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Karyn Kusama Set to Direct ‘Dracula’ at Universal

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That didn’t take long, the next films in a contemporary shared Monster Universe are already being planned and though many are only early on in development, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Karyn Kusama has been selected to direct Dracula with Blumhouse Productions and Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay co-writing the screenplay.

After a few misfires with 2014’s Dracula Untold and 2017’s The Mummy, The Invisible Man hit the nail on the head this year by receiving very positive reviews and high box office return for Universal Studios with returning to its catalog of classic monsters. read more

James Wan to Produce Universal Monster Film

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Just like that, the Universal Monsters have resurged thanks to the breakout success of The Invisible Man and now director James Wan is coming on board to produce a monster film of his own for the studio according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Set to be created under Wan’s Atomic Monster banner, writer for Supernatural Robbie Thompson will pen the screenplay.

Although it is currently without a title, it is being said the story revolves around teenagers who discover their neighbor is creating a monster in his basement which gets loose. read more

‘The Invisible Man’ Appears to Grab the Top Spot at Weekend Box Office

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Although this week’s box office headline may surprise you, be assured that no words such as “disappointment”, “disaster”, or “bomb” have been erased by the horrorvirus that has impacted this year’s box office.  Believe your eyes; The Invisible Man is actually a hit!  Leigh Whannel’s The Invisible Man easily defeated the competition this week, earning an estimated $29 million at the box office, outstripping generous estimates and predictions. read more

‘The Invisible Man’ Gets R-Rating

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As if we didn’t see it coming, Universal’s latest monster flick The Invisible Man has been given an R-Rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.

The projected rating is for “some strong bloody violence and language.”

The film’s premise straight from Universal Pictures follows Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) who is trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist. She escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid). But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see. read more

‘Invisible Man’ Trailer Now Visible

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Fans of Universal Monsters may want to disappear after watching the first trailer for Leigh Whannell’s (Saw, Insidious) adaptation of the 1933 James Whale film, starring Claude Rains as the robe wearing mastermind.

Judging by the trailer, it appears that Blumhouse has gone the teen horror route with Invisible Man, veering as far away from the failed attempt at a new Universal Monsters franchise, 2017’s disastrous The Mummy.  Last January, Variety reported that  the new Universal Monsters films would succeed “By not mandating a unified, connected universe of monster stories, the studio will be able to open up the characters to filmmakers who will be inspired to create their own unique stories.” read more

Guillermo del Toro Receives Hollywood Walk of Fame Star; Offers to Finance One for Legendary Monster Make-Up Artist Jack Pierce

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Oscar winner and fan favorite writer/director Guillermo del Toro (known as a super fan of monsters, horror, and Disney’s Haunted Mansion) received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, and, true to his nature, took the opportunity to promote one of the trail blazers of make-up design, Universal Studios’ Jack Pierce.

In his acceptance speech, del Toro recalled visiting the Walk of Fame as a boy in the 1970s, and looking for the stars for “…Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Alfred Hitchcock, you know, and one that I didn’t find and I will make the point to nominate and finance myself is Jack Pierce because he was one of the greatest make-up men and creators in our genre and he has never been honored with one.” read more

‘Universal Monsters’ Get Shrunk Down for Funko’s New Mystery Mini Series

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If your wallet still has some money left in it after last week’s announcement of Funko’s Ad Icons Mystery Minis series (featuring all of the General Mills Monster cereal characters including the rare Yummy Mummy and Fruit Brute), it won’t for long, as Funko announced today on twitter that the Universal Monsters would be getting an entire series of minis dedicated to them.

Coming Soon: Universal Monsters Mystery Minis!https://t.co/QGLjHhH22m pic.twitter.com/Eeyb7W9VfA

— Funko (@OriginalFunko) May 17, 2019 read more

Classic Universal Monsters Coming to Halloween Horror Nights

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Per an announcement from the resorts’ web site, Universal’s classic monsters will come to life in this year’s Halloween Horror Nights mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort in CA and FL respectively.

Based on the premier cinematic monsters from the studio that invented the horror films, Universal’s terrifying experiences on both coasts will take the frightening and legendary ensemble and bring them face-to-face with guests at the resorts’ featured Halloween events. read more

Universal In Talks With Elisabeth Moss for ‘The Invisible Man’

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While there may no longer be hope for the Dark Universe, the standalone movies continue on full-steam ahead.  In an exclusive update, Variety is reporting that Elisabeth Moss will star in the re-imagining of the Universal Studios classic monster story The Invisible Man (with an assist from Blumhouse Productions.)  Man (based on the 1897 H.G. Wells novel) was initially slated to be part of Universal’s “Dark Universe”, a series of interconnected films that would reunite all of the original “Universal Monster” characters into a single cinematic universe.  However, the box office failure of the Tom Cruise-led reboot of The Mummy in 2017 forced the studio to rethink its plans altogether and to seek a different route to bring back Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, and all of the beloved horror icons. read more

Tristan Eaton Creates Massive Universal Classic Monsters Mural on Universal Studios Lot

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Universal Studios decided to spruce up their lot with a tribute to several of their all time greats. Nothing says “monster” like a 50×200 foot mural dedicated to the most famous ghouls of all time, and street artist Tristan Eaton has really delivered on the Universal Studios lot! The prolific painter began his journey in mid-January, working from a boom lift nearly 25 feet in the air; and now he’s ready to unveil his work to the public.

The Hollywood Reporter documented Eaton’s work in their latest issue, and they featured several interesting facts about his newest project. Eaton says he went through about 40 cans of spray paint per day as he crafted beautiful testaments to Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Donna Langley, Universal’s film chairperson, said they chose spray paint for the project because the classic monsters, “were the outsiders, outcasts, rebels and outlaws of their time.” For Eaton, the massive image is a labor of love: “I’m working my butt off for this because I love it so much.” read more