Last summer Universal announced their intention to launch an Avengers-style Universe with its cadre of classic monsters. Dracula Untold was intended as a first step in that process, but the movie's middling box-office and lukewarm critical reception seemed to halt further discussion of the endeavour. First impressions count for a lot in Hollywood, and the newly rebooted Drac's wasn't great. However, it might not have been quite bad enough to tranquilize the concept permanently. The Tracking Board is reporting that Fringe show-runner Jeff Pinkner has been hired to pen to a remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, with Scarlett Johansson possibly attached to star. It's not an unequivocal endorsement of the whole Monster Universe thing, but it's certainly enough to make one reconsider its presumed cancellation. If you saw Dracula Untold, you'll know the film struggled with issues of tone and originality, despite some modestly impressive production design. Yet, the film's finish, which was re-shot to accommodate Universal's plans, is so gleefully silly that I'm kind of intrigued to see where the Universal Monster's idea ends up. If the studio can establish a more consistent mood (and it would need to be less self-serious than Untold's) then there's perhaps some entertainment to be derived here. There's plenty of gas left in these classic characters, but a lighter touch and sense of humour feels essential to acclimatize them for the expectations of a modern audience. Universal are still plugging away on their delayed Mummy reboot, so word of active development (and a potential A-lister becoming attached) on Black Lagoon means we might be doing the Monster Mash in cinemas after all.
