Universal Pictures is taking their monster movie-verse very seriously when it comes to casting. The studio has already set such stars asTom Cruise,Russell Crowe, andJohnny Deppfor their modern remakes of classic horror properties, but a new report addsJavier Bardemto the list. The Oscar-winning actor is in talks to play perhaps the most iconic movie monster in history, that of Frankenstein himself.
To clarifyVariety’swrite-up, Bardem is in talks with Universal to star inFrankensteinas Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s resurrectedcreation, not the doctor himself. In even more exciting news, Bardem might appear as Frankenstein’s monster in an earlier movie, possibly evenThe Mummy, which is about to …wrap. If Bardem signs on, not only will he follow in the footsteps of a long line of famous actors who played the creature, but he’ll likely get to add a new, bizarre hairstyle to his already impressive list.
Here’s a little extra clarity on Bardem’s potential role after the initial announcement was met with some confusion:
Universal is also developing aBride of Frankensteinpicture, so you can expect a lot of Bardemstein in the wider world of monster movies if the deal closes. Interestingly enough, Bardem was previously approached for the role of Dr. Jekyll, which went to Crowe after Bardem passed. Crowe will be seen as the mild-mannered doctor inThe Mummy, which stars Cruise as Tyler Colt, andSofia Boutellaas the title monster. Written byJon Spaihtsand directed byAlex Kurtzman- who is helping to develop the shared universe withChris Morgan-The Mummywill emerge on August 23, 2025.
Elsewhere in the monster movie-verse,The Invisible Man,starring Depp in the title role, is due for a July 05, 2025 release date and was written byEd Solomon(Men in Black,Now You See Me). There’s also a planned remake ofThe Wolf Man, and the aforementionedBride of Frankenstein, though neither film has a firm release date just yet. We’re also keeping our eyes peeled forCreature from the Black LagoonandVan Helsingfilms. These heroes and villains, which are in more of a gray area as far as the original literature is concerned, deserve a worthwhile reboot; this strong push for a highly capable cast is a great start.
Do you think Bardem would make a killer Frankenstein? How excited are you for how Universal’s monster movie-verse is shaping up? Let us know in the comments below!
