Keep your superheroes. Universal is going monstrous with their first big shared universe franchise (unless you countFast & Furious, which is fair enough), and they’re already getting the ball rolling on the next installment. PerTHR, the studio has recruitedThe ExpendablesscribeDave Callahamto rewrite the script forThe Wolf Man, the next classic beastie on the docket.
The first draft of the script was written byAaron Guzikowski(Prisoners), who was part of the writer’s room team headed up byAlex Kurtzman(Transformers) andChris Morgan(Fast & Furiousfranchise) that the studio assembled to brainstorm and map out the monsters universe.
It’s not totally clear if Universal will eventually circle back toLuke Evans' Dracula, who was introduced in 2014’sDracula Untold(though he seems to be feeling good about his chances), but they’re poised to properly launch their interconnected universe with next year’s action-packed spin onThe Mummy. Directed by Kurtzman,The MummystarsTom Cruise,Jake Johnson,Annabelle Wallis, andCourtney B. VanceoppositeSofia Boutellaas the titular monster. It will also introduceRussell Croweas Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 01, 2025.
In addition to The Mummy, Wolf Man and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, the interconnected universe is rumored to feature The Invisible Bride and Bride of Frankenstein. Universal’s first spin onThe Wolf Mancame from theGeorge Waggner-helmed 1941 classic that starredLon Chaney Jr.in the titular transformative role. They most recently revived the character in the 2010 adaptation starringBenicio Del Toro.
In addition to his work onThe ExpendablesandThe Expendables 2, Callaham also worked onGareth Edwards’Godzillaand the long-developedZombieland 2. He also penned the script for the upcoming Will Gluck-helmed action comedy Jackpot and theJean-Claude Van DammevehicleJean-Claude Van Johnson, which Amazon recently picked up to series. He also has the projectAnother Motherin development at New Line withDwayne Johnsonattached to star. Recent reports suggested that Universal was eyeing Johnson for the leading role inThe Wolf Man, but there have been no developments on the casting front.
