Universal has been building hype for their shared-universe classic monsters franchise for some time, but the whole shebang is meant to kick off with next year's THE MUMMY, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. But there's a distinct possibility that the franchise has already started. That's right, 2014's DRACULA UNTOLD may yet be folded into the universe, according to star Luke Evans.
Evans told LRM:
There have been talks and conversations. I think the bigger picture is exciting for all the monsters that they own. There is talk about it. I just don’t know how it will all manifest itself. I think it will happen and I think they’re just working out how these monsters interact and how they end up in the same realm with each other. If they can stick Captain America in a scene with Iron Man and Thor, I think you can definitely put Wolf Man, the Invisible Man, The Mummy and Dracula in the same film as well.
That's a fair point, man. And although DRACULA UNTOLD was a bit of a dud here in the States, it was reasonably successful overseas, which means we can't rule that possibility out. And the fact that Evans is even involved in discussions means that the idea is at least on the table. When last we heard about the film, it had been completely cut out of the conversation, which doesn't seem to be the case anymore. The cobweb-covered tables are turning.
I never saw DRACULA UNTOLD because I know better, so I'm not sure how it might play into the universe at large, but Universal has done it before. Maybe they can do it again.
The next film in the official Universal Monsters canon is THE MUMMY, out on June 9, 2017. The film also stars Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, Javier Botet, and Marwan Kenzari.