Van Helsing writer confirms Tom Cruise film will reinvent character
A new “Van Helsing” film was officially announced May with Tom Cruise attached to play the title character. Now writer Alex Kurtzman confirms the film will reinvent the famous character.
Talking with The Fan Carpet on Wednesday, the “Transformers” writer detailed the character’s portrayal from previous Universal films and his thoughts on the Cruise incarnation.
“Well, I don’t want to give away too much, because we are actually at the very beginning of talking about what to do with it, but I do feel like the Van Helsing that Anthony Hopkins plays in [Bram Stoker’s] Dracula is sort of the parody version of it, and the Van Helsing that Hugh Jackman played was obviously in a different place as well.”
Kurtzman is confirmed to be producing the film with Roberto Orci and was quick to separate the current project from the 2004 Hugh Jackman film.
“I think that these kinds of movies have evolved a lot since then. You know, The Dark Knight was a major, major corner-turning moment in the way that genre and superhero stories could be told. Really grounded in reality. Really grounded in really cool things. That’s what I’d like to do without sacrificing the fantasy element.”
Cruise is set to produce the film as well.
Van Helsing is based on the classic figure from Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. In the Jackman film, Van Helsing battled werewolves, dangerous bats, vampires and a frankenstein monster. Universal has been very public about their desire to stir interest in the classic monsters, so fans expect a similar theme in this new film.
Cruise has a full plate of projects which include the Sci-Fi film “Oblivion” directed by Joseph Kosinski (“Tron”) and returns for sequels to “Top Gun” and another “Mission Impossible” film.
There is no dates for production or other casting news.
“Oblivion” is set for a April 26, 2013.
The official synopsis for “Oblivion”:
Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.
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