The new Universal Monsters shared universe is filled with stars, and I’m not talking about the kind that twinkle. The first of the films, The Mummy, is set for a summer premiere with stars Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. Johnny Depp has signed on for The Invisible Man. Scarlet Johansson may swim with the Creature From the Black Lagoon which has already hooked Aquaman scribe Will Beall. And Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be growing his hair out for The Wolf Man, to be penned by David Callham.
Word is, Javier Bardem, whose latest role was as Captain Salazar in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, is currently in talks to play Frankenstein’s Monster in both a film focusing on the character and in a second film, Bride of Frankenstein, where if the studio has its way he will co-star alongside Angelina Jolie. Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon will be in the director’s chair for Bride of Frankenstein.
Bardem in Pirates of the Caribbean
Yeah, well, there are talks,” he told Variety. “And I would to be part of it. Because it’s iconic…speaking of an iconic character! I have the size of the head. [Laughs] That’s for sure. They’re not going to waste a lot of money in makeup, that’s for sure.”
With Bardem’s talent, I have no doubt that he would be fantastic as the iconic character.
Bardem in Pirates of the Caribbean
There is no word yet which Universal Monster film will be the next to be made. But Universal is having no problem drawing A-listers. When I first learned of the reboots/remakes I will admit I was not particularly excited, but things change.
The Mummy, directed by Alex Kurtzman and written by Jon Spaihts and Christopher McQuarrie, will blow into theaters nationwide on June 9, 2017.