Universal Monsters

[TheFuture]

Penny Dreadful was great, a vivid and pulsating Gothic piece come to life.

I've always loved the classic monsters but haven't seen that film for a long time that captures my imagination. A film that has the aesthetic and atmosphere that I loved in Penny Dreadful funnily enough.

I'd be fine with Dracula Untold being left out of this Universe as it didn't establish the mood I'd like. The unfortunate thing is that there were one or two scenes that did capture what I'd like to see such as the cave scene, but the look of the film was way too clean for my liking.

I kind of don't want to see a tragic Dracula either and actually think this universe would work better with Dracula placed as a central foe. I've seen enough of that at this stage, and now just want to see Dracula as the evil bastard that he is (which only trash movies seem to portray him as these days).

The fact that Van Helsing is getting a standalone gives me hope that I'll see that, but I wouldn't be surprised if that film is a mess. I read that they're making him an expert monster hunter again as per the Jackman film and I rolled my eyes. If they want the go that route with VH then he should be like Buffy, who will take on demons as they come but is, primarily, the chosen one to protect the world from VAMPIRES. VH's mission should be central to that.

 

[Fallen Angel]

New writer (sort of) for Van Helsing.

http://www.tracking-board.com/dan-m...iversals-classic-monsters-universe-exclusive/

Universal has hired Wrath of the Titans scribe Dan Mazeau to write the VAN HELSING reboot that is part of the studio’s classic monsters universe, the Tracking Board has exclusively learned.


As the architects of the universe, Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan will produce the film, though plot details remain under wraps somewhere in Transylvania.
Mazeau was part of Universal’s writers room for the monsters universe, which also included Noah Hawley (Legion), Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) and Ed Solomon (Men in Black).



His hiring isn’t exactly recent, as Van Helsing has been Mazeau’s baby since as far back as September, but his involvement had never been reported until now.
Oscar nominee Eric Heisserer (Arrival) and Jon Spaihts (Doctor Strange) previously worked on Van Helsing. Spaihts also co-wrote The Mummy, the Tom Cruise movie that kicks off the new monsters universe this summer.
The character of Van Helsing first appeared in Bram Stoker’s Dracula as a vampire hunter, though he also chased Frankenstein and the Wolf Man in the 2004 movie starring Hugh Jackman. The Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde are also rumored to play parts in Universal’s monsters universe.
Guzikowski is currently running point on The Wolf Man, while David Koepp has been tasked with writing a present-day Bride of Frankenstein, though Kurtzman, Hawley and Jenny Lumet worked on earlier drafts. Angelina Jolie has been courted to direct the latter film, which like The Mummy, will be set in present-day.
Universal executives Jon Mone and Jay Polidoro will oversee Van Helsing for the studio.


Besides Wrath of the Titans, Mazeau has written Lunar Park for producers Tom Cruise, Doug Liman and Simon Kinberg, and rewrote the spy movie Section 6 for Universal. He also adapted the sci-fi novel Yukikaze for Warner Bros. and wrote a draft of the action-thriller World’s Most Wanted for Fast & Furious producer Neal Moritz.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

So what's the next movie after "The Mummy"?

 

[Brian Braddock]

My take on all of this will always be the same - I hope that the filmmakers don't approach this with the attitude that the wheel needs to be reinvented; simply dust off the wheel and give it a good buffing. Ultimately, the classic Universal Monsters are iconic, in every sense of the word - don't go all Sommers and jettison all that iconography in favour of something that you think is cool, edgy and knew.

 

[Fallen Angel]

So what's the next movie after "The Mummy"?

Not a clue.

But Universal have writers on Van Helsing and The Wolfman and they have Depp on The Invisible Man and Crowe as Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

If they do The Wolfman again, I pray we get a classic makeup job like Rick Baker did for the previous remake. Regardless of that film's flaws, it had an iconic look to the creature imo.

 

[Breogan]

If they do The Wolfman again, I pray we get a classic makeup job like Rick Baker did for the previous remake. Regardless of that film's flaws, it had an iconic look to the creature imo.

Sorry if this had been asked, is their next Wolf Man a sequels to the 2010 or total reboot?

Also when are all these new ones set, classic Victorian? Or contemporary?

