Over the last century, Hollywood has tried to revamp Universal’s Monster movies franchise over and over again. Several reboots, includingDracula Untold,The Wolfman(2010), andThe Mummy(2017) have been attempted in recent years,but with little success. While productions have come close to reviving these classic film friends for a new generation, they have yet to reach the same levels of global success as their predecessors. The biggest issues with the newer reboot attempts include absurd changes to the source material, an overreliance on over-the-top special effects, and a complete lack of well-placed talent in the titular roles. Thankfully, there has been some headway in recent years in the form of more character-driven, low-budget films.
Short, one-off hits likeThe Invisible ManandRenfieldare successfulin part because they focus on the more humanistic aspects of their retellings. They mirror the original Universal films, with timeless performances from the likes of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Elsa Lanchester. These iconic actors playing even more iconic roles were part of what made the originals great. With this in mind, we’ve decided to reboot and recast the entire Universal MonsterVerse, using actors we think would portray their roles in films likeThe Phantom of the OperatoThe Creature From the Black Lagoonperfectly.
Updated on August 12th, 2023 byAmanda Minchin:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
11Doug Jones
Creature From the Black Lagoon
The most obvious choice is perhapsDoug Jones, who is undoubtedly the best performer to bring the Creature to life in a reboot ofCreature From the Black Lagoon. Jones not only has aton of experiencein full-body makeup and costumes, but he also has experience in being fully submerged in water, as shown in bothHellboyand Guillermo del Toro’s heavilyCreature-inspired Oscar-winning film,The Shape of Water.
Jones has an innate ability to contort his body in animalistic ways while maintaining a humanistic personality. There have been rumblings of a remake on the horizon, with Scarlett Johansson taking on Julie Adams' classic lead role. Considering her role inHail, Caesar!, this notion is not too far off the mark. If this ever does come to fruition, Jones would be the perfect Gill-Man to star opposite Johansson.
10Rahul Kohli
It’s about time forRahul Kohlito land a leading role, and what better part for him than a Universal Monster movie? Kohli is no stranger to the horror genre, and could seamlessly play both the intelligent and imposing portrayal needed in a remake ofThe Mummy. Plus he was nothing short offantastic in both of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series,The Haunting of Bly Manor, andMidnight Mass.
Aside from the incredible set design, the original film relied on an amazing performance from Boris Karloff. By not taking the souped-up Tom Cruise movie route, sticking to the original story, and adding in some Oscar-worthy makeup and effects, Kohli could easily take this monstrous character to an acting level it hasn’t seen since its 1932 inception.
9Tom Hiddleston
The role ofDraculais not only the most iconic role in Universal’s storied franchise but possibly the most iconic role in the horror genre.Tom Hiddleston’s acting style has both the irresistible charm and the sly deviousness required to take on the Count.
Fans of bothLokiandCrimson Peakhave delighted in Hiddleston’s ability to switch from an endearing protagonist to a seething antagonist seemingly at the drop of a hat. Dracula has had a long line of fantastic actors behind the cape, including Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, and Gary Oldman. Hiddleston is easy to see besides all three of those powerhouse actors.
8Ethan Hawke
The Wolf Man
Ethan Hawkehas always been a brilliant actor, though he has never seemed to get the recognition he deserves. Thankfully, he’s had a bit of a comeback in the spotlight recently, with outstanding performances inThe Northman, Marvel’sMoon Knight, andThe Black Phone.
Hawke has experience in playing both a protagonist and an antagonist, sometimes in the same film. That being said, he has even more experience in the horror genre. Taking on the role of Lawrence Talbot in a remake ofThe Wolf Manwould be a perfect match for Hawke, as he’s consistently able to pull off playing a conflicted character (Training Day), as well as one who can turn vicious at the drop of a hat (Taking Lives). This role could finally be the one that lands him an Oscar win after four nominations.
