Home Entertainment Highlighting their monsters’ tremendous legacy, Universal finally unveil the Dark Universe

Highlighting their monsters’ tremendous legacy, Universal finally unveil the Dark Universe

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After months of speculation about just what to call Universal’s shared classic monster universe they’ve finally ripped off the Band-Aid and revealed the official name: say hello to the Dark Universe! Short, sweet, and perfectly descriptive of the darker horror-lite tone they seem to be aiming for.

Shared universes are the holy grail for film studios at the moment, with many aiming to emulate the success of Marvel/Disney’s MCU. Universal dipped their toes into the concept with the final scenes of Dracula Untold, but the upcoming The Mummy reboot is their official first entry into shared universe-dom.

The monsters have a tremendous cinematic legacy, and Universal have taken this opportunity to show us where the shared universe originated with the Monsters Legacy. It features clips from Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon edited together with a new score by award-winning composer Danny Elfman.

Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to remind us we can own the originals on Blu-ray and DVD while interest in the reboots is high I guess.

That’s the stuff right there!

Along with the above featurette Universal have released a publicity shot featuring some of the actors who’ll be appearing in the Dark Universe. Russel Crowe (Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde), Tom Cruise (Nick Morton) and Sofia Boutella (Ahmanet/The Mummy) are all appearing in The Mummy, while Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem are in line for The Invisible Man and Frankenstein respectively. Universal really have pulled together a talented group of actors for their shared universe, and I’m really interested to see who they line up for the other features.

You couldn't dress up just a little, Tom?

Crowe’s character will perform a similar role to that of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in the MCU, being the glue that binds the franchise together. He heads up a shadowy research organisation known as Prodigium which both studies and protects the world against the evil the monsters represent. I wonder if we’ll also see a monster team-up versus some great threat – possibly Dracula?

Universal are clearly banking on the Dark Universe being a success, but the key to every potential franchise is always the first movie. You have to nail that at the box office to make everything fall into place, as Warner Bros. just learned the hard way with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. From what I’ve seen of The Mummy so far I’m hopeful that the Dark Universe will get the start it needs, and that these classic monsters will get the reimagining they deserve.

Last Updated: May 23, 2017

17 Comments

  1. Isn’t Javier is going to be Frankenstein’s Monster?

    I just hope that they keep the monsters as just that: monsters. They’re not meant to be super heroes.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      May 23, 2017 at 12:10

      Yes, but the movie will probably be called Frankenstein. 😉

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        May 23, 2017 at 12:39

        You just don’t want to admit that you were wrong.
        Go ahead…you can do it…it’s not that hard…

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          May 23, 2017 at 12:54

          Nope, I know Frankenstein is the scientist and the monster is Frankenstein’s Monster. I also know it’s a pedant’s wet dream to bring it up EVERY.TIME. 😀

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 12:59

            Yeah, but that’s not the issue here. Javier has been confirmed as being the monster, not the scientist. At least, that’s what all the other articles say.

          • RinceThis

            May 23, 2017 at 13:03

            So do you think the movie is going to be called Javier? Lulz

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 13:08

            Or it could actually be called “Frankenstein’s Monster”. Because, honestly, it would make total sense to me if they cut out the whole Victorian age making of the monster part, perhaps only refer to it in flashbacks. It’s the part of the tale that’s been covered again and again. So if they set it modern day, which is what The Mummy is doing, they can easily explain that Dr. Victor von Frankenstein died 400 years ago, but his monster is still lurking around.

          • RinceThis

            May 23, 2017 at 13:09

            But, it’s called Frankenstein. They have confirmed that…

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 13:12

            Actually, the next movie is going to be Bride of Frankenstein.
            My ranting above was just me theorizing and applying some wishful thinking.
            “If I owned a Hollywood, this is what I’d do.”

          • RinceThis

            May 23, 2017 at 13:15

            Is her name going to be Javier? Now I am just confused…

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 13:16

            Don’t worry, I’ve read that confusion is a common malady suffered by the ginger race of humans.
            There are theories as to why this is so.

          • RinceThis

            May 23, 2017 at 13:17

            Because we don’t know who our maker is or because we think we are the maker called Victor? 0_O

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 13:19

            Now you’re thinking about the Mephistopheles of Los Angeles.
            Wow, you really are getting confused. It’s okay, we’re here to help.

          • RinceThis

            May 23, 2017 at 13:19

            How did Marilyn Manson get into the conversation?

          • Original Heretic

            May 23, 2017 at 13:21

            He’s ready to meet his maker, just like Franky’s monster. Whose name is Javier. Not Marilyn, he’s a Brian.
            The monster, he’s a Javier.
            The scientist, he’s a Frank. Maaaaybe a Furter. Jury is still out on that one.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 23, 2017 at 13:08

            And I agreed with you that that’s who he’s playing. ;P

  2. RinceThis

    May 23, 2017 at 12:57

    Dark Universe? Duh, yes. Less matter and all! Just like that feature doesn’t matter, tehehe

    Reply

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