The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be the model that has captivated the Hollywood studios, who are never shy about invoking the “sincerest form of flattery” at every possible turn. The latest Tinseltown studio to opt for the creation of movies with interwoven storylines and characters is Universal, which is rebooting its “classic” monsters with a series of inter-connected films that it calls “The Dark Universe,” and which kicks off with Alex Kurtzman’s The Mummy on June 9.
In addition to its press release announcing the new shared cinematic universe, Universal unveiled a group photo of some key “Dark Universe” actors that includes Johnny Depp, who will star in The Invisible Man, Tom Cruise, who stars in The Mummy as Nick Morton, Russell Crowe, who will play Dr. Henry Jekyll, Sofia Boutella, who plays the eponymous Mummy, and Javier Bardem, who will play Frankenstein’s monster in director Bill Condon’s The Bride of Frankenstein, which is slated to be the second Dark Universe film with an “oh so appropriate” release date of February 14, 2019.
Composer Danny Elfman has created a musical theme for Universal’s Dark Universe, and Universal has released a “Monsters’ Legacy” promo reel with footage of the original Universal monsters, who will, in their new rebooted incarnations, populate the studio’s new “Dark Universe.”
![](https://icv2.com/images/article_thumbs/650x650_68685251736c501b90e2ac3663de4f6e575ae1c093b41855eb250fb3.jpg)
Monster Movies Will Be Integrated--Johnny Depp to Play 'The Invisible Man'
Posted by ICv2 on May 22, 2017 @ 5:43 pm CT
![](https://icv2.com/imgs/icon_print.jpg)
MORE COMICS
From Marvel Comics
September 6, 2024
In the wake of Krakoa's fall, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters has been transformed into a prison for mutants, complete with a new generation of Sentinels!
Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data
September 6, 2024
These are unit and dollar sales rankings based on sales tracked at point-of-sale by the ComicHub system at stores selling American graphic novels (and manga) around the world.
MORE NEWS
On Gamefound
September 6, 2024
Go On Board and CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077: The Board Game has passed $2 million in funding on Gamefound in its first 24 hours, the companies announced.
Shop Talk, September 2024
September 6, 2024
All this and more in Shop Talk, our roundup of comic and game store news.