Universal’s “Van Helsing” reboot finds scribes

PanARMENIAN.Net - Scribes Jon Spaihts and Eric Heisserer have signed on to co-write Universal’s “Van Helsing” reboot as the studio continues to develop its classic monsters universe, according to Variety.

Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan will produce the film.

Universal’s new production endeavor will expand and unify a network of classic monsters; it is led by narrative architects Kurtzman and Morgan. The interconnected slate of monster films will begin with a reboot of “The Mummy” and how Van Helsing would work into the rest of the universe is still being mapped out.

Plot details are unknown at this time. The studio has already said its first film in the monster universe, “The Mummy,” with be set in present day, but there’s no word yet on when “Van Helsing” will take place. The character first appeared in Bram Stroker’s “Dracula” and dedicated his life to killing the monster. In 2004, Hugh Jackman starred in a film adaptation in which Van Helsing was made out to be a monster hunter, not only hunting Dracula but having run-ins with Frankenstein and the Wolf Man.

Similar to the Marvel and “Transformers” universes, Spaihts and Heisserer were among a handful of writers Uni assembled for its monster universe writers room, with Spaihts also penning “The Mummy.” Spaihts’ recent credits include “Doctor Strange” for Marvel and the Jennifer Lawrence-Chris Pratt sci-fi drama “Passengers,” while Heisserer most recently penned Denis Villeneuve’s “Story of Your Life” and had previously penned the “The Thing” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” reboots.