Universal Monsters

[Octoberist]

It's such a shame to see Bill Nighty draged into films like Underworld and I, Frankenstein, he definitely deserves better than that.

I, Frankenstein was so bad that it shocked me that it was a theatrical release. And it's so cheap lookibg and dull. That and 'Legends of Hercules' are in my worst of the year.*

*Both were Red Box rentals

 

[Majik1387]

I surprisingly enjoyed I, Frankenstein.

 

[Gabe99]

Blastr:
Anne Rice's long-awaited new vampire novel now has an official synopsis

LA Times:
Anne Rice brings back her vampire antihero with 'Prince Lestat'

Deadline:
Universal, Imagine Lock Rights To Anne Rice’s ‘Vampire Chronicles’

BREAKING:
Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, and Brian Grazer have acquired rights to Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles in a juicy deal that spans the entire library of Rice’s bloodsucker series.

Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels are centered around 18th century French nobleman vamp Lestat de Lioncourt and previously spawned feature adaptations Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned at rival Warner Bros. The deal gives Universal and Imagine access to the entire Vampire Chronicle series as well as the adapted screenplay for Tale of the Body Thief by Rice’s son Christopher Rice and any future novels including the upcoming 11th book Prince Lestat.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who are developing classic monster flicks The Mummy and Van Helsing for the studio, will produce. Imagine President Erica Huggins will oversee the series on behalf of the company and Bobby Cohen will exec produce. Anne Rice is repped by CAA, Janklow & Nesbit Associates and attorney Christine Cuddy of Kleinberg, Lange, Cuddy & Carlo LLP. Christopher Rice is repped by Resolution, Janklow & Nesbit Associates and attorney Christine Cuddy of Kleinberg, Lange, Cuddy & Carlo LLP. Kurtzman and Orci are repped by CAA and Gendler & Kelly, APC.

THR:
Universal, Imagine Acquire Anne Rice's 'The Vampire Chronicles' Book Series
The acquisition encompasses the entire body of existing and future novels in the series.

 

[Octoberist]

I surprisingly enjoyed I, Frankenstein.

I'm sorry to hear that because I was embarrassed for Miranda Otto and Aaron Eackhart. At least it's not boring like 'Legend of Herclules'. I

 

[Gabe99]

Universal Veers From Superhero Trend for a Monster Plan

As Disney, Fox, Sony and Warner Bros. plant flags on comicbook movies that will unspool in theaters through 2020, Universal honcho Jeff Shell and movie chief Donna Langley find themselves with few options other than to cull their studio’s library and secure outside properties that are established brands, and thus easily marketable. Its only comicbook-based superhero property is Marvel’s “Namor: The Sub-Mariner,” to which it has retained rights since 2006.

“The trend (in Hollywood) is franchise movies, and building movies around a character people want to come back and see over and over again,” says Erica Huggins, president of Imagine Entertainment, who was instrumental in acquiring the Anne Rice books.


The studio will position its classic monsters as the next action stars, the way it did with “The Mummy” franchise and attempted with “Van Helsing.” “Universal’s legacy is built on our iconic monster mythology,” says co-president of production Jeffrey Kirschenbaum. “We are committed to revitalizing these films to make them part of a powerhouse action-thriller franchise, and develop worlds for these characters to thrive in.”

“What Donna and Jeff are envisioning about the Universal monster legacy is the most strategic, and ambitious undertaking since Carl Laemmle created these historic characters for the screen,” says Sean Daniel, who produced Universal’s more recent “Mummy” movies and will return for the reboot, as well as the upcoming remake of “Ben Hur.”

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

I'm sick of the "romantic"-prettyboy-Dracula-crap. Read the original novel...Dracula is pure evil.

Someone should make a faithful adaptation of the book. No, Francis Ford Crapola's Dreckula doesn't "Count"..t:

F.F. Crapola: "The novel is good, but there's too little sex in it! When I read novels about old, undead guys with sharp teeth and bad breath, I expect to be turned on! why can't the women be ****s? And Jonathan Harker is nothing like that guy from that Bill and Ted movie...boooring!"

