When The Mummy reboot, starring Tom Cruise, was set to be released, Universal Pictures announced a Universal Monsters franchise that was set to be their new cinematic universe. After The Mummy bombed, plans for that universe almost immediately fell apart. It would now seem that the keys have been handed to Blumhouse Productions because it has been announced that Leigh Whannell has been hired to helm a reboot of The Invisible Man.
The move is part of a fresh strategy for the Universal monster properties, bringing creative directors with distinctive visions to the classic characters. Whannell is best known as the co-creator of both the Saw and Insidious franchises, and the director of last year’s well-received Upgrade.
Johnny Depp was previously attached to The Invisible Man, but he will not appear in this film. Some outlets are saying he still may be featured in another one of the monster movie projects in development.
Although Whannell has been hired, it does not necessarily mean this will be the next monster movie to go into production, as other pitches are also coming together revolving around different characters. Before Universal pulled the plug on the “Dark Universe”, the studio had planned reboots of The Creature From the Black Lagoon & The Bride of Frankenstein, among others.
