One of the largest and most robust collaborations I've been involved in was with Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights 2023 for the new Haunted House based on The Last of Us. This event stands as one of the biggest Halloween and horror celebrations across Theme Parks and Attractions globally. It presented The Last of Us franchise with the opportunity to fully embrace its horror elements and craft a truly unique experience.
The First Video Game Property in Halloween Horror Nights’ HISTORY
Given the wild success of The Last of Us franchise across games, music, and a TV adaptation, we aimed to expand its reach onto a whole new platform: live action.
In close collaboration with Universal’s horror team, our objective was to encapsulate a section of the game into an intense, up-close, and terrifying jump-scare experience.
Deep Dive into Horror
This was the first time in the franchise’s history that we could play in the horror genre, fully. We meticulously approached all brand materials, aiming for the most classic horror treatments feasible while preserving the essence of the game's Action Adventure Survival storytelling.
In my role as the art and creative director for Naughty Dog’s contributions, I spearheaded all creative developments related to The Last of Us: overseeing marque artwork, marketing collateral, trailers, fabrication, costuming, food and beverage, merchandise, as well as collaborating on the design of the haunted house with Universal’s Senior Director.
Universal’s Senior Director: Mike Aiello Creative Director: Joshua Bradley 3D Modeling: Sabrina Phillips & Eric Baldwin Lighting Artist: Leandro Amaral & Haley Jones Compositing: Universal Creative Team
An authentic Experience
Through our close collaboration with Universal’s horror team, we brought to life the harrowing journey of Ellie and Joel as they ventured from Pittsburgh into the outskirts of a sewer village. Translating one of the most eerie and jump-scare laden segments of the video game felt like a natural fit.
We crafted iconic moments, revealing the ruthless nature of the Hunter factions within their butcher shop garage, descending through an elevator shaft into a hotel's ominous basement, navigating flooded floors with failing power generators, and culminating in a nerve-wracking encounter with a horde of infected, leading to a terrorizing bloater.