 

[Fallen Angel]

Total reboot. It's part of the Monster Universe they're starting with The Mummy.

 

[Breogan]

Total reboot. It's part of the Monster Universe they're starting with The Mummy.

I guess that answers my second question too!

 

[Brian Braddock]

If they do The Wolfman again, I pray we get a classic makeup job like Rick Baker did for the previous remake. Regardless of that film's flaws, it had an iconic look to the creature imo.

Yep, Bakers design and makeup was brilliant.

 

[Matt Mortem]

For all it's flaws I still really enjoy the 2010 Wolfman movie.

 

[Jake Cassidy]

Not a clue.

But Universal have writers on Van Helsing and The Wolfman and they have Depp on The Invisible Man and Crowe as Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde.

There's also Javier Bardem as Frankenstein's monster.

 

[Octoberist]

I just hope the Mummy ends being okay. So far, it's been a victim of parodies on youtube, and some of it is justified. That trailer wasn't that great, so let's hope the second one can win people over.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The Mummy has the rare Tom Cruise scream, which just took me away from the trailer.

 

[jmc]

This series is going to let us know whether Marvel's universe building method is the one all studios should copy.

 

[Octoberist]

I really think it's just other studios looking at the wrong data. Its like trying to copy the success of the Simpsons, by thinking that yellow characters is the key to it's popularity and longevity.

 

[Evil Twin]

I really think it's just other studios looking at the wrong data. Its like trying to copy the success of the Simpsons, by thinking that yellow characters is the key to it's popularity and longevity.

Yes. People love extended universes is the lesson Hollywood seems to have learned.

I think the fundamental issue here is that the fans really don't want the classic monsters reinterpreted as blockbuster action franchises. Make them as horror films with Conjuring / Crimson Peak level budgets and a sense of style and you would likely have solid successes.

 

[Fallen Angel]

http://deadline.com/2017/03/creatur...-beall-aquaman-universal-pictures-1202057300/

Universal Pictures has set Will Beall to write The Creature From The Black Lagoon, from an idea Beall had to revive the classic 1954 film as part of the studio’s classic monsters franchise. Beall just scripted another underwater event movie, Aquaman, which James Wan is directing with Jason Momoa in the title role for Warner Bros and DC. Beall also exec produced Training Day, the CBS series transplant of the hit movie.

Creature has long been under development at the studio, going back to when it was shepherded by Gary Ross, whose father co-wrote the original. That horror classic focused on a group of scientists on an expedition through the Amazon who discover a human-fish hybrid. Julie Adams played the leading female role of Kay Lawrence, and her portrayal helped define the scream queen genre. There are several roles that will likely draw big stars. CAA and Management 360 rep Beall.

 

[Wildcard]

For all it's flaws I still really enjoy the 2010 Wolfman movie.

I'm in the minority here but the 2010 Wolfman movie is one of the very few examples of me preferring the remake over the original. I love the classic Universal Monster movies (Frankenstein is a top five favorite for sure) but the 1941 Wolfman always came off as the weakest of the big three.

 

[Doctor Jones]

For me it's Dracula.

 

[Wildcard]

For me it's Dracula.

Even though I don't agree, I can see why some would say that.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Dracula is weak as hell in scenes that don't have Lugosi, Van Sloan, or Frye. Lugosi is the only reason that movie ever had a legacy.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Agreed. Without Lugosi Dracula wouldn't be remembered and I'd argue the Universal Monsters wouldn't be what they are today.

 

[McSir]

I think the Mummy with Karloff is the weakest, simply because it's quite boring.

By the way, is there like an official list of who is and isn't a Universal monster? I'm a bit of a fanboy for these movies but when it comes to branding the line up changes quite a bit. Like Lon Chaney's and Claude Rains Phantoms get interchanged pretty frequently, the Hunchback is included sometimes, sometimes the Mutant from This Island Earth is there, the Invisible Man almost always gets left out. Is there an official line-up?

 

[Matt Mortem]

I think the Mummy with Karloff is the weakest, simply because it's quite boring.

That's because it's Dracula without Lugosi. The plot of the Mummy is just Dracula all over again. The real shame of that movie is Jack Pierce's makeup for the Mummy is stellar, probably my favorite makeup he did during that era, and they criminally underused it in the film.