Universal pictures has announced that their classic monster movie revival, beginning with The Mummy, has been officially named Dark Universe. The idea is to present the studio’s classic monsters for a new generation. The films throughout Dark Universe will be a shared world, much like the current Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Along with the announcement came some news about the next film in the series. Bill Condon (Beauty and the Beast) will be directing Bride of Frankenstein. The film is slated for a February 14, 2019 release, which will cancel the previous April 13, 2018 release date Universal had previously booked. Condon commented:

I am very excited to bring a new Bride of Frankenstein to life on screen, particularly since James Whale’s original creation is still so potent. The Bride of Frankenstein remains the most iconic female monster in film history, and that’s a testament to Whale’s masterpiece- which endures as one of the greatest movies ever made.”

Universal also announced that actors Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem will be joining Dark Universe as The Invisible Man and Frankenstein’s Monster. The actors will be joining Tom Cruise’s The Mummy character, Nick Morton, as well as Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Dr. Henry Jekyll. An official synopsis for the shared world series was also given, which is followed by a video, accompanied by music from Danny Elfman, showing the legacy of these iconic characters as well as the logo that will be used for the shared universe:

At its organizing principal, Dark Universe films are connected by a mysterious multi-national organization known as Prodigium. Led by the enigmatic and brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll, Prodigium’s mission is to track, study and-when necessary-destroy evil embodied in the form of monsters in our world. Working outside the aegis of any government, and with practices concealed by millennia of secrecy, Prodigium protects the public from knowledge of the evil that exists just beyond the thin membrane of civilized society…and will go to any length to contain it.”

The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, and Jake Johnson, is set to open on June 9th.

What do you think of the Universal Monsters being revamped into the shared world of Dark Universe? Are you interested in seeing a modern take on Bride of Frankenstein? Let us know in the comments section below. As always, be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter for around the clock coverage of the latest and greatest news in gaming and entertainment.