Eric Heisserer talks Van Helsing, Dan Mazeau signs on for a rewrite

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

Universal is working on reboots of all their classic monster properties, working with producers Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan to build a Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe, a series of films that will see characters like The Mummy, Mr. Hyde, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein's Monster (and his Bride), The Invisible Man, The Wolf Man, and Dracula crossing paths with each other. And it's not just the monsters and villains that are being brought back to the screen – among the reboots is a new version of VAN HELSING, centering on that famous monster hunter.

Eric Heisserer (LIGHTS OUT, ARRIVAL) and Jon Spaihts (PROMETHEUS, PASSENGERS) teamed up on the VAN HELSING script, and Heisserer recently discussed the project with Collider.

… it’s a modern-day reimagining… I can talk about my emotional state of what I’ve been passionate about or sometimes frustrated by are the number of films where we find an extraordinary character with superhuman abilities that becomes a hero to solve a problem that a normal person cannot solve. And I was eager to try and buck that trend and showcase someone who had no extraordinary powers, just resourcefulness and will and kind of a stubbornness who’s able to tackle some of these bigger problems. Because I don’t like the idea that we’re infusing our public and our pop culture with the idea that only super people can solve the world’s problems. I like the idea of the everyday hero stepping up to the plate and getting things fixed.

… I can say that my intent stepping in was to make it as scary as possible, partly because I know how to do that, and also because when you’re the only human surrounded by a bunch of supernatural creatures, that’s gotta be absolutely unnerving."

It sounds like Heisserer was taking the right approach to the material, I like the idea of VAN HELSING being a scary movie about an everyday guy taking on a bunch of monsters – it certainly sounds more appealing than that goofball 2004 VAN HELSING.

It remains to be seen how much of the shared vision Heisserer and Spaihts had for VAN HELSING will make it to the screen. Hours after Collider posted their interview, it was announced that WRATH OF THE TITANS writer Dan Mazeau is doing a rewrite of the VAN HELSING script, having signed on to the project back in September. Here's hoping he'll be sticking with that grounded, scary approach.

The first film in this Monster Universe is THE MUMMY, which is scheduled to reach theatres on June 9th and stars Sofia Boutella as the title character, with Tom Cruise as the hero and Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll.