Well in case you didn’t think so already, this story does confirm Hollywood’s current mantra: “If at first you don’t succeed, reboot, and reboot again.”
Back in March I reported that Universal had plans to make a sequel to the disappointing 2010 Benicio del Toro movie The Wolfman despite the fact that it was another failure at its attempt to relaunch its legendary Universal Monsters brand (the first failed attempt was 2004’s equally disappointing Van Helsing). We haven’t heard anything about the sequel since my initial report, and with good reason: Movieholeis reporting that the sequel’s script is being rejiggered into an original film instead. The report suggests that it will go under a different title — Werewolf is the front-runner — and will have clear ties to the original 1941 Lon Chaney, Jr. classic. If nothing else that will help sell a few more DVDs of the classic monster films, right?
The film, with the reworked script that was originally written by Michael Tabb (whose only writing credit that IMDB lists is a 2006 direct-t0-DVD Tom Sizemore movie titled Ring Around the Rosie), is set to start filming in the fall in whatever form it ends up in.
I’d like to see Universal get it’s “Monster” brand back — those original 1930s and 1940s films are great, even if they got progressively worse — but I’m not sure if that’s do-able at this point where nearly every studio has some sort of vampire, werewolf, and/or Frankenstein film in the works. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
4 Comments
Vngbs
Universal should let the guy who directed both Hellboy movies, do his remake of Frankenstein. Then do a remake of the 1943 Frankenstein meets The Wolfman. It really make sense. If they do a reboot to The Wolfman why would you change a title that has been around for 70 years. Why would you change The Wolfman into Werewolf, it’s stupid. Universal should just do a remake to Frankenstein meets The Wolfman. Benicio Del Toro should come back to play Lawerence Talbot, because orinigaly one actor played that role lon chaney Jr. Del Toro launched the new one, and he looks a little like lon chaney jr. So as long as Lawerence Talbot is in the movie Benicio Del Toro should betray him. Don’t change the title now, The Wolfman is an iconic, and classical name why would you change it to werewolf, especially now when it’s been around for 70 years.
John
I am a true classic monster movie fan. I remember watching them on super 8 with projector and screen from Bell & Howell. I would love to see Frankenstein, the Mummy, and Dracula brought back copying the nostalgic look with some modern day computer generated effects. I would start with the original look of each monster and make them a little darker and just a little more gruesome without totally changing the look. I would make Frankenstein sound something like the Halk in the Avengers… Kind of scary and errie when he speaks… I am not satisfied with any of the Frankenstein movies that I have seen since Burris Karloff. They try and humanize the monsters now days… I want to see a scary monster, not one I can set down and socialize with.
Chris McKittrick
John,
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! Actually, Universal is planning on making a new “Universe” of its classic monsters not unlike the Avengers. Check out my update here: http://mbadbkweb.famp-art.com/news/alex-kurtzman-chris-morgan-captain-universals-latest-attempt-revive-classic-movie-monster-franchises
Matthew
It’s a lonely world being fond of Del Toro’s The Wolfman. For the life of me I can’t understand all the dislike. I love its gothic overtones. Rick Bakers work is brilliant. The ‘turning’ scene in the asylum is all world IMO. A heckuva ride that I enjoy taking from time to time.