Related:10 Universal Classic Monster Movies That Don’t Get Enough Credit
7Bradley Cooper
The Phantom of the Opera
The lead role inThe Phantom of the Operaneeds to be a traditionally good-looking actor (at least at the start of the film) who is able to tap into a villainous personality. At this point in his career, we’re sureBradley Coopercould pull off both with ease. While not a classically trained musician by any stretch of the imagination, Cooper worked hard to show off his chops inA Star is Born. Perhaps he could be persuaded to put them back on display for this iconic role?
While he may have been able to bank on good looks in his early acting career in films likeThe HangoverandSilver Linings Playbook, it wasn’t until recently, in Guillermo del Toro’sNightmare Alley, that we got to see Cooper play a trulyconflicted and villainous character. His slow transition into madness and despair in this film could easily inspire Cooper’s next role as this classic masked villain.
6Winston Duke
The Invisible Man
While Leigh Whannell’sThe Invisible Manwas a fantastic film, it hardly focused on the villainous character himself.Winston Dukehas proven to shine in standout minor roles, like inBlack PantherandUs.If Duke took on the titular mad scientist role, it would be a great step into a leading role.
Not only does he have the ability to be imposing because of his size, but there’s a certain likability to him that would cause the audience to be conflicted, much in the same way Claude Rains was in the original 1933 film. Expanding the MonsterVerse with Duke playing one of its most interesting characters would be a smart move. It would also be an interesting interpretation in light of his previous film roles.
5Ron Perlman
Frankenstein’s Monster
Fully experienced in performances in both full-body makeup and in the horror genre,Ron Perlmancould playFrankenstein’s monster to perfection with absolute ease. Although Perlman comes off as a tough-as-nails actor, he’s also been able to tap into an emotional plane in his roles onSons of AnarchyandHand of God.
This would serve him well to play one of Universal’s most popular monsters. Not only would his imposing size and look fit the character like a glove, his chemistry with astyle-focused director like Guillermo del Toroor Robert Rodriguez would make for a flawless match. The monster’s limitations of movement and action wouldn’t be too much for Perlman, either, as the ageless actor is now in his seventies.
4Gwendoline Christie
The Bride of Frankenstein
Gwendoline Christieis both physically imposing and absolutely gorgeous. Because of this, she would be the perfect casting choice forThe Bride of Frankenstein.An underlying level of emotion, shielded by a stern exterior is exactly what’s needed for this classic monster.
She already has experience playing powerful characters, becoming a fan favorite in bothGame of Thronesand the newStar Warstrilogy, as well as onWednesday. Christie has the chops required to capture the sadness and loneliness the Bride presents underneath, as well as the ferocious anger (and its cataclysmic results) thatthis iconic characteris known for.
A versatile actor in the indie horror scene,Mia Gothhas both the chops and the name to take on a Universal monster’s mantle. Though she’d be a good fit for many a role, she would truly shine in a gender-bending version ofCreature From the Black Lagoon.
Her experience in films likeA Cure for Wellnessdisplays her ability to strike a creepy pose for a role, as does her most recent performance inInfinity Pool. Plus she is known for acting in revisions of original IP and with heavy makeup application, most notably in Ti West’sXtrilogy’sPearlandX, parts of which takeinspiration from The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy. This ethereal actress would 100% elevate any Universal Monster role.
Related:Best Universal Monster Movies, Ranked
2Javier Botet
Another spectacular option forThe Wolf Manwould be creature feature extraordinaireJavier Botet. The Spanish actor has been featured in many horror films, fromSlender ManandMamato the popular[REC]franchise. He also has experience (technically) in playing a Universal Monster as Dracula inThe Last Voyage of the Demeter.
Botet has agenetic condition called Marfan Syndrome, a condition which, among other things, affects the joints and connective tissues. In his case, the condition has left him extremely flexible, which he uses to his full advantage in his roles. It also helps that he’s a near dead-ringer for the two backpacking leads inAn American Werewolf in London.
