Universal’s Dark Universe series off to a stumbling start
UNIVERSAL is daring to go where superheroes successfully tread, trying to fashion a connected cinematic universe out of its classic monsters, including The Mummy, The Invisible Man and Mr Hyde.
But following the Marvel model by stitching together creature features comes with raised stakes: What if Universal can’t breathe box-office life into this monster of a multicharacter universe?
Domestically, the first warning sign arrived at the weekend with The Mummy. The remake, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella, grossed $32.2 million in its North American debut, according to studio estimates.
The less-than-impressive domestic debut raises a few concerns about the viability of Universal’s Dark Universe, with Bride of Frankenstein (starring Javier Bardem) due in 2019, with Russell Crowe’s Dr Jekyll (introduced in The Mummy) and Johnny Depp’s Invisible Man eyed for the pipeline.
The question becomes: Can the modern connected-universe model, as constructed with DC and Marvel characters, be profitably adapted for non-superhero blockbusters?
Highlighting the current advantage enjoyed by comic-book crimefighters was the sophomore-weekend success of Wonder Woman.
The Patty Jenkins film – starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine – grossed $57.2m, topping this weekend’s domestic box office. The well-received film also reversed a recent trend for DC films: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad each plummeted at least 65% in their second weekends; Wonder Woman dropped 45%.
It has grossed $435.2m worldwide – vaulting it to the eighth-highest-grossing of the year. Domestically, Wonder Woman ($202m) is the year’s fifth-biggest film – with Fate of the Furious ($224.5m) and Logan ($226.2m) next in its sights.
For decades, many Hollywood actors have sought the reliable relevance and box office of a steady franchise. The billion-dollar question is: Can an A-lister land in a smash-connected universe going forward without donning the cape? – The Washington Post