Ever since it was announced that Universal’s Dark Universe shared cinematic franchise was DOA, fans have been anxiously awaiting the studio’s plans for the future of the classic stable of Universal Monsters. It would appear that the studio is ready to unleash the new iteration of at least one of those Monsters, The Invisible Man, thanks to Blumhouse Productions. And according to a new report, the production company is taking the franchise in an unexpected direction.
According to a new synopsis from ComingSoon, it seems as if Blumhouse’s “The Invisible Man” centers on a subject that is timely and might be a bit uncomfortable for some people:
“The film centers on Cecilia Kass, a woman trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist. She escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister, their childhood friend and his teenage daughter. But when Cecilia’s abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turn lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.”
The original 1933 film did feature the title character going on a violent rampage after his situation (being invisible) leads to some horrible side effects. However, with Blumhouse, it would appear that “The Invisible Man” is going to tackle a real-world issue of domestic violence through the microscope of a supernatural circumstance. Of course, this is pretty par for the course for horror films.
Universal is hoping that this version of the character kickstarts a new franchise for the studio. And maybe, if it’s popular enough, Blumhouse could be the studio that actually puts together a winning version of the now-defunct Dark Universe.
“The Invisible Man” stars Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Aldis Hodge. The film is written and directed by Leigh Whannell and is expected to be released on February 28, 2020.