MovieChat Forums > Guillermo del Toro Discussion > Universal Studios needs him

Universal Studios needs him

posted 8 years ago by cybermonster_8
4 replies | jump to latest

For years now Universal Studios has been trying to reboot their classic horror movie icons in hopes of setting up some kind of shared universe to compete with Marvel Studios, but each of their attempts has ended in utter failure.

The Wolfman 2010- failure
Dracula Untold- failure
I, Frankenstein- failure
The Mummy 2017- possible failure

Guillermo del Toro has shown he knows how to make successful movies about monsters to make them scary and likable to the audience. Universal needs a visionary mind like his to map out how to reintroduce these creatures properly that pays homage to their original roots without alienating them by dropping them in a dull modern setting. He himself did try to make his own Frankenstein film that fell through, so its not as if he would turn down the idea of tackling this. Unfortunately business suits have no eye for talent and would rather just throw sht at the wall and see if it sticks.

[–] lasse-vogt 8 years ago

I totally agree with you, but the problem Is that big studios don't like taking risks and first and foremost want to make money. Del Toro is well known for doing his own thing and not getting along well with studios and their demands. He probably would make very cool and entertaining movies based on those monsters, but the studio would also try to change the scripts, cast actors who don't fit the roles and boil it down to the lowest common denominator in terms of plot, structure and the overall product, let alone the marketing. If studio execs were smart, they would let the directors (which THEY hired!!!) do their thing with their visions. But studio executives are NOT smart (as Warner Bros. And DC continue to proof) and just copy the formula of others.

But your idea is great and I highly approve.

[–] lasse-vogt 8 years ago

However, Universal let him do his thing with the Hellboy Movies and Crimson Peak, so maybe there is still hope.

[–] fjodor-albrecht 8 years ago

Kind of true however the reason we dont have a third hellboy installment is because they denied his budget, Del toros movies are not famous for making ton of money not even his more accesible ones like Pacific Rim

[–] cybermonster_8 8 years ago

It depends on what scale you are using the profit returns based around. Del Toro's movies surely cant make the kind of money that comic book films make, but what other films can? He has written script treatments for DC films to use for their movies.