Every year, as the fog clears and the screams fade, HHN fans turn into detectives. We scour social media, pick apart closing-night details, and search for the tiniest clues about what’s next. But this time, the whispers aren’t so quiet — and the evidence points toward something big…
Could Halloween Horror Nights 35 mark the long-awaited return of both Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow? If you’ve been following HHN history, marketing trends, and the strange goings-on at the end of HHN 33, the answer might just be a blood-spattered “yes.”
The Clue in El Artista: A Spanish Haunting
Let’s start with the smoking gun — or, more accurately, the signed sheet.
On the last night of HHN 33, guests exploring El Artista: A Spanish Haunting in Soundstage 22 noticed something new: a sheet added to the house’s main climax room, boldly featuring Dr. Oddfellow’s signature.
That’s not business as usual. Universal almost never adds props to houses on closing night unless they’re trying to plant a seed. In the past, we’ve seen subtle teasers appear right before anniversary years — from mysterious symbols to out-of-place Easter eggs — quietly hinting at what’s next. This fits that same pattern.
So why would they drop Oddfellow’s name after the event wrapped? Easy. To set up what’s coming for the next milestone year.
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Anniversary Years Belong to Jack
It’s no secret that every five years or so, the carnival comes back to town. Jack the Clown has been a cornerstone of HHN’s mythology since his debut in 2000, re-emerging like clockwork for anniversary celebrations.
Following that trajectory, HHN 35 (2026) seems almost destined for a Jack-centric comeback.
But this time, things have changed. Dr. Oddfellow — Jack’s sinister mentor-turned-rival — finally got his own spotlight in 2023. Fans loved it. The Oddfellow lore expands the HHN universe beautifully, and bringing him back alongside Jack could be the ultimate anniversary showdown: creator versus creation.
Reason One: It’s an Anniversary Year — and HHN Loves Legacy
Anniversary years at Universal Orlando are about more than scares; they’re about legacy. These seasons tend to honour the icons, revisit the lore, and serve up heavy nostalgia for long-time fans.
A “Jack vs Oddfellow” concept would let Universal celebrate the past while moving the story forward. It’s not just about Jack returning — it’s about exploring how his relationship with Oddfellow shaped the HHN mythos. A house or scarezone themed around their eternal struggle would practically write itself: circus chaos meets twisted showmanship, drenched in blood and betrayal.
Add in the fact that Oddfellow’s signature mysteriously appeared at the end of HHN 34, and it starts looking less like a coincidence and more like a soft reveal.
Reason Two: Cross-Promotion Across Universal’s Expanding Horror Empire
Now, here’s where the business side of the fog creeps in — and where the theory really solidifies.
Universal is all in on horror right now. The company’s first year-round horror attraction, Universal Horror Unleashed, is opening in Las Vegas — and who’s a featured character there? None other than Jack the Clown himself.
With Vegas tourism currently facing a downturn, Universal could use HHN 35 as the perfect cross-marketing machine. Imagine this: an HHN event built around Jack and Oddfellow’s twisted circus, with promotional tie-ins to the Vegas venue, and teasers for the next permanent horror location — Universal Horror Unleashed: Chicago, slated for late 2026 or early 2027.
From a marketing perspective, it’s genius:
- HHN 35 drives hype for both permanent horror locations.
- Jack serves as the connective mascot across Orlando, Hollywood, Vegas, and Chicago.
- Fans get an icon-driven anniversary year that also pushes the brand’s new era of 365-day horror experiences.
Universal has a long history of synergy across its theme parks. Re-introducing Jack and Oddfellow to headline HHN 35 gives them the ideal opportunity to tie everything together.
Let the speculation begin… and remember: the carnival always comes back...