Horror Comedy ‘Renfield’ Added to Universal’s Proposed ‘Dark Universe’
Universal‘s attempts at setting up an expanded universe of its classic monsters to rival Marvel‘s cinematic juggernaut have been fraught with false starts and tepid disappointments. Films like 2014’s Dracula Untold and 2017’s The Mummy received lukewarm reactions from audiences and critics alike. Neither provided the sturdy foundations on which to build a successful franchise. Things changed with Leigh Wannell‘s The Invisible Man, an extraordinary film that proved that the strength of Universal’s roster of monsters was not the creatures themselves, but the human stories that could be told with them.
Now that Universal is gearing up for a fresh round of monster movies, one recently announced project has us intrigued. Renfield will focus on Dracula’s hopeless insect-eating thrall, and promises to be a gory horror comedy that explores the various miseries of working as a servant to the embodiment of evil.
Director Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) is currently in talks to direct the movie with Rick and Morty writer Ryan Ridley. Producer Robert Kirkman said, “We’re doing this cool movie for Universal that’s a focus on Renfield. It’s a story about him being Dracula’s henchman and how shitty a job that is. It’s a fun, extremely violent comedy because I’ve got a crutch, and it’s violence.”
I’m really excited for the return of the dark universe. With something like reinfield being added, they have a chance to make something real dark and bloody.