*Sound of Bram Stoker turning in his grave*

But I'll give Dracula Unborn a chance anyway...

 

[SlamAdams]

Dracula Untold looks bad (Unborn would have been such a better title). Is it part of this? It wasn't produced by Universal but it is being distributed by them.

The franchise needs a hero. The thing i liked about the last Mummy movies was The O'Connels. Fraser's adventurer and Weisz's bookworm were very charming and had great chemistry. Rather than sending them off to mummies every movies, they could have gone elsewhere. Make her a anthropologist rather than an Egyptologist.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Dracula Untold looks bad (Unborn would have been such a better title). Is it part of this? It wasn't produced by Universal but it is being distributed by them.

The franchise needs a hero. The thing i liked about the last Mummy movies was The O'Connels. Fraser's adventurer and Weisz's bookworm were very charming and had great chemistry. Rather than sending them off to mummies every movies, they could have gone elsewhere. Make her a anthropologist rather than an Egyptologist.

Dracula Unsold

Yeah, I'm going to miss Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell, and the rest of the gang.

If they made a Dracula movie based on the novel, it would probably have looked a bit like The Mummy (a group of friends band together to stop a dangerous and evil monster), only darker and scarier. I wouldn't mind if they included some action scenes, as long as they didn't change the characters the way Coppola did.

 

[Boom]

I've been begging for a faithful adaptation of Dracula for years. To hell with this misunderstood crap. Give me a true, unadulterated manifestation of evil.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

I've been begging for a faithful adaptation of Dracula for years. To hell with this misunderstand crap. Give me a true, unadulterated manifestation of evil.

I've heard that BBC's "Count Dracula" is the most faithful adaptation. They have still changed some things, though:

Spoiler

-Dracula does not grow younger.
-Mina and Lucy are sisters.
-Quincey Morris and Arthur Holmwood are combined into one character.
-Dracula is portrayed as attractive, urbane, even seductive.
-Dracula is not staked in the book, but has his throat slashed with Harker's kukri and is stabbed through the heart with Morris' Bowie knife.
-Dracula is killed by Professor Van Helsing
-Quincey is wounded, but does not die as in the novel

Haven't seen it yet, but I don't like the "Quincey is Arthur (Quarthur?)" stuff. But it can't be any worse than Coppola's Crockula.

 

[Gort Baringa]

Yeah, the BBC's Count Dracula is an excellent adaption with the probably necessary changes that you mentioned to fit it into a condensed time frame.

Louis Jourdan is suitably menacing as Dracula. I wonder how a filming of Stoker's novel would be if the count's presence is limited like in the book? I mean, he is present quite a bit at the beginning at his castle, but has a background presence for most of the rest of the book. I like this. His evil is sensed and not seen and it works!

I think that it would be quite daring to film it this way, but I would definitely like to see this happen - perhaps in a short miniseries.

 

[Roose Bolton]

There's a fan edit of FFC's Dracula with the Vlad the Impaler, reincarnation love story elements removed, and it's pretty faithful to the book.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Yeah, the BBC's Count Dracula is an excellent adaption with the probably necessary changes that you mentioned to fit it into a condensed time frame.

Louis Jourdan is suitably menacing as Dracula. I wonder how a filming of Stoker's novel would be if the count's presence is limited like in the book? I mean, he is present quite a bit at the beginning at his castle, but has a background presence for most of the rest of the book. I like this. His evil is sensed and not seen and it works!

I think that it would be quite daring to film it this way, but I would definitely like to see this happen - perhaps in a short miniseries.

Maybe I'll watch it this October.

Even the book is over a hundred years old, it's still pretty creepy. Especially the part with the captain's logbook.

There's a fan edit of FFC's Dracula with the Vlad the Impaler, reincarnation love story elements removed, and it's pretty faithful to the book.

