Karyn Kusama to Direct New ‘Dracula’ Film for Blumhouse
Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay are writing the script
Beatrice Verhoeven | March 10, 2020 @ 4:15 PM
Last Updated: March 10, 2020 @ 4:42 PM
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Karyn Kusama will direct a new “Dracula” feature for Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, who have collaborated with Kusama on “Destroyer” and “The Invitation,” are writing the script.
Blumhouse is just coming off a hit with Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man,” which grossed $102.2 million worldwide based off a $7 million budget. While the “Dracula” project isn’t set up at Universal Pictures just yet, it would make sense given Universal has a first look deal with Blumhouse, and Dracula is part of Universal’s Classic Monsters, alongside Godzilla, Frankenstein, The Mummy, and The Invisible Man.
And with the recent success of “The Invisible Man,” which was distributed by Universal, the Monster Universe could be brought back on track after the studio’s misfire with 2017’s “The Mummy.” That film made $409 million worldwide off of a $125 million budget.
The new “Dracula” will take place in modern times. Another monster project was recently set up at Universal as well, with James Wan producing through his Atomic Monster banner.
Kusama’s other credits include “Jennifer’s Body” (2009) and “XX” (2017), and she executive produced “Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist” (2019). She also most recently directed an episode of HBO’s “The Outsider,” based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
She is represented by ICM Partners and ID Pr. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.
Top 10 Highest-Grossing Monster Movies, From 'Godzilla' to 'King Kong' (Photos)
This weekend, Paramount is releasing "Crawl," a creature feature about a flooded town besieged by hordes of alligators. It's the latest addition to the collection of creature features that have come out over the decades, the most successful of which have featured kaijus, giant apes, and dinosaurs.
10.) "Kong: Skull Island" (2017) $165 million
Before Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson teamed up in "Captain Marvel," they appeared together in this MonsterVerse film that marked Kong's return to the big screen after 12 years. With $566 million grossed globally, the film ensured the success of the MonsterVerse and set the stage for "King of the Monsters" and "Godzilla vs. Kong"
9.) Jurassic Park III (2001) $181M
The "Jurassic Park" movies have ranged in quality over the years, but the desire to see dinosaurs chase humans who are too stupid to realize that resurrecting them is a bad idea has always been a hot ticket. Despite lukewarm reviews, "JP III" made $369 million worldwide.
8.) Godzilla (2014) $200M
Made 16 years after Roland Emmerich's version, Gareth Edwards restores Godzilla to a form more resembling his classic Toho appearance. The film was better received by critics and audiences and has now spawned a cinematic universe that will lead to Godzilla doing battle with King Kong in a 2020 crossover.
7.) King Kong (2005) $218M
Speaking of Kong, here he is in Peter Jackson's remake which was released 72 years after the original. Jackson's version went far over budget, with the cost ballooning to $207 million. But the gamble paid off, as "Kong" made $550 million worldwide
6.) Signs (2002) $227M
M. Night Shyamalan was riding at the peak of his "Sixth Sense" popularity when he made this alien film in which the invaders' biggest weakness is -- SPOILER ALERT! -- water. While it was a box office success, "Signs" marked the start of a long series of critical pans for Shyamalan that ended with his 2015 thriller "Split."
5.) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) $229M
In the classic style of sequels raising the stakes, "The Lost World" featured a grand finale in which a T-Rex escaped its confinement and began destroying San Diego. Since such destruction would permanently kill the idea of a dinosaur theme park, "Jurassic World" decides to just ignore this movie.
4.) Jaws (1975) $260M
Spielberg's legendary movie about a giant killer shark remains to this day one of the most important movies ever made, creating the blueprint for the modern blockbuster as we know it. Then, 18 years later, Spielberg changed the movie biz again with...
3.) Jurassic Park (1993) $402M
A powerful testament to the sense of wonder and terror movies can instill in their audience. "Jurassic Park" wowed audiences around the world, pushed the boundaries of what could be done with computer-generated imagery, and for over two decades, was the most successful creature feature ever made...until...
2.) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) $417M
The pedigree of the "Jurassic Park" franchise, combined with the immense popularity of leading man Chris Pratt, has made "Jurassic World" into a potent franchise for Universal. The latest installment of the series grossed $1.3 billion worldwide, and the only creature feature that has grossed more is...
1.) Jurassic World (2015) $652M
...its 2015 predecessor, which stands as one of the top 10 highest-grossing films on the domestic charts and the highest-grossing film in Universal history with $1.67 billion. Combined, the two "Jurassic World" films have grossed $3 billion at the box office. To quote the greedy Donald Gennaro in the original "Jurassic Park,": "We're gonna make a fortune with this place."
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Godzilla may be King of the Monsters, but another group of reptiles have the advantage at the box office
This weekend, Paramount is releasing "Crawl," a creature feature about a flooded town besieged by hordes of alligators. It's the latest addition to the collection of creature features that have come out over the decades, the most successful of which have featured kaijus, giant apes, and dinosaurs.
