My thoughts on why 'the Mummy' failed to launch Dark Universe

[Milk Tray Guy]

When it comes to DC its funny because they can do shared universes great with cartoons and even some TV shows.

The DCAU is basically a template for how to build a shared universe on screen.

 

[Galactus123]

Shape of Water is ironically a great representation of that too, since it is an indirect remake of Creature From the Black Lagoon that GDT wanted to do and Universal denied him.

That was a big mistake from Universal. The creature was also really well made in the movie. I don't see how Universal could do better if they remade Creature from the Black Lagoon. Also everyone would compare it to The Shape of Water.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

That was a big mistake from Universal. The creature was also really well made in the movie. I don't see how Universal could do better if they remade Creature from the Black Lagoon. Also everyone would compare it to The Shape of Water.

I wonder if Universal had known that GDT would otherwise do The Shape of Water they might have let him try his hand at Creature from the Black Lagoon after all.

 

[TheVileOne]

That was a big mistake from Universal. The creature was also really well made in the movie. I don't see how Universal could do better if they remade Creature from the Black Lagoon. Also everyone would compare it to The Shape of Water.

It wasn't a mistake at all. Because of that we got The Shape of Water.

Had Universal let Del Toro do a Creature From the Black Lagoon movie would it have been half as good? The Shape of Water was a beautiful touching film. You know Universal would've wanted something different and imposed changes.

I wonder if Universal had known that GDT would otherwise do The Shape of Water they might have let him try his hand at Creature from the Black Lagoon after all.

I'm fine with how things worked out. We didn't need a Creature reboot anyway.

 

[Silvermoth]

I wonder if Universal had known that GDT would otherwise do The Shape of Water they might have let him try his hand at Creature from the Black Lagoon after all.

I hate to say it but who else could really do it justice and I would have said that even before I saw the shape of water

 

[Galactus123]

I watched Dracula Untold for the first time today and I enjoyed it. It was much better than I expected. I didn't really like the last part of the movie. All the CGI reminded me of that Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing movie. I liked the story for the most part and Luke Evans was good. It would have beem a better start for the cinematic universe than the new Mummy movie. Sad that it didn't do better.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

I watched Dracula Untold for the first time today and I enjoyed it. It was much better than I expected. I didn't really like the last part of the movie. All the CGI reminded me of that Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing movie. I liked the story for the most part and Luke Evans was good. It would have beem a better start for the cinematic universe than the new Mummy movie. Sad that it didn't do better.

I thought Evans was good. I agree about all the CGI - it made me think of Van Helsing too. Yeah, with hindsight they'd probably have been better to try to build from that rather than The Mummy. I'd have liked a more straight horror direction but I guess they're aiming for the blockbuster audiences.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

So is the consensus that the Dark Universe is dead as a dodo? I see the website is still up

http://www.darkuniverse.com/

Nothing in the news section since May 2017 though. Not really surprising.

 

[TheVileOne]

As a doornail. A lot of the information on that website is out of date too, like Bride of Frankenstein stuff.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Think they'll make a formal announcement? Or just let it go quietly?

 

[TheVileOne]

No. They won't make one. Because it's embarrassing. You rarely if ever see a studio make an announcement like that.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

That's true. Fox stuck to their guns for ages that the sequel to the F4 reboot was still on

 

[TheVileOne]

http://deadline.com/2017/10/bride-o...ndon-javier-bardem-angelina-jolie-1202182510/

Pretty much closest we will ever get to confirmation.

 

[samsnee]

Their dumbest move, well out of many, was making this big announcement and doing a full photo spread. That’s just a setup for failure.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Their dumbest move, well out of many, was making this big announcement and doing a full photo spread. That’s just a setup for failure.

Yep, it's as though they never even considered that there was even the slightest chance that it might not take off. I mean commitment is one thing, but that was foolhardy.

 

[TheVileOne]

Their dumbest move, well out of many, was making this big announcement and doing a full photo spread. That’s just a setup for failure.

To me that's the problem with shared universes in general and the way studios tried to make them happen because Marvel made it happen.

And looking at that whole photo, did they even think, "Guys. Do people even want to see these movies of Universal monster reboots with you in them?"

Also, let's be honest. Dark Universe was a stupid ass name for a shared universe about the Universal Monsters.

 

[marty mcfly]

I gave this a second chance today and it was actually not as bad as I remember. It was definitely painfully generic and relied way too much on fairly weak CGI, but it had some good moments and some pretty scary images. Cruise was miscast, but it wasn't a total mess.

They definitely shouldn't have built up the Dark Universe but I don't think it's beyond repair. They just need to actually make a good 2nd movie in that universe and then continue more gradually.

 

[Teelie]

Their dumbest move, well out of many, was making this big announcement and doing a full photo spread. That’s just a setup for failure.

Not to mention tempting the fates. I read an article a while back which sums it up nicely: Never, ever try to start a franchise (or expanded universe) by announcing it before you even have the first movie successfully out the door. A lot of it is hubris, thinking you can make an entire Harry Potter or Star Wars thing happen when you haven't even proven your first movie is anything good. Marvel merely hinted at it with their easter eggs in Iron Man, then they slowly expanded it to become the MCU. Even then they have had a few steps where it could have fallen apart.

It almost always results in the sequels or spinoffs failing to materialize.

 

[Boom]

**** it. I say go ahead and restart the entire thing with Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell as the lead.

 

[Silvermoth]

Oh I would love that. And of course bring back Weisz as Evey. Oh I love her

 

[Doctor Jones]

**** it. I say go ahead and restart the entire thing with Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell as the lead.

Normally I would say no, but with that recent GQ article and everything going on with his life, I'd say yes. I just desperately want that guy to be happy.

Though he probably won't be doing anymore of his own stunts.

I recommend everyone to read that article. It's heartbreaking.

 

[jmc]

To me that's the problem with shared universes in general and the way studios tried to make them happen because Marvel made it happen.

And looking at that whole photo, did they even think, "Guys. Do people even want to see these movies of Universal monster reboots with you in them?"

Also, let's be honest. Dark Universe was a stupid ass name for a shared universe about the Universal Monsters.

I just don't understand what was wrong with the Universal Monsters name to begin with.

 

[samsnee]

Hi Alex!

http://www.vulture.com/2018/07/how-will-the-spider-man-cinematic-universe-cast-its-web.html

“At the core of the endeavor to make a universe lies a deep cynicism,” says a writer-director behind a recent major motion picture intended to kick-start a new cinematic universe that fizzled both critically and commercially. “The audience thinks you’re just trying to take their money. It’s not unfounded. You have to prove them wrong. And Marvel has set a high bar.”

 

[Silvermoth]

Well...he’s got a point. A lot of people go into these films now saying “am I appeared to watch movie after movie for years and years always with a cliffhanger of more to come?”

I think just tell a good story first and whatever happens happens. A bride of Frankenstein movie would be so much fun these days

 

[Teelie]

Marvel manages to make each movie its own then bring them together for one movie that doesn't necessarily require you to know the previous movies. It helps but you could go into the Avengers franchise without seeing every other movie and still get the idea of what is happening.