As we’ve been hearing for a while now, Universal is working hard on a “shared universe” of films for their Classic Monsters division – a group that includes characters such as Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Dracula, and more. Progressing work on the film series is continuing behind-the-scenes at Universal, fairly quietly; the only films that have been announced and are in active creative progress are two separate movies focusing on The Mummy and The Invisible Man.
One of the key characters that could potentially help tie all these different worlds together is that of Van Helsing, the mythical “monster hunter” formerly played by Hugh Jackman in the 2004 film ‘Van Helsing.’ Screenwriter Eric Heisserer – fresh off his work writing the upcoming sci-fi film ‘Arrival’ – has been tasked with scripting a potential Van Helsing film, and during a recent interview he was asked specifically about it. Here’s what he had to say, in relation to if the ‘Van Helsing’ film is still a part of Universal’s plans:
“It is right now. This is early in the process, and it’s evolutionary. I don’t know if that’s going to stay that way. But right now there is an absolute… there’s some cartilage that links it to other pieces, like ‘The Mummy.'”
Of course, any plans for films like this, to be featured in a shared-universe concept, depends heavily on how well the first few films in the universe fare. Up first in the current Universal plans is ‘The Mummy,’ starring Sofia Boutella as the Mummy herself, Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll (another potential tie-in to a different future film), Tom Cruise, and Courtney B. Vance. ‘The Mummy’ is currently slated to hit American theaters on June 9, 2017.
Source: CinemaBlend
Tony Schaab firmly believes that a viewing of ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ should be a mandatory bi-weekly experience – and that a re-read-through of the original 7 manga volumes of the story should occupy every off week. A lover of most things sci-fi and horror, Tony is an author by day and a DJ by night. Come hang out with Tony on Facebook and Twitter to hear him spew semi-funny nonsense and get your opportunity to finally put him in his place.
