Actress Alisha Weir (“Matilda: The Musical”) will be a part of the new currently untitled Universal Monsters movie. She will be joining previously announced actress Melissa Barrera (“Scream”). The project is being helmed by the filmmaking collective Radio Silence (“Scream,” “Scream 6”).
Radio Silence is made up of filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villell. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett will be directing the new film, with Villella producing. William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt of Project X Entertainment are also producing along with Tripp Vinson. Jay Polidoro, Holly Goline, Kelly Cannon, and Jacqueline Garell will be overseeing the project for the studio. With a script written by Stephen Sheilds, and revisions by Guy Busick.
While plot details are still under wraps, we’re pretty sure it isn’t a reboot of “The Mummy.” While this project has been in development for some time, Radio Silence started pursuing it after the first “Scream” film they directed. At one point it was titled “Dracula’s Daughter,” which is a classic Univeral film from 1936.
What we do know is the plot centers around a group of kidnappers who abduct a band of young people. But one of the abductees ends up being more than they bargained for. Weir will be playing one of the kidnappees, with Barrera playing one of the kidnappers.
While Universal won’t give up which Monster they are rebooting. The company has confirmed the project will follow in the same vein as their recent reboots. Like Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man” starring Elisabeth Moss or Chris McKay’s “Renfield” starring Nicolas Cage. Each film is “a unique take on legendary monster lore and will represent a fresh, new direction for how to celebrate these classic characters.” With each film acting as a separate entity and not in a shared universe. So, basically, artists can play in iconic sandboxes without messing up cannon.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about Radio Silence’s new project for Universal as they become available.
