Javier Bardem Eyed for Frankenstein Role in Universal’s Monster Universe (EXCLUSIVE)
Film Reporter
@krolljvar
JULY 11, 2016 | 12:21PM PT

Having already filled its monster universe with a roster of A-list talent that includes Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe, Universal is now eyeing another star to bring a famous character to life.

Sources tell Variety that Javier Bardem is in talks to star as Frankenstein in Universal’s cinematic universe with rebooted versions of classic monster movies. It’s currently unknown which movie Bardem would first appear in, as “The Mummy,” the first film in the monster universe, is about to wrap shooting.

The studio is also developing a “Bride of Frankenstein” pic, but sources indicate that Bardem’s Frankenstein would likely appear in another monster movie before his own project.


The studio tapped Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan last summer to help develop the monster universe for Universal.

Ironically, Bardem had been approached about playing the Dr. Jekyll role in “The Mummy,” but passed on the part, which opened the door for Crowe to step into the role.

Bardem was most recently seen in Sean Penn’s “The Last Face” and is currently filming Darren Aronofsky’s untitled film opposite Jennifer Lawrence. He also has “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which bows next summer.

He is repped by WME.

Hiding within an article on Variety (that has since been removed) was news that Universal Pictures is meeting with directors for a new take on Mary Shelley‘s “Frankenstein” that will be produced by James Wan (Aquaman, Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious) and his Atomic Monster.

It was rumored back in July of 2016 that Javier Bardem was in talks to star as Frankenstein’s monster in Universal’s “Dark Universe”, which had its plug pulled after the lackluster debut of The Mummy with Tom Cruise.

It’s unclear what direction Wan will take, but we’re all still hoping to see the return of the Bride in some way shape or form. The tale of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster has been told to death in dozens of films, and even CBS has a new series based on Shelley’s characters.

This story comes on the heel of news that Universal hired Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher to direct Renfield, a monster movie centered on Dracula’s henchman. Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man appears in theaters next year, while Paul Feig is currently developing a monster movie for the studio.