Dark Universe is a very cool concept: a shared cinematic universe where all the classic Universal Studios movie monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, Van Helsing, The Wolfman, etc.) are given a new spin for a new generation and set loose in this horror/adventure sandbox. The first film to come out of that concept is The Mummy. It has the star power of Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, the interesting idea of making the mummy female, and the trailers made it look like an action adventure/horror blast that would kick off this new world of “gods and monsters”. Then, until Transformers 5 and The Emoji Movie came along to save it, the film was saddled with the title: “Worst Reviewed Film of Summer 2017.” Is it really that bad? Let’s put it this way: the Dark Universe’s chances of success are pretty dim after this dull opening installment. Continue reading Movie Review: The Mummy (2017) *Tough Start for a Universe*
Tag Archives: Alex Kurtzman
Trailer Time: The Mummy Trailer #3 (2017) “It Takes a Monster to Defeat a Monster”
Trailer Time: The Mummy Trailer #2 (2017) *The Universal Monsterverse Begins Here*
The Mummy Trailer #1 (2017) *The Universal Monsterverse Begins Here*
Universal Monsters Getting Their Own Universe?
In whether deciding to make this or the story that is going to push me into an uncontrollable rage to the front of the queue, I’ve gone with the one I like. I feel that shows maturity and a lack of caffeination on my part…. Geek Tyrant dropped this over the weekend and it sounds like an amazing idea.
Back in 2012 we learned that Star Trek writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman would be producing remakes of Van Helsing and The Mummy for Universal Pictures. It doesn’t seem like much has happened with those since the announcement. That might be because they are planning something a little bigger than expected.
In a recent interview with IGN, Orci was asked about the Van Helsing remake and he revealed some bigger plans for a monster cinematic universe, kind of like what Marvel has done with their movie properties.
“There’s an interesting thing that could happen at Universal where they have this amazing library of their old monsters and these kinds of heroes, and the idea of trying to create a universe. Van Helsing, and we’re also producing The Mummy for them. We’re kind of imagining updating these kinds of things. You don’t want to just make remakes when you’re doing a thing, unless it’s worthy of being a remake, but when you have an idea for something that can actually be made different and yet be true to what it was. We just had a notion of how to make it modern and have a slightly different tone. It’s not going to be just a remake.”
Orci was then asked what his favorite monster was, to which he replied,
“I love Frankenstein just cause it’s such a twisted, complicated monster. A monster that’s not really a monster.”
Who knows what they’ll ultimately end up doing with these monsters, but a shared universe could be really awesome!
As for the movies mentioned above, Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) was in talks to direct Van Helsing with Tom Cruise set to star. Andres Muschietti (Mama) was in talks to direct The Mummy.
OK? See? That would be awesomesauce! Monsters….working in the same universe. Monsterverse. Trademark: me; now.