Universal’s Dark Universe Movies In Jeopardy Following Major Departures
When film studio Universal Pictures released The Mummy earlier this year, the Tom Cruise-led spectacle was to usher in a new cinematic monster continuity labeled the “Dark Universe.” Films published under this imprint would presumably share characters and continuing plot threads, similar to the comic-book inspired entries of Marvel Studios. The Mummy‘s mediocre reception has since called future Dark Universe movies into question, and has now led to the departure of two of the one-film franchise’s most instrumental figures.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, producers Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan have officially left their work on the Dark Universe movies to pursue other projects. Initially in charge of the series’ creative direction, Kurtzman is now shifting his focus back to TV, producing shows like Star Trek: Discovery, while Morgan is underway with writing a Fast & Furious spin-off starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham. This latest setback is just one of many for the interconnected universe, following several false starts and rumors.
Universal was initially very confident in their new series, greenlighting a large slate of future Dark Universe movies and casting big-name actors such as Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem. Things changed when The Mummy unexpectedly bombed at the box office, prompting Universal to rethink their approach moving forward. Plans for a Wolfman adaptation starring Dwayne Johnson and a Bride of Frankenstein film starring Angelina Jolie were rumored to be on the fast-track to production, but those projects have seemingly stalled as well.
What do you think? Is the Dark Universe dead and buried, or does the franchise deserve another chance? Should 2014’s Dracula Untold be included in the mix? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more monster-featured news from recent weeks, check out these next few links below:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
