Universal's Dark Universe Update: No Fun Or An Inspired Monster Mash?

"Marvel and DC had the unparalleled advantage of decades of comic-book lore," Di Placido points out. "Convoluted crossovers, multiple realities and iconic characters who'd never received respectable big-screen treatment. Not to mention a pre-existing audience, and a dedicated one at that. Comic-books are studied like religious texts."

But there are two sides to every coin, and there is plenty that gets people excited about Universal's Dark Universe and its prospects.

For instance, there is the A-list cast of actors that Horror News Network writes are already tagged to lead the movies. The Mummy will star Tom Cruise as mercenary Nick Morton and Sofia Boutella as the Mummy. Russel Crowe's Dr. Jekyll will also figure into the film, although it has not yet been announced how. The Invisible Man will star Johnny Depp, Bride of Frankenstein may feature Angelina Jolie, and Javier Bardem will play Frankenstein's Monster.

What Kurtzman had to say in his recent sitdown with IGN also filled many fans of classic horror with renewed hope that the return of the monsters would be done right.

"For me, the thing that defines the Universal Monsters as it's own genre, separate from even really The Hammer monsters and horror films and slasher films," Kurtzman told IGN in a recent interview, is that "you fear the monster and you fear for the monster. Those original monster films were – they were character films. They were played by movie stars who imbued those monsters with a heartbreak and an agony, a pathos and a emotion that I think is so specific to the Universal monsters."

He continued that while watching the Universal monster movies as a child, he had been deeply impacted by the distinct brand of sympathetic, yet horrifying freakishness that these monsters brought to the table. He used the example of how Frankenstein's monster literally smothered his victims with friendship to illustrate his point.

"In his desire to connect didn't realize he was destroying the very thing that he wanted to connect with. To me that symbolizes what the monsters are about."

That sounds like some serious vision driving the cinematic universe, many point out.

Kurtzman clarified that the movies would not contain clever winks within each movie to the other Dark Universe installations, like the after-credits scenes we have seen in the superhero genre, unless the new iconic monster is a major part of the plot.

"No, no, that's Marvel's domain," he clarified. "Maybe it'll feel more appropriate down the line, as the universe builds itself. I don't think any of wanted to be accused of ripping off what they did so well [sic]."

In fact, the Dark Universe is not going to focus nearly so much on connecting the different entries in any respect (at least in the first few installments); instead focusing on the individual movies.

"I tend to feel like the best way to build a universe is to deliver individual satisfying films. If the audiences like those films, the universe will begin to build itself," Kurtzman explained.

But when asked whether Johnny Depp, the character from the projected third movie in the Universal Dark Universe, would show up at the end of Bride of Frankenstein, the second movie of said universe, Kurtzman implied that he would.

"You'll have to see," he said. Which more than likely is a cryptic way of saying "yes," the IGN piece adds.

Are you excited for The Mummy and the universe that will come after it, or do you tend to agree with Di Placido after watching the trailer for the upcoming movie? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

[Featured Image By Universal]