We've been over this before: when Universal decided they wanted to craft a "Dark Universe" of interconnected reboots of their classic monster properties, they messed up by starting this endeavor with a version of THE MUMMY that had such a ridiculously high budget it was considered a box office failure even though it made over $400 million. Plans for a cinematic universe were scrapped, and the project that was hurt the most was a remake of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN that was just months away from filming. Bill Condon was going to be directing the film from a screenplay by David Koepp, Javier Bardem was signed on to play Frankenstein's Monster opposite Angelina Jolie as the Bride… and then it all just went away.
Now Variety has shared something of a status update on BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and it includes the news that I've been hoping not to hear: Bill Condon is no longer involved. Condon is a great fan of original FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDE director James Whale and even made a fictional movie, GODS AND MONSTERS, about Whale's final days, so I've always felt that he was the perfect choice for this.
Universal is now moving forward with filmmaker-driven monster movies with lower budgets than THE MUMMY had. This change of course begins with the Blumhouse production THE INVISIBLE MAN, written and directed by Leigh Whannell. Other projects in development include THE INVISIBLE WOMAN, from director Elizabeth Banks; Dexter Fletcher's RENFIELD, about Dracula's lackey; Paul Feig's monster mash DARK ARMY; and the recently announced musical MONSTER MASH, set to be directed by Matt Stawski.
And there's still interest in making a new version of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Variety reports that A QUIET PLACE director John Krasinski "tinkered with an iteration of BRIDE and other Universal characters last year". Now producer Amy Pascal, who recently moved to Universal from Sony, is looking into the property. A source from Universal said,
Amy expressed interest in being involved with The Bride of Frankenstein, and just as the studio has done with numerous other filmmakers, we empowered her to explore a new vision for the Universal monster character and come back with a new and inventive take. Nothing has been solidified in an official capacity."
Hoping to oversee her own version of BRIDE, Pascal turned to a couple collaborators she worked with on SPIDER-MAN: director Sam Raimi and screenwriter David Koepp. It's not clear if Koepp was interested in working on the project again after the version he was planning with Condon was cancelled, but if Raimi closes his deal to direct DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS for Marvel and Disney it could take him out of the running for BRIDE.
Some insiders have said that Jolie is still attached to play the Bride whenever the movie happens, although she has the option to bail if she doesn't approve of the creative team. Another source says Jolie is ready to move on from the Bride regardless of who ends up making it.
Universal has been kicking around the idea of remaking BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN since long before the Dark Universe plan ever came up. I'm sure they'll finally get a remake into production someday, and it will be interesting to see who ends up bringing it to the screen.