Jim Henson Company Brings Five Nights at Freddy’s to Life at Halloween Horror Nights. Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is set to unleash a new level of terror with its latest haunted house, a collaboration that sees the iconic world of Five Nights at Freddy’s brought to life by the legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The partnership promises to deliver the most intricate animatronics ever seen at the event. In a recent report from Hollywood Reporter, we are learning more and more about the upcoming experience.
Learn more about Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando. Including Hamikuma’s arrival in the US theme Parks, and the new Terrifier House!
The decision to bring in the Henson team was sparked at the 2023 “Blumhouse: Behind the Screams” showcase. There, the sheer scale and detail of the eight-foot-tall animatronics inspired Halloween Horror Nights creative director John Murdy to make a bold move. Murdy realized that “the only possible way to do this is with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.” This led to a “divide and conquer” effort, with the Hollywood team leading the creation of what Murdy calls “the most complicated animatronic figure that we’ve ever done.”
The collaboration between Universal and the Jim Henson Company allowed for a variety of scares. While some of the characters are fully animatronic, others are puppeteered, and some are cleverly designed to move in a way that makes guests believe they are costumes. This variety ensures that the characters will not only be impressive but also durable enough to withstand the entire run of the event. As Murdy notes, “For our application, it’s about how we create something that can sustain the amount of time it is in front of our guests and the length of time that our event is open.”
The house itself is a meticulous one-for-one recreation of the film’s pizzeria, complete with the dilapidated showroom, kitchen, janitor’s closet, and a detailed security room. Guests will witness a fully animated Freddy Fazbear, just as he would appear in the movie or video game.
Beyond the advanced animatronics, the attraction will also incorporate the human element of the horror. Murdy teases that guests will encounter the ghostly children who possess the animatronics, as well as the gruesome fates of other characters from the film. This blend of cutting-edge technology and classic horror storytelling ensures a truly immersive and terrifying experience.
Jim Henson Company Brings Five Nights at Freddy’s to Life at Halloween Horror Nights
Five Nights at Freddy’s – You wouldn’t last one night at Freddy’s, let alone five. You’re about to start the night watch at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, where nothing is what it seems. You’ll be hunted by the deadly animatronics Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy as you flee through creepy, abandoned hallways. You’ll even encounter the ghosts in the machines.
