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Meet The Classic Universal Monsters

The Universal Monsters Universe is bringing classic monsters from the early days of film back to […]

The Universal Monsters Universe is bringing classic monsters from the early days of film back to life.

Back in 2014, Universal Studios (which still owns the rights to most of these iconic monsters) tapped directorAlex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan to reboot all of the classic movie monsters, including Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolf Man, the Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, and Van Helsing, which are all in development stages with actors attached.

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Each monster movie will first be developed and established as a solo film first before any crossovers will happen.

Kurtzman recently said, “There might be reasons for this character and that character to come together, because the story tells us that’s what the story wants. The story is what drives the choice. And if down the line, there’s a big reason to bring them together, then great. But I promise, we’re not starting there.”

Each planned film will be set in the present day with updated monsters in hopes of appealing to a new, more modern audience.

With the first trailer for The Mummy starring Tom Cruise, audiences got a glimpse at what this new shared universe will look like and so far it seems like the perfect mix between action/adventure and classic horror.

The Universal Monster Movies were first released back in the early 1930s, so most are unaware of the classic versions even if we have seen them in other films.

Let’s get to know the classic Universal Monsters that are currently in development for the rebooted shared universe…

The Mummy

At first monster movie fans were a bit skeptical of The Mummy reboot starring Tom Cruise, Russel Crowe and Sofia Boutella, however the trailer blew everyone away.

The biggest difference between this version and the original film is the use of horror elements.

Screenwriter Jon Spaihts said “In The Mummy, I think we’re going to see the first Mummy film in the entire Universal canon with the true power to terrify.ย . “The earliest [Boris] Karloff and Bela Lugosi Mummy movies were scary in a small way, perhaps a dated way. They were almost parlor movies. Subsequent movies have been more swashbuckling. This one is going to have all of that action and adventure, but a legitimate power to terrify. I think that’s going to be the new experience of that film.”

The Mummy was first introduced back in 1932, starringย Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan and Arthur Byron based on an original story by Richard Schayer and Nina Wilcox Putnum.ย 

The film is about an ancient Egyptian mummy named Imhotep who is discovered by a team of archeologists and inadvertently brought back to life through a magic scroll. Disguised as a modern Egyptian, the mummy searches for his lost love, whom he believes has been reincarnated into a modern girl.

Check out the original trailer for the 1932 version of The Mummy below:

The Invisible Man

It has already been announced that Johnny Depp will be starring in the upcoming reboot of the classic Universal Monster Movie – The Invisible Man.ย 

While a release date is yet to be confirmed, after seeing The Mummy trailer, we’re genuinely curious about this movie as well.

The Invisible Man was first introduced by Universal Studios back in 1933 based on H. G. Wells’ science fiction novel The Invisible Man, published in 1897.

In fact, we never really saw The Invisible Man as he was mainly depicted as an out-of-body voice.

Working in Dr. Cranley’s laboratory, scientist Jack Griffin (played by Claude Rains) was always given the latitude to conduct some of his own experiments. His sudden departure, however, has Cranley’s daughter Flora worried about him.

Griffin rented a room at the nearby Lion’s Head Inn, hoping to reverse an experiment he conducted on himself that made him invisible. Unfortunately, the drug he used has also warped his mind, making him aggressive and dangerous. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes to restore his appearance, and several will die in the process.

Check out the original trailer for The Invisible Man below, look at it now it seems like more a comedy:

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Wolf Man

It’s rumored that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is already attached to star in the Wolf-Man remake, but nothing is set in stone yet.

The Wolf Man first appeared inย 1941 in Universal Studios’ย drama horror film written by Curt Siodmakย and produced and directed by George Waggner. The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr.ย as a werewolf named “The Wolf Man.”

The Wolf Man is credited for shaping the visual aspects and characteristics of modern werewolves. So when you see a werewolf in a popular movie or television series, just know that The Wolf Man helped create the creature.

Lon Chaney, Jr. reprised his role as The Wolf Man in every single spin-off or sequel through out the 1950s.

When his brother dies, Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) returns to Wales and reconciles with his father (Claude Rains). While there, he visits an antique shop and, hoping to impress Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), the attractive shopkeeper, buys a silver walking cane. That same night he kills a wolf with it, only to later learn that he actually killed a man (Bela Lugosi). A gypsy (Maria Ouspenskaya) explains that it was her son, a werewolf, that he killed, and that Larry is now one himself.

Check out the original trailer for The Wolf Man below:

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Frankenstein’s Monster & Bride

The new Universal Monster Movie Universe will aslo be rebooting Bride of Frankensteinย with actorย Javier Bardemย in talks to play the actual monster.

The studio had its eye on Angelina Jolie to star as his bride, however nothing solid on that yet either.

This past October, screenwriterย David Koepp explained what the reboot will be about:

“It’s one of my favorite scripts I’ve written in years because if you reimagine the Frankenstein story, it gets into so many issues of men trying to feel dominant over women. To create someone who then says, ‘You don’t own me,’ it becomes a tale of liberation.”

Frankenstein’s monster was first introduced in 1931.

Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) wants to build a man in his own image, using the body of a dead man. He and his assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye) dig up a freshly buried coffin and steal the body. When they realize the head and the brains of the body are severely damaged, they decide to steal a brain from Dr. Frankenstein’s former teacher Dr. Waldman (Edward van Sloan).

When Fritz accidentally drops the glass jar with the label “good brain” on it, on the floor, he decides to take the glass jar with the label “bad brain”. Using some kind of mysterious ray that Dr. Frankenstein discovered, the body is brought to life during a thunderstorm, and the monster of Frankenstein (Boris Karloff) is born.

The monster, after being taunted by the Doctor, became very aggressive and killed him.

Check out the classic monster movie trailer below:

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The Mummy will hit on theaters June 9, 2017.

More Mummy: Tom Cruise’s Mummy Trailer Teaser Released / Luke Evans Updates Fans On Universal’s Monster Universe Crossoverย / Van Helsing Reboot To Take Place In Universal Monsters Universe / Alex Kurtzman Says The Mummy Reboot Is Not Connected To Dracula Untold

The Mummy (2017)2017

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