Interesting. Did they remove the silly hair (butt-cut) on Dracula too?t:

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

ok guys heres a question who do you consider the key universal monsters, maybe not who would be in a cross over just if someone did a piece of art with universal monsters who would have to feature, personally

phantom
dracula
mummy
frankenstien
wolfman
creature
bride

the only one im torn about is the invisible man

 

[Roose Bolton]

Interesting. Did they remove the silly hair (butt-cut) on Dracula too?t:

No, because they wisely knew that *****es love that ****.

 

[Blue Moon]

In my younger years, I always wanted to see a fighting video game with the Universal monsters in the same vein as the Mortal Kombat series. This idea evolved into a trilogy of sorts featuring three casts of monsters from different film eras. So for the 'classic' cast, it would look like this:

Dracula
the Frankenstein Monster
the Wolfman
Dr. Jeckyll / Mr. Hyde
Phantom of the Opera
the Invisible Man
Bride of Frankenstein
The Gillman aka the Black Lagoon Creature
Bride of Dracula
Abraham Van Helsing as the protagonist

Then the second game would feature the 'slashers' from the 70s/80s:

Jason Voorhees
Freddy Krueger
Leatherface
Michael Myers
Carrie
The Tall Man from Phantasm
Damien from the Omen
The Thing from John Carpenter's The Thing
Reagan from the Exorcist
Ash Williams from Evil Dead as the protagonist

And finally, the third game would feature the 'modern' monsters from the 90s to today:

Pinhead
Pumpkinhead
Leprechaun
Chucky
the Wishmaster
Candyman
Pennywise the Clown
Samarra from the Ring
Ghostface from Scream
Alice from Resident Evil as the protagonist

Each character would have their own special moves, stages, alternate costumes,etc. Then the third game would have DLCs of the characters from the previous two games. The fan-made game 'Terrordrome' is a perfect example of how the game might look and operate (with better graphics and special moves of course) but i really want each game to have its' own unique identity and storyline mission ala Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks.
The aesthetic of each game would also mimic the era in which the monsters are drawn; so for the first game the fonts would be gothic looking, an option to play in black and white, classic organ horror music, that sort of thing. There would also be mini games similar to Test Your Might that would be unique to whatever character you select. For example, play as the Phantom and try to play a piano piece, Leatherface would earn points for putting bodies on meat hooks in a time limit, play as Pinhead and try to solve the puzzle box on various difficulty, and fun little things like that.
I know it would be impossible to get all the rights to include the monsters in the last two games but the first one is possible if this shared film universe is a success.

What do people think of some sort of video game franchise in tandem with the films?

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

My favorite use of the Universal monsters during the last 30 years was The Monster Squad.

I think one of the best parts was the costume, make up and practical effects mimicking the classic look of the monsters.

These days everything be modernized and covered in CGI.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

I watched Monster Squad for the first time last October. Great movie...t: I only wish I saw it as a kid.

 

[Nerdario]

In my younger years, I always wanted to see a fighting video game with the Universal monsters in the same vein as the Mortal Kombat series. This idea evolved into a trilogy of sorts featuring three casts of monsters from different film eras. So for the 'classic' cast, it would look like this:

Dracula
the Frankenstein Monster
the Wolfman
Dr. Jeckyll / Mr. Hyde
Phantom of the Opera
the Invisible Man
Bride of Frankenstein
The Gillman aka the Black Lagoon Creature
Bride of Dracula
Abraham Van Helsing as the protagonist

Then the second game would feature the 'slashers' from the 70s/80s:

Jason Voorhees
Freddy Krueger
Leatherface
Michael Myers
Carrie
The Tall Man from Phantasm
Damien from the Omen
The Thing from John Carpenter's The Thing
Reagan from the Exorcist
Ash Williams from Evil Dead as the protagonist

And finally, the third game would feature the 'modern' monsters from the 90s to today:

Pinhead
Pumpkinhead
Leprechaun
Chucky
the Wishmaster
Candyman
Pennywise the Clown
Samarra from the Ring
Ghostface from Scream
Alice from Resident Evil as the protagonist

