Dracula to be resurrected by Universal following the monster success of The Invisible Man
Dracula is ready to get resurrected yet again.
Universal Pictures is considering a Dracula reboot as the studio attempts to bring its ‘Monsterverse’ – a cinematic universe based on classic horror film icons – to life once more after the success of The Invisible Man.
Girlfight and Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama has been tapped to helm the project, based on the classic Bram Stoker novel that has served as the basis of countless film and television adaptations — from the classic 1931 Bela Lugosi production, to the artful 1992 Francis Ford Coppola adaptation, all the way to the current Netflix series.
He’s back: Universal Pictures is again considering a ‘Monsterverse’ with a proposed modern-day reboot movie of Dracula
Popular horror house Blumhouse (of Get Out fame) will produce, with Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay tapped to write the script.
The move on the studio’s part is surely influenced by The Invisible Man, starring The Handmaid’s Tale’s Elisabeth Moss, which currently sits at a very healthy 91 percent on review metasite Rotten Tomatoes.
Thus far, the film enjoyed a No. 1 opening on February 28th, and has raked in $98.3 million, with no signs of slowing.
Helmer: Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama has been tapped to helm the project, based on the classic Bram Stoker novel
It’s a much better resume than Universal’s massive misfire The Mummy in 2017, which starred Tom Cruise and was supposed to herald a ‘Dark Universe’ that would resuscitate all manner of classic ghouls from the historic studio, from Dracula to the Creature From The Black Lagoon and more.
Now, the studio appears to be re-hedging their approach, choosing to instead produce standalone films with moderate budgets that are more filmmaker-focused, as opposed to a Marvel MCU-like sprawling web of tentpole films that are interconnected.
Similar to Invisible Man, which offered a contemporary spin on the classic monster tale, the new Dracula is also being touted as taking place in current times.
Exceptional adaptation: That classic novel that has served as the basis of countless film and television adaptations — from the classic 1931 Bela Lugosi production, to the artful 1992 Francis Ford Coppola adaptation (seen here)…
…all the way to the current Netflix series
Culturally relevant: Dracula has served as a point of reference for wildly different entries in cinema, like the blaxploitation film Blacula from 1972 or the 2014 Luke Evans vehicle Dracula Untold
The film is not yet housed at Universal, and potentially could be snatched up by another studio.
However, THR points out that given Blumhouse has a first-look deal with the studio, Universal is sure to keep the property in-house.
Originally, stars such as Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Javier Bardem were supposed to headline classic monster film reboots for Universal’s Dark Universe, but those plans were scrapped after The Mummy floundered at the box office.
Pickle: Universal’s massive misfire The Mummy in 2017, which starred Tom Cruise, was supposed to herald a ‘Dark Universe’ that would resuscitate all manner of classic ghouls from the historic studio