Universal may have had two false starts with their ‘Dark Universe’ idea with Dracula Untold in 2014 and then The Mummy in 2017, but you just can’t keep a good monster down.
It’s been revealed that Upgrade director Leigh Whannell has signed on to direct a reboot of The Invisible Man.
The Invisible Man was scheduled to be part of the Dark Universe, but when it crashed for good after even Tom Cruise couldn’t save it, the studio seems to have decided on a ‘fresh’ (well, in the modern day it is) idea of making a good standalone movie without cramming shared universe plot-lines in all over the place.
“Throughout cinematic history, Universal’s classic monsters have been reinvented through the prism of each new filmmaker who brought these characters to life,” said Peter Cramer, Universal’s president of production.
“We are excited to take a more individualized approach for their return to screen, shepherded by creators who have stories they are passionate to tell with them.”
While we here at FTN do love shared universes – the idea that a world is filled with creatures, people events from your favourite tales – but perhaps this is a good strategy for Universal, moving ahead.
“Upcoming titles for Universal’s new monster strategy will be rooted in horror, with no restrictions on budget, tone, or rating, and no expectation that they will exist as part of a shared universe. An insider close to the process said freeing up the characters’ origins and stories to different interpretations will help them appeal to modern audiences.”
If there’s one thing a studio should always aim for, it’s good movies… hopefully this is just the reboot the world of classic monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman and The Creature From The Black Lagoon needs.
Source: Variety
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