Each character would have their own special moves, stages, alternate costumes,etc. Then the third game would have DLCs of the characters from the previous two games. The fan-made game 'Terrordrome' is a perfect example of how the game might look and operate (with better graphics and special moves of course) but i really want each game to have its' own unique identity and storyline mission ala Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks.
The aesthetic of each game would also mimic the era in which the monsters are drawn; so for the first game the fonts would be gothic looking, an option to play in black and white, classic organ horror music, that sort of thing. There would also be mini games similar to Test Your Might that would be unique to whatever character you select. For example, play as the Phantom and try to play a piano piece, Leatherface would earn points for putting bodies on meat hooks in a time limit, play as Pinhead and try to solve the puzzle box on various difficulty, and fun little things like that.
I know it would be impossible to get all the rights to include the monsters in the last two games but the first one is possible if this shared film universe is a success.

What do people think of some sort of video game franchise in tandem with the films?

I like this, that would all be awesome. I can just imagine everyone's moves.
And I'm picturing a fourth where all the different decades clash.

 

[Nerdario]

I have my doubts about Dracula Untold. I like Luke Evans. But that movie, going by the trailer, looks like a straight rip of the Castlevania Lords of Shadows series. Just look at the E3 trailer for Lords of Shadow 2. Not sure if that was mentioned already, I didnt go through all the past posts.
Regardless. I'm still hoping that Universal includes The Wolfman remake in their new connected Monster Universe. That movie was hit every childhood beat I had hoped for. It really sucks that they are remaking The Mummy franchise. Those are classics and I think those plus The Wolfman would fit into any other monster movies they come out with. The worlds they are in are left so open to being able to tie into stories of Dracula and Vanhelsing and any others.
I really hope that they dont go with any type of anti hero situation where the monsters have to band together for the greater good. Dracula Untold is clearly going with that route and I'm not into it.
Dracula needs to be evil. I think having his character be a demonic creature who has the lingerings of a past spirit within him that gives slivers of the type of person he once was is ok but he has to be evil. If anything Frankenstiens Monster would be the only hero monster I could get behind. I'm a Wolfman fan first but the werewolf shouldn't show any type of heroic side, the man would be the hero but never the beast.
Oh, and I want an old man VanHelsing, no more young fit rouges like Jackman. Sure show us a flash back or two of the young guy in his prime but I would prefer VanHelsing to have not been the monster hunter his entire life.
Idk, heres for the best.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

I have my doubts about Dracula Untold. I like Luke Evans. But that movie, going by the trailer, looks like a straight rip of the Castlevania Lords of Shadows series. Just look at the E3 trailer for Lords of Shadow 2. Not sure if that was mentioned already, I didnt go through all the past posts.

Hey, you're right!

[YT]0RGP7NeeMiI[/YT]

[YT]cY6WF33rljU[/YT]

 

[Nerdario]

Hey, you're right!

[YT]0RGP7NeeMiI[/YT]

[YT]cY6WF33rljU[/YT]

Ha, I haven't seen that first mashup trailer. This movie should just lead into that Castlevania movie that never went anywhere. Dont be surprised if the name Belmont shows up in the movie.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Ha, I haven't seen that first mashup trailer. This movie should just lead into that Castlevania movie that never went anywhere. Dont be surprised if the name Belmont shows up in the movie.

Maybe it is a Castlevania movie? A secret Castlevania movie...

 

[Nerdario]

Maybe it is a Castlevania movie? A secret Castlevania movie...

Makes me think of the Pirates of the Caribbean and how that ripped off Monkey Island, yet got away with it because both took from the classic Disney ride. So basically if we see Dracula wielding a whip and possibly get some future plot seeds about his descendants waging a never ending war against him than yeah, its an unofficial castlevania game.

 

[T-Ray]

My favorite use of the Universal monsters during the last 30 years was The Monster Squad.

I think one of the best parts was the costume, make up and practical effects mimicking the classic look of the monsters.

These days everything be modernized and covered in CGI.

Yes! It's among my favorite "horror for kids" films. And it had the best redesign of Gill Man so far.


By the way, does anybody knows are these professional concepts for CftBL remake or fanart?

Spoiler

Are there more concepts from failed CftBL projects?