‘Frankenstein’ is a planned reboot of the classic horror story and may introduce Javier Bardem into Universal’s Monster Universe in the lead role as the titular monster. The planned film will join Tom Cruise’s upcoming ‘The Mummy’ film in the cinematic franchise.
According to Variety, Bardem is in talks to play a lead role in Universal’s planned reboot of the classic tale of a young doctor who creates a grotesque creature through unorthodox experimentation. Although he is believed to take on the role of Frankenstein’s monster instead of playing Dr. Victor Frankenstein, it is yet to be confirmed.
The 47-year old Spanish actor is best known for his performance as the main antagonist on the Coen brother’s critically-acclaimed ‘No Country for Old Men’, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also received multiple accolades for his work on ‘Before Night Falls’, ‘The Sea Inside’, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’, and ‘Skyfall’. He is set to star in the upcoming film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
The planned film is part of Universal’s Monster Universe franchise, which includes Alex Kurtzman’s upcoming ‘The Mummy’ starring Tom Cruise in the lead role. Bardem was originally approached to play Dr. Henry Jekyll in ‘The Mummy’ but passed on the part, allowing Russell Crowe to take over.
Other planned monster films under Universal include the yet untitled films based on the stories of the Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Van Helsing, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and even the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Universal tapped Kurtzman and Chris Morgan to help develop the rebooted monster films into one interconnected cinematic universe.
According to Outer Places, Johnny Depp will star in the untitled ‘Invisible Man’ film while other Hollywood A-listers such as Angelina Jolie, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Scarlett Johansson are eyed for roles in Bride of Frankenstein, Wolf Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon, respectively. This is yet to be confirmed, however.
‘Frankenstein’ is a yet untitled installment in Universal’s Monster Universe of interconnected rebooted classic horror films.
