Universal is getting ready to officially kick off their sharedmonster movie universethis summer withTom Cruise’s new take onThe Mummy. The studio, despite the fact that the movie hasn’t even been released yet, seems to have a lot of confidence in this idea and is already moving ahead with several other projects. One such project is aCreature from the Black Lagoon remakeand they have just hiredWill Beallto pen the script.
According toDeadline, the former police officer turned screenwriter has been hired by Universal to write this new take onThe Creature From the Black Lagoon. His most recent credit includesJames Wan’sAquaman, which is set to hit theaters next December as part of Warner Bros. DC Extended Universe. His other credits includeGangster SquadandThe Legend of Conan. He also served as a producer on the CBS dramaTraining Day, which is based on the 2001 movie of the same name.
The Creature From the Black Lagoonis going to be revived from the classic1954 movie, which is something of a tall order. Though, it is definitely the kind of thing that could benefit from modern effects. We still don’t know much about how this will fit into the Universal monster universe, sinceThe Mummyhasn’t even been released yet, but we do know that the larger world of monsters will at least be hinted at in that movie. It has been said thatThe Mummywill definitely stand on its own, but a larger monster universe is teased by the synopsis.
“Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.”
As far as what else that larger universe will include beyondThe Mummy,Russell Crowewill be appearing in that movie asDr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. There are also plans for aBride of Frankensteinmovie, which may starAngelina Joliein the lead role. There is also anew version of Van Helsingin the works. Dracula will be part of the universe, butLuke Evanswon’t be the man playing him, as it has been confirmed thatDracula Untoldis not going to be part of this new universe.
It isn’t likely we will get much in the way ofCreature From the Black Lagoonaction inThe Mummy, but that is going to be the first movie in this universe and if it succeeds, that will dictate a lot for these movies going forward. There is no director or actors attached to the newCreature From the Black Lagoonand Universal has not yet set a release date. IfThe Mummyis successful, we’ll probably hear more this summer after themovie debuts.The Mummyis set for release on August 11, 2025.
