Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

The interconnected Universal monster universe has officially gained a name, and a new entry.

The series – which officially kicks off with The Mummy next month – will be known as the “Dark Universe”, with each movie prefaced by a special trailer scored by Danny Elfman. The next movie has been confirmed as Bride of Frankenstein, to be written by David Koepp and directed by Bill Condon which will be released on Valentine’s Day 2019. The series will be linked by the Prodigium, whose mission is to track, study and sometimes destroy evil monsters. Prodigium works outside all governments and protects the public from knowledge of the evil that exists in society. Russell Crowe will play Dr. Henry Jekyll, Javier Bardem will be Frankenstein’s monster, Tom Cruise is soldier of fortune Nick Morton, Johnny Depp will portray the Invisible Man and Sofia Boutella is the Mummy.

“We take enormous pride in the creativity and passion that has inspired the reimagining of Universal’s iconic monsters and promise audiences we will expand this series strategically,” Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley said in a statement.  “The enterprise masterfully developed by Chris (Morgan) and Alex (Kurtzman) will allow each subsequent chapter the right time to find the perfect cast, filmmakers and vision to fulfill it. As we launch Dark Universe with Danny’s provocative theme before The Mummy and collaborate with a brilliant filmmaker like Bill to weave the story of a very modern woman in a very classic tale, we feel confident we’re off to a tremendous start.”

Dark Universe architects Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan, who are also working with Christopher McQuarrie and David Koepp added: “When Universal approached us with the idea of reimagining these classic characters, we recognized the responsibility of respecting their legacy while bringing them into new and modern adventures. The studio and our fellow creative collaborators have championed and challenged us as we’ve begun to spin the web of Dark Universe. It’s our hope these movies will engross longtime fans and spark the imaginations of brand-new ones.”

Condon noted: “I’m very excited to bring a new Bride of Frankenstein to life on screen, particularly since James Whale’s original creation is still so potent. The bride of Frankenstein remains the most iconic female monsters in film history, and that’s a testament to Whale’s masterpiece, which endures as one of the greatest movies ever made.”