Javier Bardem is the latest actor to join those in talks to be part of Universal’s growing classic monster franchise.
Bardem, known for No Country for Old Men and Skyfall, could be taking on a new beast if all goes well with negotiations between the actor and Universal Studios.
According to EW, the actor is looking at a role related to Frankenstein, though it’s currently unclear whether that’s in regards to the doctor or his creation.
Either way, the role could put him opposite the likes of Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, and Johnny Depp.
News of this franchise came in November 2015, when it was reported Cruise would be helming a franchise so large and interrelated it could be compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Cruise would not only star in a Mummy reboot, but act as a producer for the new franchise. He would also appear in the other films set in the same universe, which would explore classic monster movie plots and eventually culminate in a tie-in movie comparable to The Avengers.
Since the announcement, Crowe was revealed to be playing a Dr. Jekyll-esque character, while Depp signed on to star in an Invisible Man reboot.
Universal’s new and modern monster universe is being developed by Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek, Transformers) and Chris Morgan (Fast & Furious, Wanted).
Not everyone has been enthusiastic about a possible Mummy reboot, considering the film starring Brandon Fraiser is beloved by many, but the idea of an overarching franchise that ends with a crossover movie does sound intriguing. Plus, with the likes of Cruise, Crowe, Depp, and now Bardem, it’s hard to argue that the films won’t have a strong pull for moviegoers.
Now we just have to see if Universal can pull off an intricately tied universe on par with Marvel. If they can, this could be the next big series to take over movie theatres.