The A-list cast roster for these Universal Monster reboots just keep growing. Today”s addition: Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem.
The Skyfall star is “in talks” to play “Frankenstein” in the studio”s planned Marvel Cinematic Universe-style series of films, according to Variety, though the trade doesn”t specify whether the role in question is that of Dr. Victor Frankenstein — the man who creates the flat-topped monster originally played by Boris Karloff — or the creature himself. My guess would be the latter, given that the Monster is the more iconic role. Karloff”s performance is by far the most-remembered element of the original movies.
Variety also isn”t clear which film in the interconnected franchise Frankenstein/The Monster would first appear in, citing unnamed “sources” who claim the character(s) will show up in a non-Frankenstein film prior to toplining their own movie (Bride of Frankenstein is currently in development at the studio with screenwriter David Koepp). The first film in the series (not counting 2014″s Dracula Untold, which is widely seen as a failed kickoff) is director Alex Kurtzman”s The Mummy starring Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe as Dr. Jekyll and Sofia Boutella as the title character; that film is slated for release on June 9, 2017.
Meanwhile, the only other Universal Monster title with a release date, The Wolf Man, is currently scheduled to hit theaters on April 13, 2018. Dwayne Johnson has been rumored for the title role in that film, though there has been no official casting news as of yet. Benicio Del Toro last played the character in 2010's The Wolfman directed by Joe Johnston, but that film underperformed at the box office.
In other Universal Monster casting news, Johnny Depp was previously announced to be playing the Invisible Man.