‘Aquaman’ Writer to Pen ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’ Reboot for Universal

From the amphibious oceanic hero to the amphibious lake monster…

Deadline reports that Universal Pictures has recruited Aquaman writer Will Beall (Gangster Squad, Castle) to pen the script for their upcoming monster-universe reboot of 1954’s The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Following the studio trend made popular by Marvel and The Avengers, the film is set to be a part of as new hopeful cinematic universe, connecting new reimaginings of the studio’s classic movie monsters and creature features (Invisible Man, Wolfman, Mummy) in a modernized action horror series. 2014’s Dracula Untold, starring Luke Evans, was originally meant to be the franchise’s debut entry, but was scrapped due to its critical response and box office earnings. This year’s The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, will introduce the world of Universal’s gods and monsters. Russell Crowe’s Dr. Jekyll (and Mr. Hyde) is set to appear in that film as well, planting the monstrous seeds for the future films.

Writer/producers Chris Morgan (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Alex Kurtzman (Transformers, Star Trek) are overseeing the plans for the monster-verse. Writers for Van Helsing, The Wolfman, and The Bride of Frankenstein have previously been hired by the studio to develop this initial phase. There have also been reports of the studio prepping with Johnny Depp to star as The Invisible Man. Whether or not all these monsters will join together in an Avengers-style monster mash is unknown at this point.

The Mummy is set for release on June 9^th.