Next week, Universal will launch their Dark Universe franchise, a new series of films reviving the classic movie monsters from their back catalog. The studio has really put themselves out there, formally announcing the project and lining up big-name stars like Tom Cruise (who leads “The Mummy“), Johnny Depp (The Invisible Man), Russell Crowe (Dr. Jekyll), and Javier Bardem (Frankenstein) for roles. If that’s not enough, they’re hoping to hire more A-list talent.
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THR reveals that both Dwayne Johnson and Angelina Jolie are being sought for roles in the expanding universe of films. The “Baywatch” star is being rumored for “The Wolfman” (he also starred in 2002’s monster flick “The Scorpion King“), while Jolie is said to be eyed for “Bride Of Frankenstein.” You might recall that it was reported a couple of years back that Universal only got behind Jolie’s arthouse jaunt “By The Sea” with the hopes that she’d return the favor by appearing in “Wanted 2” or “Bride Of Frankenstein.” However, at the moment, nothing official seems to be going on with either actor when it comes to Dark Universe, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Indeed, none of this moves forward if “The Mummy” flops. According to the trade, the film needs to open with $40 million domestic and do gangbusters overseas, where Cruise is still a massive draw. It should be noted, however, that stateside, outside of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, Cruise hasn’t opened a movie to at least $40 million since 2005’s “War Of The Worlds.” It will certainly be interesting to watch what the box-office response will be.
Still, Universal is remaining optimistic, with “The Bride Of Frankenstein” already slated for release on February 14, 2019.
