Universal’s planned Monsterverse is taking a major step forward with their next flick, Bride of Frankenstein. Screenwriter David Koepp (best known for the first Spider-Man film), is in negotiations to write the remake, and the stakes for Koepp’s potential script are super high.

Last month, rumors circulated that Universal wanted Angelina Jolie to star in Bride of Frankenstein, with a new report in Variety not only confirming that rumor, but going so far as to say they want Jolie to direct the movie, too. The hitch? Jolie won’t make a decision until she sees a script for the film. That’s where Koepp comes in. If Koepp signs onto the project and his script impresses Jolie, then Universal will have some much needed star power on one of its signature franchises.

In addition to writing the first Spider-Man film, Koepp co-wrote Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Men in Black 3, and War of The Worlds. Koepp has also directed a handful of movies, including Stir of Echos and Mortdecai.

There are also persistent rumors that Universal is chasing Tom Cruise for its reboot of The Mummy. The common denominator between Cruise and Jolie is their box office clout, so it appears that Universal is not only banking on its classic creatures, but also pre-established stars, to bring their vision together. Whether that will translate into a shared universe that can rival Marvel’s Cinematic Universe remains to be seen.

The most famous version of the Bride of Frankenstein story is still Universal’s 1931 film by director James Whale with Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster and Elsa Lanchester as the Bride. The new Bride of Frankenstein remake will have a lot to live up to, provided it goes forward.

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HT: Variety
Image Credit: Universal Pictures