Tag: UNIVERSAL MONSTERS

The Horror Chronicles Part 3: Mr. Renfield, I presume?

What we know so far THE CAST:

One of the announced re-boots of the Universal Monsters is Renfield, reportedly a horror/comedy based on Dracula (1931) that focuses on, well Renfield. It is currently filming in Louisiana. I was really excited about the premise, but I have to admit I was thrown when I read that Nicolas Cage had been cast as Dracula. Maybe I am wrong, but I just can’t see him as the Count.

You have to imagine Cage as Dracula & Jessica Biel as Mina in this still from Next

It’s one of those situations where I would think an unknown or relative unknown would be a much better choice. Presumably, the other Nicholas is the lead as he is playing Renfield.

Nicholas Hoult & Teresa Palmer in Warm Bodies

Hoult was in the Horror/Romance/Comedy, Warm Bodies in which he portrayed a zombie in love with Teresa Palmer as his Juliet and John Malkovich as her disapproving dad. The film was successful and his portrayal was funny and very convincing. The rest of the cast includes: Awkwafina as Rebecca Quincy, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Ella, Adrian Martinez as Chris, Ahmed Zakzouk as Dancer, and Bess Rouse as Caitlan who is a member of a support group for people in toxic relationships. Ben Schwartz, recently of Space Force, has also joined the cast.

Awkwafina in Ocean’s Eight

What we know so far THE STORY:

Renfield it seems, is sick of centuries of servitude to the Count and wants his freedom. Awkwafina’s Rebecca Quincy who according to Deadline is a “perennially angry traffic cop” who helps Renfield take on Dracula.

The script by Ryan Ridley is based on an original story by Robert Kirkman. Kirkman is probably best know for his writing on The Walking Dead (based on the comic written by himself and the artist’s Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard) and the animated Invincible. Ryan Ridley Has written for Rick and Morty, Community, and Ghosted. The director is Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War). Expected 2023.

Return of the Universal Monsters

When I watched The Invisible Man for the first time, I was knocked out by Elizabeth Moss’ bravura performance. I also thought it was an incredibly creative update of the story. Focusing on the victim put so much more power in the villainy of the titular character. The Invisible Man is more terrifying because we can’t see him, but like his victim, we know he’s there.

Universal chose to go with Blumhouse and Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man after the failure of their original Dark Universe plans in the wake of the remake of The Mummy.

Blumhouse has had hits in the horror field with a number of projects including; The Purge, Insidious, Paranormal Activity, and Ouija. The success of the Blumhouse produced Get Out had further enhanced the studio’s prestige with both box office success and rave reviews. Reportedly Blumhouse now has a first look 10 year contract with Universal Pictures that will lead to their involvement in future Universal Monster reboots.

Elizabeth Moss in The Invisible Man (2020)

After the success of The Invisible Man, Elizabeth Moss was approached by Universal to appear in a sequel. Moss is interested in a new version of The Invisible Woman, a lighthearted follow-up to the original Invisible Man. She did, after all, make the invisibility suit vanish.

Elizabeth Moss in The Invisible Man (2020)

In a Collider interview published 10/13/2021, Jason Blum confirmed, “Wolfman, we are also working on the script, got to get the script, right. In that case, it’s Ryan Gosling…But working on trying to get a script that he feels good about and comfortable about and excited about.” The idea was pitched by Gosling and until he is satisfied with the script, there will be no full moon.

Ryan Gosling

Leigh Whannell exited Wolfman due to scheduling issues, and Ryan Gosling brought Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) onto the project. He also worked with Gosling on Place Beyond the Pines.

Also in pre-production is Bride, with Scarlett Johansson on deck as both producer and actress in the lead role, and Sebastian Lelio is slated to direct a script written by Rebecca Angelo, Lauren Schuker Blum, and himself.