Trends are easily followed. They become the best current product or movement that everyone wants to be a part of. It is tempting. One of the biggest trends in cinema that studios took a glance at was the shared cinematic universe that the MCU established. Much of the stories had connective DNA that made it all one piece. The MCU’s constant success sold the idea that something like this could and does work. That’s what made it a tempting route to make something special. DC has tried a few times. The Monsterverse is still going. But there is another shared cinematic universe that had their eye on the ball but came really short after their first outing. The Dark Universe from Universal was meant to be the studio’s attempt to replicate the MCU’s success. And they had the characters to do it. Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s Monster, the creature from the black lagoon, and Dr Jekyll/Mr. Hide. These plus a few more were easily at Universal’s disposal and it made them believe something could be done. Something was in fact attempted but came no where close to what the studio wanted. If a few things did line up for Universal, what could have been for the Dark Universe?
There were technically two different attempts, two first chapters, to get this universe started. One of them was Dracula: Untold. It makes perfect sense to start a universe with Dracula since he is one the most recognizable names in fiction and definitely one of, if not, the most popular character in Universal’s line up. The film was solid among fans and critics. Even had a scene that teased more things to come. But with no dedicated effort and with a lukewarm response to Dracula: Untold, the Dark Universe would have to begin elsewhere. It came in the form of a rebooted The Mummy. Once again, an ancient mummy is awoken in the modern age and is hellbent. This movie, way more than Dracula: Untold, was more dedicated in setting up things to come. Easter eggs referring to vampires and the creature from the black lagoon were clearly seen. Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hide was included in the film and was set to be a prominent character in the universe that might have served as a piece to keep things connected. However, the movie was a major flop with no chance of salvaging anything from it. Due to the flop, the Dark Universe got snuffed out before it arrived.
The Dark Universe had ambition to move forward. Plans were made to make an Invisible Man movie as well as a Bride of Frankenstein movie. Going as far as hiring actors and actresses…possibly. But with the failure of The Mummy, those movies never saw the light of day. Not even the light of a candle.
But if minimum success was achieved, just enough to inspire a few more movies, what could this universe looked like? The other shared universes all use the same formula. Which are a few solo movies with references to other characters and events. Maybe a cameo from a character or two, which would have been Dr. Jekyll most likely. Then it would lead into the team up movie where they might have some inner fighting until a larger, shared threat arrives. With ‘monsters’ serving as the ‘heroes’ in these stories, much of the movies perhaps would have seen the characters on the run or on the defensive. They would have been social outcasts, abominations of nature so that would have put them in negative light. They would most likely be more anti-hero than anything else. If they would have been more protective and heroic, these characters would have done it from the shadows, behind the scenes, so their secret, their nature, their monstrous appearance would be kept hidden from the public. And unlike the MCU, the DCEU/DCU, and the Monsterverse where a lot is out in public knowledge, efforts to keep this side of the world and these characters would have been a common theme. With monsters, dark arts, and mad science going around, efforts to keep the peace would have been pivotal. Some events from The Mummy were out in the public in a large way, but efforts to play it down could have been made. An interesting thought about who would have been the antagonists in these films comes up. In previous installments, it was largely man vs. monster. For the most part, the monsters were the antagonists. But the Dark Universe was set up to make these monsters the protagonists. It leaves a question, who would have been the villains? History would probably say humans. But would that have gotten old? Mortal people going up against monsters. Sure, some of them would have been different. Perhaps one is filthy rich, one who is a legit monster hunter, one who fanatically follows a church. But at some point, fans would have wanted something a bit more. Monster vs monster fighting. So, would the Creature from the Black Lagoon have fought a games hunter or some other animal/human hybrid? At some point, things would have needed to be spiced up so a monster vs monster clash would be needed and included. Then that leaves a bigger question, what would these movies led up to? Would it have been a tournament of monsters to see who is the top dog? Would a Van Helsing character or Van Helsing himself have been the common threat forcing the monsters to come together? Or something else entirely like a powerful witch, a massive horde of zombies, automatons, or demons or anything like that? Shared universes always lead to a team up where the established characters unite to defeat a common enemy. With a potential team up composed of “enemies”, what would have been that common threat? It needed to be something large and pure evil for monsters to unite to defeat it. The Dark Universe is a story where everyone knows where it was going but no idea in the exact way it was taking to get there. It was filled with a lot of ‘fill in the blanks”.
The Dark Universe tried to replicate something that quickly became the thing to do. Shared cinematic universes were hot property that were an interesting concept due to how each company could handle it. With such iconic characters that Universal had at their disposal, they had what they needed and at least provided a spark of interest. Their gameplan would have looked familiar due to how these universes work but would have done some fresh things to really make their mark on a concept like this. But due to poor handling, the Dark Universe will be one that will only live in the thought of ‘what if?’.
