locations like The Manor Storehouse and the Guild of Mystics retail locations.
Featuring both the traditional character-collage style (seen above, center) and the more modernized comic book style that allows guests a short glimpse into the chaotic world of Darkmoor and the lives of the monsters that eternally struggle for power within this terrible village, this artist’s series of designs injects bold and captivating colors into these traditionally black-and-white stories, producing a stunning and eye-catching line of apparel dedicated to paying homage to the spooks, specters, and creatures that are the cornerstone of everything Universal Studios has been able to achieve over the last century of film making.
Epic Universe opens May 22nd, 2025 – and Dark Universe along with it. So head through the portal, down into the streets of Darkmoor if you’re brave enough to try and get your hands on some of the cursed artifacts for sale in these grim and eclectic shops, and remember: don’t let them catch you.
