Eric Heisserer and Jon Spaihts have been tapped to co-write Universal’s VAN HELSING reboot, which will serve as an entry in the studio’s shared monster universe. Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan are producing the pic. Van Helsing is part of the studio’s announced slate of rebooted titles from their classic monster library, though how the story will fit into the interconnected universe is still being worked out.
The monster universe is being set up by Kurtzman and Morgan and will kickoff with a remake of The Mummy, which will be set in present day. There’s no word yet on when Van Helsing will take place nor what the film will be about, though the character finds his origins in Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula, where he served as a hunter of the vampiric fiend.
The studio made a film in 2004 which starred Hugh Jackman as a hunter of monsters beyond Dracula, such as Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man. The new film will bear no connection to the 2004 version, though will likely still see the titular hunter fighting much more than vampires. Kurtzman and Roberto Orci previously wrote a draft that saw Tom Cruise attached to star, but there’s no word on whether or not Cruise is still on board.
Spaihts and Heisserer were among the group of writers hand-picked by the studio for a monster universe writers room, tasked with fleshing out the shared universe. Spaihts also wrote The Mummy reboot and will likely have a hand in the further intended installments in the franchise – with Invisible Man, Creature From The Black Lagoon, and the Wolf Man just a few of the characters plotted for their own entries. He also wrote Marvel’s Doctor Strange and Sony’s Passengers, which stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt.
Heisserer most recently penned New Line’s horror Light’s Out and Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi Story of Your Life, which stars Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. He’s known for scripting the A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot, Final Destination 5, and the prequel of The Thing. He’s next scripting Morten Tyldum and Fox’s adaptation of the classic Agatha Christie mystery novel And Then There Were None.
Spaihts is repped by CAA and Circle of Confusion.
Heisserer is repped by WME and Art/Work Entertainment.
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Clark Allen | Associate Editor
This news was first reported by Variety.
